Venice - Put It On Your Bucket List!

We recently were fortunate enough to take a Mediterranean cruise.  Our last port on the cruise was in Venice.  I can't begin to tell you how much we enjoyed that unique city!  There is no place like it in the world and it is definitely worth seeing.  Here is a bit about Venice, but this article doesn't begin to tell you how you feel as you marvel in Venice's uniqueness!

Venice is one of the most intriguingly different places to visit on the face of the earth. Today the brilliance and influence of the long-ago merchantile sea culture has long since faded, leaving a town of tarnished glories, out of time and out of place but so beautiful it's hard to resist. I found visiting Venice one of the most memorable of experiences.


Venice is busiest in spring (Easter-June) and September/October and accommodation can be hard to find, as well as around Christmas, New Year and Carnevale (February). In high summer (June/August), Venice is crowded, and oppressively hot and sticky. The most pleasant time of year to visit is late March into May, with milder spring days and fewer crowds. September is the next best in terms of weather, but October is quieter. Flooding occurs in November and December, and winter can be unpleasantly damp and cold, but seeing Venice under snow is truly a sight to behold (although snow in Venice is a rarity).

So what is there to see and do in Venice? Do you mean besides taking a gondola ride through this magical city situated on its maze of narrow water canals? For the hopeless romantic that is a treat making any trip to Venice worthwhile. But, if you stick to the main tourist areas between St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge it is a crowded place with many tacky souvenir shops. But the architecture, the history and the magnificent artwork makes it all worthwhile.

One of the truly impressive sights not to be missed is Basilica di san Marco, a magnificent Byzantine cathedral that many tourists “Ooh” and “Aah” over. The 11th-century exterior, with its soaring domes, spires, and statuary is only the beginning. Inside the basilica the interior walls and ceilings are covered with one and a half square miles of dazzling, painstakingly assembled mosaics, and other similarly impressive treasures are held inside, including the spectacular, gem-encrusted Pala d'Oro altarpiece. The original bronze Horses of San Marco are on display inside (the ones currently adorning the cathedral's facade are replicas) and were believed to be stolen from Constantinople's Hippodrome in 1204. The basilica still holds Mass at 7:00 a.m. and one can see the beauty of the early-morning light gleeming onto the mosaics.

Other churches sure to impress the tourist are the Dominican’s church of Santi Giovanni e Paolo and the Franciscans’ church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (generally known as I Frari). When the Dominicans and Franciscans arrived in Venice at the dawn of the Renaissance, they enticed parishioners by filling their churches with art, some of which rival exhibits in major art museums. The church of Santi Giovanni e Paolo, begun in 1246, holds a polyptych by Giovanni Bellini, magnificent ceiling paintings by Paolo Veronese, and works by Titian and Lorenzo Lotto which were all commissioned as adornment. The Franciscans’ church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (1330) is also magnificent with Titian's extraordinary Assumption, with the Virgin Mary soaring heavenward above the high altar in a swirl of sumptuous hues, and his gracious Madonna di Ca' Pesaro dominating the left aisle, and Giovanni Bellini’s Madonna and Child is one of his finest works.

The Gallerie Dell'accademia holds a viewable collection of valuable art from masters, including Paolo Veneziano, Mantegna, Giorgione, Titian, and Tintoretto. doesn't disappoint. Although the gallerie is presently under renovacations, it is due for completion in late 2007. When the Grandi Gallerie dell'Accademiahe is opened in their entirety the exhibition space will have doubled to almost 40,000 square feet and will display 650 works instead of the current 400. At present look for gorgeous narrative works like Bellini and Carpaccio's Miracle of the Relic of the True Cross on the Rialto Bridge, and Carpaccio's Life of Saint Ursula; both exquisitely detailed depictions of 15th-century Venice.

Re-opened in spring of 2006, the Palazzo Grassi was formerly an art exhibition space owned by Fiat, the car manufacturer. The 18th-century palazzo, which overlooks the Grand Canal, was taken over by French luxury-goods magnate François Pinault in 2005 and refurbished by architect Tadao Ando. It now hosts major shows of contemporary art.

Peggy Guggenheim's personal art collection, turned down by London's Tate Gallery, was brought to Venice in 1949. The 20th-century collection moved into the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni on the Grand Canal. The collection, which grew to incorporate works by Dalí, Klee, Picasso, Mondrian, Duchamp, de Kooning, Pollock, and Man Ray, among others, is now a memorable must-see for modern-art buffs.

Piazza San Marco, an immense open public space of almost 40,000 sq. ft., was once known as as "the drawing room of Europe" when napoleon and his army descended on venice in 1797. the museo correr, in the southwest corner of the square, now houses a statue of napolen along with an impressive collection of historic globes, weapons, and artworks by tintoretto, vittore carpaccio, and antonello da messina. visitors can pay an the entry fee which gives access to other attractions around the piazza, like the museo archeologico and the biblioteca marciana (st. mark's library), with its collection of historic tomes. visitors can also visit the doge's palace, a huge gothic structure that was the nerve center of the venetian republic; and take the itinerari segreti guided tour to see the difference between the frescoed, gilded public rooms and the plainer offices where the real business was done. one of the piazza's two towers, the campanile, at 325 feet, is the tallest structure in venice and visitors can climb to the top for a breathtaking view over the city. the 15th-century torre dell'orologio (clock tower), unveiled in late 2006, is now open to the public and visitors can finally go inside.

I could go on and on about the many art works and magnificent architecture of Venice, but then I might not get around to telling you about the shopping that Venice is also famous for. As with any Italian city, Venice offers the big-name fashion labels of Fendi, Gucci, and Ferragamo and shops are located in the area immediately northwest of St. Mark's Square: Calle Larga XXII Marzo and the labyrinth of alleyways known collectively as the Mercerie and the Frezzerie.

Venice is truly a place you must see before you die.  Put it on your Bucket List!

If you like travel reviews and travel recipes, you may want to try this great ebook:  Tastes and Travels, available at:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004DUMXJY

Travels to Costa Rica

We recently returned from a trip to Costa Rica.  Many of our family members and friends had visited there so we felt it was our turn to see just what the others were raving about.  Of course, we loved Costa Rica, but not for the things we normally love.  Generally we are fairly dominant in beach swimming and snorkelling activities.  Although these were offered, we were somewhat disappointed in these areas.  Don't get upset yet, though.  Let me tell you what we did love!

We travelled to the pacific coast of Costa Rica and stayed at the all-inclusive resort of Allegro Papagayo, which is about 30 km. from the Liberia airport.  The hotel was beautiful, but you had to be in fairly good health to traverse the steep hills going up and down to the restaurant and beach.  Alternatively, there was a shuttle bus that rode around the resort at about 5-8 minute intervals where you could ride instead of walk up the steep hills.  The scenery was gorgeous. 

Here is the view we had from our balcony window:

The best thing about Costa Rica is the nature and wildlife.  We saw an abundant amount of monkeys (which was a highlight for me).  There were two kinds of monkeys that resided in the area, the white faced monkey and the howler monkeys.  We saw both on the hotel grounds, as well as other wild ones in the trees on the roadside when we travelled off the resort.

We also saw other wildlife, such as many different types of birds, iguanas, etc.

There were many excursions available where we could explore the nature.  My husband went zip-lining, which was a highlight of the trip for him.  We also took a boat tour and went fishing (I caught a fish!).  There were river boat tours where you could see a lot more of the wildlife and nature in the area, as well as bird-watching tours and excursions to visit the volcanos, several of which are in the area.

One of the best things we loved about Costa Rica was the people.  They had to be the friendliest people of anywhere we had travelled before...and this was at the hotel as well as off the resort.  

O.K. Now about the beaches.  The sand was black sand because of the volcanic activity in the area.  We knew this beforehand so that was not a surprise and we didn't expect it to be like the pristine while beaches of the Caribbean.  But we were a little disappointed because you could not swim on the beach before about 3 in afternoon when the tides came in.  Also, the water was murky and did not lend itself well for snorkelling.  We did take a road day trip to visit other resorts and locations along the coast.  Although we saw a few areas of nicer beaches, they still did not measure up to what we would be looking for in a great swimming/snorkelling setting.

We would love to go back to Costa Rica and discover the Caribbean side and see what the beaches and swimming are like in that area (but we have been told to be careful because there is a lot of crime there.)

All in all, we did enjoy our trip, and you will too if you venture there, as long as you are concerned more with the natural aspect of the country instead of the beaches.  Here are just a couple more scenes to entice you to visit Costa Rica:

You may be insterested in reading my travel ebook "Tastes and Travels" which combines travel reviews and recipes of the different places outlined in the book.

You can get it at:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004DUMXJY



Hot Sauce Recipes - Caribbean Cooking

If you have travelled to the Caribbean, you have probably experienced the hot spicy flavors of Caribbean cooking which is prevalent in many of the Islands.  Jamaica is famous for its spicy Island flavors, like jerk chicken or pork, or even the extra hot Scotch Bonnet peppers that many enjoy there. 

If you want to bring home a little of that Island taste, why not make your own hot sauces to compliment your own Caribbean cooking at home?  Here is a little hot sauces recipes book I found that has 30 great recipes that are sure to tittilize your tongue...hot and spicy recipes with great flavor too!

  Zing's Hot Sauce Recipes

Caribbean Food

The sea, sun and sand make the Caribbean a popular tourist destination. But aside from the beautiful weather, the amazing landscape and the total Caribbean experience, Caribbean food is unique and appetizing. There is just something about that great spicy Caribbean flavor!

Caribbean food is not like food from any other part of the world. The Italians have their pasta, the French their pastries, wine and rich cuisines, the English their ‘bangers and mash’ and China has its egg rolls, but the Caribbean has its own unique spicy Island taste that many people appreciate. A lot of Caribbean food involves highly spiced cuisine that titillates the tongue and palate.

The Caribbean consists of many islands that each have their own specialties. Central America, with Mexico, Costa Rico, and Panama can also be considered part of the Caribbean, at least when it comes to tourism and cooking, because they have coasts that border on the Caribbean Sea. Central America, because of its connection with North and South America, has its own style of food as well.

Many popular Caribbean food dishes involve ‘hot’ spices and ingredients, often in the form of curry and hot peppers. Jamaican cuisine offers curry chicken, lamb, beef and goat, as well as meats infused with ‘jerk’ seasonings, making it hot, spicy and delicious. If you can stand up to the heat in the cooking, you can be in for quite a tasty treat when you sample Jamaican cuisine. Jamaica has its own unique variety of fruits and vegetables as well, such as callaloo (something akin to spinach), Ackee (which is part of Jamaica’s national dish of Saltfish ‘n Ackee), and some weird sounding fruit like ‘ugly fruit’, ‘star apple’ and ‘jack fruit’. One of Jamaica’s most popular foods that has made its mark in the United States and Canada is Jamaican Patties, a spicy meat pie with a flaky crust.

Other Caribbean Islands have their own unique and tasty dishes as well. Caribbean food dishes like conch fritters, coconut mango chicken, Arroz Con Pollo (a Spanish-style rice and chicken dish), Paella, and Red Pea Soup, arising from different Caribbean Islands, along with dishes coming from Mexico like empanadas, burritos and enchiladas are all part of that great Caribbean taste experience. In Mexico, hot chili peppers are often part of the ingredients in many of their signature dishes.

As one might expect, Caribbean food often incorporates seafood into its cuisine. You can find many Caribbean recipes that include many types of fish or shellfish, such as cod fish, mackerel, grouper, lobster, crab, or even a combination of fish and shell fish as in a Boatman’s Stew, a Paella dish or a seafood chowder.

Whatever island you choose for creating a Caribbean food experience, you won’t go wrong when it comes to taste and flavor. In the Caribbean, the weather is heated up by the spicy offerings of the Caribbean food. From Cuba, to Turks and Caicos, and the Cayman Islands to Mexico, Panama and Costa Rico, Caribbean food is something everyone will enjoy.

Introduction: If you enjoy that spicy Island style of cooking, this article outlines what makes Caribbean food special. From Cuba, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands to Mexico, Panama and Costa Rico, Caribbean food offers a unique blend and style of flavors that everyone enjoys.

If you would like to try tempting your family with Caribbean food recipes, try this new Caribbean cookbook: That Caribbean Flavor Over 50 great recipes include: Jamaican Beef Patties, Paella, Codfish Fritters, Jerk Sauce, Cuban Pork with Mango Salsa, Curry Chicken and much more.

Jamaican Cuisine and Traditional Jamaican Food

Jamaican Cuisine is definitely unique and quite flavourful, bringing with it a blend of the island’s local harvest and spice. The island’s food is represented by Jamaica’s motto, “Out of Many, One People”. Jamaican inhabitants have come from around the globe, including the British, Dutch, French, Spanish, East Indian, West African, Portuguese and Chinese, who brought with them their own unique cooking techniques, flavours, and spices, blending them with the island’s bountiful harvest.

The original inhabitants of Jamaica were the Arawak Indians, who died out after the arrival of the Spanish in 1509, due to disease and overwork. The Spanish then began importing slaves from Africa to replace their workforce. The Spanish brought with them their own culinary influence. As well, many Spanish Jews also arrived during the Spanish rule and contributed their influences to Jamaica’s cuisine, such as a dish still popular today, escovitch fish.

In 1655 the English took over Jamaica from the Spanish and turned much of the land into sugar plantations. The English influenced the development of one of Jamaica’s most popular foods, the Jamaican Pattie, a spiced meat turnover that is the equivalent of the island’s hamburger. Many varieties of Jamaican patties are found in many grocery freezers today.

A century later, indentured labourers of Chinese and East Indians replaced the African slaves after emancipation. These immigrants influenced the curry dishes that grace nearly every Jamaican menu today, such as curry goat, chicken and seafood.

A point of interest is in the Jamaica population of the Maroons. The Maroons are people descendant of escaped slaves of the Spanish, fierce fighters who took to the hills and were never recaptured. They settled in a remote hilly region south of Montego Bay in Cockpit Country. The Maroons now live in a completely self-sustained existence off the land are known as the island’s greatest herbalists.

As seen from above, Jamaican food is influenced by its history. “Bammie”, a toasted flat cake eaten with fried fish today, was made from the cassava grown by the Arawaks. The Maroons, slaves who were always on the run, devised a way of “jerking” meat (through spicing and slow cooking pork) that is popular in Jamaica today. Breadfruit, yams, root vegetables and ackee were brought from Africa to cheaply feed the slaves. It is said the breadfruit arrived with Captain William Bligh on the Bounty. And, as mentioned, the Chinese and East Indians brought with them their contributions of exotic flavours in their curry and other spices.

Added to the contributions of the foreign influences, indigenous vegetables, such as cho-cho (a squash-like vegetable) and callaloo (similar to spinach) are also popular in Jamaican cooking today, along with the island’s fruits of bananas, coconuts, mangoes and pineapples. Among the more exotic fruits popular in Jamaica are guineps, pawpaw, sweetsops and the star apple.

The native pimento tree brings allspice to many Jamaican dishes, as do ginger, garlic, nutmeg, and the Scotch Bonnet peppers, which are considered some of the hottest peppers on earth. The Scotch Bonnet is essential to making the jerk pork, jerk chicken and fish for which Jamaica is famous. The Maroons marinated meat for hours in a mixture of peppers, pimento seeds, scallion, thyme and nutmeg, and then cooked it slowly over an outdoor pit lined with pimento wood. Jerk stands can be found all over the island today offering tourists and inhabitants alike the unique spicy flavour famous all over the world.

Negril, located on Jamaica’s western shore, is famous for its “hippie” era. Hippies set up a colony there and enjoyed a laid-back lifestyle and “ganja”. From here, vegetarian meals abound.

Middle Quarters, an area of the south coast, offers dried peppered shrimp which is sold by the bag. Stamp and Go (saltfish fritters eaten as an appetizer) and mackerel Run-Down (pickled fish cooked in seasoned coconut milk until the fish just falls apart or literally “runs down”), as well as boiled green bananas and yams are served over the whole island.

Jamaica is also quite famous the world over for its Blue Mountain coffee, which gets its name from the Blue Mountains where the coffee beans are grown. The coffee industry in Jamaica began in 1725, when the governor brought seedlings from Martinique and planted them on his estate. Mountains cover approximately four-fifths of Jamaica, with the Blue Mountains reaching a height of 7,400 feet. The coffee is planted on terraces along the mountain slopes, 1,500 to 5,000 feet above sea level, and which is often shaded by avocado and banana trees.

Traditional Jamaican food includes Jamaica’s national dish of saltfish and ackee, an island breakfast dish. Ackee, when cooked looks and tastes much like scrambled eggs. Ackee is poisonous until it is ripe and is always served cooked.

Rice ‘n peas is also a popular island dish, but is not really peas but beans (usually red kidney beans.) Other traditional Jamaican food dishes include red pea soup (again kidney beans, salted pig tails, beef and vegetables), hard dough bread, fish tea (a fish bouillon), Johnny cakes (fried or baked breads), mannish water (a spicy soup made from goats’ heads), bulla (a spicy bun), stew peas (a soup of red peas or gungo peas), Solomon Gundy (an appetizer made of pickled fish) and festival (a type of bread).

As one can see, Jamaica offers a vast variety of dishes influenced by the island’s history. From British, Spanish, African, East Indian and Chinese, Jamaican cuisine is quite flavourful and often spicy, and is a culinary experience that all will enjoy.

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Travel Article - Family Fun in St. Thomas

If you are like most other American families, you and your family may be taking a summer vacation this year. If you are planning a summer vacation, have you already selected a summer vacation destination? If you have yet to decide where you and your family will vacation, you are encouraged to consider the family fun that you and your family can have in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.

St. Thomas is most known for its tropical weather. The island is located in the Virgin Islands. Many individuals mistakenly believe that St. Thomas, and other islands located in the Caribbean, are only for couples looking to schedule a romantic vacation. St. Thomas is known for its romantic environment and atmosphere, however, the island is not just limited to those looking to experience a romantic getaway. In fact, there are a number of “family friendly,” activities that you and your children may find exciting.

When visiting St. Thomas, you will have to make overnight accommodations for the length of your stay, most often made at a quality resort. The good news for families is that there are a number of popular vacation resorts that are designed with adults and children in mind. The resorts are often referred to as “family friendly,” resorts.

The activities and events that can be found on a “family friendly,” resort will vary. Different St. Thomas resorts offer various onsite activities, facilities, and services. Despite the fact that no two resorts are the same, there are a number of common activities that you may find available at most “family friendly,” St. Thomas resorts. These activities may include, but are not limited to, swimming, boating, fishing, sunbathing, and playing outdoor sports.

In addition to the above, many “family friendly,” resorts offer kid’s clubs or onsite childcare centers. You and your children may find these facilities beneficial, in more ways than one. If you are looking to receive a few private minutes with your spouse or you would like to spend time alone relaxing by the beach, you can easily drop your children off at an onsite childcare center. The childcare centre focuses on quality children’s activities while babysitting at the same time. While onsite childcare centers are nice, not all St. Thomas resorts have them. If you need childcare clubs or services on your vacation, you will want to search for a resort that offers the service onsite.

St. Thomas resorts are not the only locations in St. Thomas that can be considered “family friendly.” If you and your family wish to shop, dine, and sightsee, you can easily do so. Along the shoreline and inland there are a number of restaurants, shopping centers, and historical landmarks that focus on families.

While shopping, sightseeing, and dinning is important, there are additional activities that you and your family may enjoy. St. Thomas has a number of different museums. If you are interested in incorporating education into your vacation, you can easily do so. In addition to inland museums, St. Thomas is also famous for its focus on underwater discoveries. You and your children may find it exciting to learn about the animals, plants, and treasures that can be found deep down in the ocean.

With a small amount of research and planning, you can easily schedule a St. Thomas vacation. With an unlimited number of exciting activities, services, and facilities available, a St. Thomas vacation is likely to please everyone in your family.

Tastes and Travels Ebook This great new travel ebook offers reviews on various travel destinations and has articles on the cuisine of each place (as well as recipes that you can try). Get your copy TODAY and read about the travel experiences you want to travel to!

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Beach Vacation Ideas

Nothing in the world beats a family beach vacation, whether it's at a deluxe resort in Hawaii, and all-inclusive vacation spot in the Caribbean or a simple campground on a sandy beach near your home town. Beach vacations are one of the top travel destinations many people choose for their family vacation.

Below, are some beach vacation ideas you might consider for your next family vacation:

Caribbean Beach Vacations

1. Families flock to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic for the all-inclusive vacation filled with all kinds of water sports, kids clubs and, of course, great beaches.

2. At some resorts the kids programs are outstanding, with separate leaders and activities for many different age groups. This allows parents the freedom to enjoy their own beach time separately from their kids.

3. The majority of hotels in the Caribbean also offer spectacular swimming pools, and some resorts even have water parks.

4. The prices can be low to high, depending on the resort rating and the time you travel. Prices will drop from May to December, but if you book at the last minute you are sure to find a great deal somewhere. Be aware that hurricane season is in the May - December months as well, but most resorts offer weather guarantees.

Mexico Beach Vacation

Even though many tourists zip down to Mexico and do their own thing at a condo or small hotel, beach vacations at all-inclusive resorts are still the best way to go for families. All-inclusive means all-inclusive, with your plane fare, shuttle to-and-from the airport, meals, snacks, drinks and activities all included in one price.

The Riviera Maya, which offer the best of Mexico’s beaches, is an hour south of Cancun. It is reputed to have the second largest barrier reef in the world. It also has many activities for families to explore outside of the resort. You can rent a car, hire a taxi, or even take a public bus.

Hawaii Beach Vacation

When you go to Hawaii, you shouldn't expect to find all inclusive resorts in the Aloha state. Hawaii is known for lush luxury resorts, such as the Grand Wailea on Maui, or the properties on the Big Island's Kohala Coast.

To find more affordable options in Hawaii, the Waikiki Beach area is breathtaking, fun for the entire family, and offers several different lodging options.

Beach Camping

Of course, the above are beach vacations that you have to travel a far distance to. You can also enjoy the beaches in your own area. Beach camping is a great way to spend a low-budget beach vacation for the whole family. You simply have to take your tent and camping equipment and enjoy the great outdoors.

With plenty of options available to you and your family vacation ideas on the beach are always something to look forward to. There are many beaches out there. All you have to do is find the one that fits your needs - and your budget.

Tastes and Travels Ebook This great new travel ebook offers reviews on various travel destinations and has articles on the cuisine of each place (as well as recipes that you can try). Get your copy TODAY and read about the travel experiences you want to travel to!