Friday, October 30, 2009

The ultimate travel clothes and accessories for women...

Having the right travel clothes and accessories makes packing so much easier!















Best Travel hat: Tilley

When traveling be sure to bring a good hat. I love my Tilley! It's packable, light weight, and comfort... great for summer travel or travel to warm climates.

The ultimate women's travel pants by PrAna!
I just returned from hiking in Ireland and then rushed off to explore archaeological sites in hot, dusty Egypt and the best thing I packed for both trips was the Tenaya Pant by PrAna. These pants are a travel wardrobe essential! Quick drying, light, wrinkle resistant, comfortable and great looking.

Tenaya Pant
$68.00

Style: W4TENP309

Tenaya Pant - The ultimate pant for cool days on the wall offers abrasion-resistance, full stretch and a low-profile adjustable waistband. Stash extra protection or something to snack on between pitches in the cargo pocket.

Purchase online or at Maine Sport in Rockport Maine
















Wherever you go don't leave home without a backpack which doubles as a carry-on and day pack for sight-seeing, hiking, biking, etc....
This stylish pack by Vectra is a good choice and is available in green and brown..sorry no orange.


Vectra Backpack - Womens

$80.00

Style: U6VECT309

Fit for a woman's frame, this backpack features a body-hugging design. Padded shoulder and waist straps ensure carrying comfort.

Purchase online at PrAna


Don't forget to pack your camera! For great shots with automatic and manual settings and a 10x zoom the CANON Powershot SX10IS is a smart choice. It may not be the smallest camera out there, but it's small enough and takes great photos...even from a moving bus. Whatever camera you choose...get one with a view finder (a feature hard to find in the newer compact cameras) so that on those bright sunny days when the glare makes it impossible to see your LCD screen you can still see what you are taking a picture of!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Culinary destination: Dublin Ireland!


Perhaps one of the travel world's best kept secrets is Ireland's gourmet cuisine. Ireland has a long culinary tradition; ancient cooking pits called fulacht fia have been found through out Ireland. These Neolithic and Bronze age pits are believed to have been used to boil water with hot rocks to slowly cook meat and other foods on festival occasions...could this be the origins of the Irish boiled dinner? BUT if you think of Irish cuisine as boiled dinners..think again...Irish cuisine has come a long way since the fulacht fia (although An Fulacht Fia in Ballyvaughan is most certainly a worth a visit). So if you are planning a trip to Ireland..be sure to bring a good appetite!

A few my favorite restaurants in Dublin Ireland are:

BANG CAFE on Baggot Street...trendy spot frequented by Dubliners. Try the scallops or Chump of Lamb or Mushroom Risotto. They serve lunch and have a pre-theater menu...
See menu

THE UNICORN on Merrion Ct off Merrion Row, just around the corner from Bang Cafe, offers delicious gourmet Italian cuisine. Lunch and pre-theater specials...
See menu

DAX, on Pembroke Street Upper, offers gourmet French cuisine, romantic atmosphere, and 140 European wines to choose from. Lunch & dinner..
See menu

PEPLOES WINE BISTRO on St Stephen's Green offers chic modern Irish cuisine at its best! Lunch, pre-concert specials and dinner 7 days a week...
See menu

EDEN in Temple Bar,at Meeting House SQ (a bit difficult to find), offers wild Irish game, such as duck, venison, etc and other delicious choices. The modern decor is a bit sterile but the food is excellent. Brunch, lunch and dinner...
See menu

CAFE EN SEINE on Dawson Street is a must see to believe...you'll think you've stepped into Fin de siècle Paris! Great spot to meet locals after work for drinks and meals. Not gourmet but worth a visit.

Please feel free to share your suggestions!

Live, Travel...and EAT!