Aloha House

So, I've been busy with traveling unassisted with the two children under five (can you say crazy?). However, when there is a friend in need you move mountains when necessary. The wonderful thing that came from this trip was reconnecting with old friends and plugging into the wonderful energy of Hawaii.

What did I bring back for you my dear readers? Wonderful photos, interesting people and perhaps some ideas to inspire you. My Hawaiian friends are very talented and the first lady of talent I'd like to introduce you to is my friend Cynthia. She is seriously amazing at design and has a keen eye and great vision (can you tell I really admire her?) -on top of being a dear friend. Anyway, let me give you just a amuse-bouche while I beg her for some of her other work that she has done in and around Honolulu.

What are you loving about the photo above? Would you love to see the pool beyond the wall?

Where in the World?? Hint...

This is a 'comfortable' European capital city where moving your head up and down means 'no' and from side to side means 'yes.'

Where in the World??

Alright my well traveled friends can you guess this location?

Where in the World??

Let's play name that place -can you guess the location??

Where is the California "Pot o' Gold"?

And how do I get my hands on some of it? First of all -I'm real estate crazy right now. I spend hours a day studying the market and trying to figure out where to live. Let me give you a brief summary of what is on the market: 

1. places in the city are either $1+ million USD (I've never seen so many of these outside of Monaco) for about 1,600 square feet (150 square meters)
   
2. or a half million dollar crack houses that haven't been repaired or updated since the 60s -if you're lucky
   
3. or you can go half an hour (up to 2 hours) away "the commute" to pay much more reasonable prices ($400,000 and up) for really nice brand new homes
   

I'm not fond of commutes and with fuel prices soaring this week I don't know how people can afford it. The photo above shows the 'cheap' stuff starting at $4.11, that was Monday. You know it is starting to get bad when a camera crew arrives at the local gas station. 

Well, that was Monday and today I nearly swerved off the road when I saw this: 

By the way you should know that it would be wise to take a large wallet of cash because if you pay by credit card they charge you an additional .10 cents a gallon. Most people here drive LARGE trucks and I don't know how much longer they can afford to. So, I'm more determined than ever to find a small ex-drug den in the city -I hear that the 60s style modern is coming back!

P.S. My new theory on the California Pot o' Gold is that most own stock in big oil companies -what do you think?

Truck Driving Temecula

My latest and greatest drug has been looking up any and every property available in the San Diego area. I can't stop. I know there has to be something out there. But, I needed a break.

So this weekend I went out to visit a friend of mine in Temecula, California. It is like going from Napoli to Matera. They say that there are vineyards out there but to tell you the truth all I saw were big wheel trucks and some really new and beautiful houses. I was drooling and lusting at the brand new houses and the prices -THE PRICES! For half the money you would have to spend in San Diego you can get double the house in Temecula!

What would you do? Middle of California with a great house at a great price with an hour commute to work or central metropolitan area but paying a large portion of your paycheque?

Must see in Napoli

Can you believe I spent $3.75 on a bottle of tomato sauce from Naples? The same passata rustica that I would buy for .70 Euro for in Naples. What's worse is that I found myself sniffing the bottle -not to see if it went bad but to smell the wonderful smell of a real sunshine tomato. I miss the tomatoes badly. I bought some here and was very disappointed. I've been frequenting the farmers market too -yes, I'm that weird lady sniffing every batch of tomatoes and none compare.

So, I was thinking about the other things that I miss from Naples and the surrounding area. Things that an ordinary tourist might not see and so I've compiled a little list for you from an insiders perspective.

1. For the best marble statues the Museo Cappella Sansevero. Here you'll find the famous veiled Christ. You must walk slowly counter clockwise and you can see the veil appear to move (as in breathing) --spooky. It is a small space with lots of great marble works and in the basement is a special surprise. The neighborhood it is in really neat and well worth an entire day. You'll find goldsmiths, important churches, a really great printer (who makes paper and journals), creches, pizzeries, antique stores and just normal life in the big city.
2. Capodimonte Museum and Park (the park is free and wonderfully kept). In the museum there is a very fine collection of Italian Art (centuries worth up to present day) and also a Warhol of Vesuvius that is pretty far out. Oh, and the pizzeria across the street is really good and a fair price.
   
3. The best chocolate in Italy Dolce Idea
   
4. For the best shoes and leather goods at ROCK BOTTOM prices -the Poggioreale Market on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Real Italian stuff with the brand names.
5. The best flowers are at the Capodichino Airport (well a block away toward the cemetery). You can buy 30 large stems of Stargazer Lilies for 10-15 Euro. Orchids -they practically give them away.
6. Most romantic spot for dinner -the cave restaurant in Posillipo. Imagine a Batman like cave that has been totally carved out by hand. The way the central dinning area is illuminated by candle light is soo wonderful. Did I mention they have a really good wine selection?
7. Relaxing at the thermal spas on the island of Ischia. The best one is up for debate and I won't go into that (unless you really want me to). Just being on the island is really nice.

Ok, that's all for now... Little Man is awake...

The Big Escape from Shitaly

So during this time of great silence from me you would NOT believe what has happened. In short order:

• trucker strikes delay the movers
• movers all act in unison to give us HIGH quotes to move our stuff back to the US
• getting the EU Passport for my pet was a real PITA with lots more money to pay
• huge collection of books got donated to library (this is the only feel good part)
• finally get some movers and after the pack up they quote us DOUBLE the estimate
• Telecom Italy decides that we need to be shut off early to close our account (no internet, no more email account and no phone)
• our local town decides to shut down the electricity for 4 hours while the movers are packing
• our stuff gets carted outside and rained on
• baby starts the terrible two tantrums with lots of 'NNOOOOOOOO's thrown in for good measure
• we don't sleep more than 4 hours a day

So in short this move has been a nightmare. As mad as I am for all of the typical BS in the Italian Beaurocracy of getting out of here in the end I miss it. Since we left Italy we haven't had a good meal or a good night's sleep. I miss home.

Oh Paris, what will I do without you?

More to the point: what will I do without my frequent visits to see my friends and the wondrous city? My Adorable Friend's birthday party was a big hit both in quality and quantity of everything. The menu was fantastic from the beginning to the end. I made two amazing discoveries: a Polenta with Porcini mushrooms and tomato sauce that I loved (I had never had any I liked) and a mind blowing Pear Mousse Tart that had a marzipan topping that was as crunchy as crème brûlée.
The polenta dish she made and I'm going to have to borrow the recipe because it was too good not to duplicate. As for the Pear Mousse Tart -that was a special order. I wish I had photos to share with you but of all things my camera's battery died out the second day we were there (sorry).

However, I do have a few good photos to share here and over on Jet Set Baby. The first is the plaza next to the Center Pompidou. Notice how creative this space is in mixing old, functional and whimsical. I love it when art comes alive like this:

On a different note, I don't know how Parisians keep any money in their pockets. Every time I turn around there is another cute store begging to be explored. I found one too many of these stores and it is almost impossible to leave without a little something (even if you have an impending move -ahemm). This being the holiday season the stores had displays of grand chandeliers and lots of cool gifts (did you know that almost every store will wrap a present for you for free or practically free?!).

We of course had to pay our respects to an old friend too -check out his digs. Anyone know who's apartment this is (he's kind of famous)?

Things I'll miss about living in Italy

Just back from Paris and one of the biggest things I'll miss about leaving Italy are the cheap airfares to other places. We are always just back from a trip or just leaving for one and with these prices -who can blame us?


I'll post tons of photos from Paris later this evening so stay posted!

On holiday

I'm leaving tomorrow for a few days in Paris for a friend's birthday so I won't be posting for about a week. Never fear I will be back with lots of photos.

Also to my American readers -Happy Thanksgiving! Oh, and save some cranberries for me.

Great Design Store in Rome Airport

Just back from a super quick trip to the Motor City with the family (more on that later). While I was waiting for my connection in Rome's Fiumincino Airport (aka Leonardo da Vinci Airport) I saw a new store at the international C terminal called Just Design. They have lots of really nicely designed gifts (all from European heavy weight designers) that fit into that already over packed carry-ons. I picked up some very cute leather luggage tags (afro sporting lions, dachshunds, pugs, frog princes, mod vespa ladies, etc) and a very cute French baby bib for a reasonable price.

By the way, aren't the free carts at the airport so cool? I wish they would offer these carts in America -and yes free because I'm only borrowing it not taking it home (although this one would be very cute as a laundry cart). FYI of all the airports I've been in it is always the ones in the US that want you to pay for the use of the carts -why is that?