Eze

With summer rounding the corner, people are planning for Europe in droves. The Euro & Dollar are doing favorably – for the most part – at 1.29 and there are a lot of great deals to be had! Last year was all about Asia, but this year... the MED is back in vogue!

SO, put the village of Eze on your itinerary. Eze is a quaint medieval village perched on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean just between Nice & Monaco. It makes for a great 1-night stay pre- or post- cruise, but not much more than that really. There are 2 great hotels in Eze: Chateau Eza and Chateau De La Chevre D’Or . I do have a preference between the two, but will leave it for you to decide. They both offer first class hospitality in a spectacular setting.

If you can’t overnight, book a table at Les Ramparts at Chateau De La Chevre D’Or for lunch. The food is extraordinary, but it is the view and the gorgeous Mediterranean sun that make for an unforgettable afternoon.

Lunch with my oldest and dearest friend Stephanie at Les Ramparts.

One of these days...

I will get this:

"The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing in the right place, but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."

— Lady Dorothy Nevill

Love wise words!!

Virtuoso Life

Virtuoso Life decided my picture in China was good enough to publish. Woohoo...my second time in the press....

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/virtuosolife/20090304/

People & Places Page 24

If you would like a complimentary subscription to the magazine, let me know!

Oh to be there now...

Today I am dreaming of a hammock by the ocean. I don't know why that sounds so GREAT right now, but it just does.



So many people dismiss the Riviera Maya because of the whole Cancun scene - commercial, clubby. I get that, BUT there are so many wonderful wonderful places to walk in the sand and take in the sun and sea that are incredibly sumptuous. The Tides is one of my favorite properties along the Riviera Maya because all of the villas have private pools and hammocks with outdoor showers and all the trimmin's. Very secluded, private and gorgeous.


Down the road a bit, in the Mayakoba area, Mandarin Oriental (one of my absolute favorite brands ever), Rosewood, Banyan Tree, Viceroy and Fairmont have all opened their doors to a whole new world of luxury along the Riviera Maya. These resorts are all built along the mangroves and are very secluded. Each one has its own style, so it just really depends on your preferences as to which one is best suited to you.

The snorkeling in the area is phenomenal, day trips over to Cozumel to dive are easy, and there are tons of great eco-adventures and history with the ruins. So, if I were to get bored with a hammock & a book, I have plenty to choose from. Gosh, I am just digging myself deeper here...sure wish I were there....


http://www.tidesrivieramaya.com/

http://www.banyantreemayakoba.com/

http://www.mandarinoriental.com/rivieramaya/

http://www.rosewoodmayakoba.com/

Chronicles of One Lobster Feast

One of the great American experiences is Maine Lobster!

Succulent, juicy, buttery, mmm mmm good LOBSTER!

I am making a Lobster bisque for dinner tonight…though it will NOT be anywhere near fresh yummy New England Lobster bisque, it reminds me of one of my favorite family dinners… at the Lobster Dock in Boothbay Harbor, Maine.

Interupting the feast for a photo...

My sister-in-law Laura with a bounty of clams!

Michael with his beastly LOBSTER!

Mom & I and....believe or not, Maine Root Beer....

Lobster Bobs.

OHHHHHH what a feast!

All the Tea in China

Tian Shan Tea City - Shanghai

One of my favorite experiences in China was on our last day in Shanghai when we visited Tian Shan Tea City. Who knew tea was so complicated!! We sat in the shop of Ms. Lin li Zhen for infusion after infusion of Chinese teas (courtyard, shop # 1250). The 'city' itself looks something like a temple from the outside and has a courtyard of shops and a mall like structure with 3 floors of shops selling tea and any tea related accessory you could imagine.


Finding a tea you like is a lot like finding a wine you like, having a sample of one or two will give you a starting point from which to explore further. There are 4 basic types of tea you will find at the mall. Green tea most people are familiar with, a lightly oxidized tea. Oolong, a semi oxidized tea is often pretty close in flavor to green tea. Red tea, or what we know as black tea, is more heavily oxidized. Pu'er is special tea, actually from a different type of tea plant, and is the top top end for tea aficionados. Aged pu'er teas are sought after and are extremely pricey, running more than 50 rmb per gram. You'll see dinner plate sized cakes of this tea, wrapped in identifying paper, adorning the walls of the shops (pictured below). I didn’t try any of the Pu’er teas, but I did have an aged tea that was…not so great tasting, but it is supposed to be good for you, so I bought it! I have plenty to share, so feel free to come over for a cup or two. Also, there are different grades of tea and different methods of rolling and drying, there are flavored teas (lychee, rose, ginseng, etc... ), herbal teas, etc... and it would take you a solid week of tasting to conquer them all.



A good place to shop for cups and the accessories is Mu Yun (ground floor, shop # 1023), stocked with handmade ceramics and carved bamboo. Their selection is a cut above the rest and many of the items are actual works of art, without being priced accordingly, instead of mass produced look a likes. Even if you aren’t interested in buying a whole tea set, Mu Yun has functional and unique little pieces of art that make great presents. Really the prices in all of tea city were 'real' as opposed to inflated tourist prices. (I also found a very unique chopstick shop in a different part of town…ask me if interested.)



Although not that much English is spoken this definitely won't stand in the way of a very enriching time and, language barrier or not, the shop owners want to share their teas with you and help you understand the richness of the tea experience.

Xian Part 2 - Dumplings

My first Chinese dumplings were the best! A friend who once lived in New York told me where to go...not sure if I found the exact place she was referring to, but I did find at a great little hole in the wall that rocked. The line was out the door and down the sidewalk - always a good sign! For some reason, I can’t seem to find great dumplings in Dallas, so I have to go places to get that dumpling fix – tragic I know!!

Rice was not grown in the Xian region, so the local population relied on wheat and wheat flour products including dumplings, steamed breads and noodles. THE place to go is 'the legendary' DEFACHANG one of the oldest and most popular of Xiann’s dumpling houses. The restaurant specializes in handmade steamed, boiled, fried, and baked dumplings with over 100 different fillings. I only tried 19 delicous varieties– I guess I will have to go back a few times to see which is the best!

OH, and the friend who told me about the dumpling place in NYC, also went to China with me! She is thinking that a trip back to this restaurant is in order too...great minds!