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Halloween Special: Cemeteries Around The World

10/31/2014

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Since it's Halloween, I thought it only appropriate to write about those spookier attractions when traveling: cemeteries. Often overlooked by travelers, cemeteries offer a unique perspective on a destination's history and culture.  Burial grounds not only honor those individuals who shaped a country, but they often physically represent an era, whether tragic (Old Jewish Cemetery of Prague), visionary (Mount Auburn Cemetery of Cambridge), or iconic ( St. Peter's Cemetery of Salzburg). Here are five cemeteries that left a lasting impression on me: 
1. La Recoleta Cemetery, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Nestled in the heart of Buenos Aires' most chic neighborhood, this exclusive cemetery is the final resting place of Argentina's elite, including Eva Duarte Perón (Evita). The intricately designed mausoleums are situated across from one another on narrow streets, making this burial ground a grand city of the dead. Many tombs have pictures of the interred in their prime displayed near the door, which give visitors a glimpse of the spirits behind the tomb walls.
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[Pictured Above]  A typical street in La Recoleta Cemetery.  Usually, there is not a super tall American named Chris standing around giving you the stink-eye:)

2. Old Jewish Cemetery, Prague, Czech Republic
Prague's Old Jewish Cemetery is a stark contrast to Buenos Aires' luxurious city of the dead. This cemetery's tragic story is evident upon first glance.  Even before the Nazis occupied Prague, Jews were restricted to a specific area of the city. This included their burial grounds. In Jewish custom, the dead must be buried right away, and cremation is not permitted. Since they were given such little land for a cemetery, they had to bury people on top of each other. Experts suspect over 100,000 people have been buried on this tiny plot of land that spans just one city block. You can read more about our visit to Prague's Jewish quarter here. 
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3. The Necropolis of St. Peter's, Vatican City, Italy
One cannot talk about burial grounds without mentioning one of the world's most famous underground cemetery. Located under St. Peter's Basilica, the Necropolis was once an ancient above-ground cemetery filled with tombs and mausoleums of wealthy Roman families. When St. Peter's tomb was discovered underneath an ancient Roman family mausoleum, Emperor Constantine filled in the Necropolis in order to build a church over Peter's final place of rest. In order to see this subterranean burial ground you must contact the Vatican and book a tour well in advance of your visit. It's worth it. Read more about our Necropolis experience here. 
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Below these floors lie many tombs, including those of famous popes, roman families and St. Peter himself. 

4. Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts
I recently discovered Mount Auburn Cemetery after a trip to my local grocery store in Cambridge. It's well hidden among every day life in Cambridge - shops, buses and ivy covered brick apartments are right outside the long fence hiding this magnificent cemetery. When I walked through the main gate, the city melted away and I was immediately transported to a land from a storybook. Founded in 1831, Mount Auburn Cemetery was the first landscaped cemetery open to the public in the USA and is credited as the beginning of the American public parks and gardens movement. It is the final resting place of many historically significant people including Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Winslow Homer and Isabella Stuart Gardner. The gardens are impeccable, the wildlife (particularly birds) are abundant and the setting is so peaceful that the living often temporarily rest, alongside the permanent residents. 
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5. St. Peter's Cemetery, Salzburg, Austria 
This charming cemetery became famous around the world thanks to Hollywood. It is the cemetery where the family Von Trapp hid from the Nazis in The Sound of Music. Although the movie scene was filmed in a Hollywood studio, it was inspired by the gated section of the actual cemetery. Two other fun facts about this cemetery: It is home to Mozart's sister Maria Ann and all plots are rented. Therefore families of the dead must pay rent on the lot every 10 years, or the body is removed and the plot is rented to someone else.  
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Recognize those gates? They are the inspiration for the fleeing scene in the Sound of Music.
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Fall Photo Run: Boston's Charles River

10/27/2014

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Running is one of the best ways to stay in shape while traveling because you kill two birds with one stone: see new sights while getting some much needed cardio.  

Boston is a running town, famous for its challenging marathon and endless stream of people running along the Charles river in the most brutal of weather conditions.  Fall is the best season to see this city by foot.  Crisp, cool air makes for ideal running conditions and vibrant foliage reflecting on the river provides a lovely distraction. 

I recently took my phone along on a six mile loop around the Charles, stopping along the way to snap some pictures. Here are some of the highlights. I hope you enjoy them, and if they inspire you enough to plan a trip here next fall, don't forget to visit my Boston page for a few tips! 
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Cocktail Class at South Boston's Grand Ten Distilling

10/22/2014

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When it comes to libations, Boston is typically associated with beer. And for good reason  - Boston is the home of over 100 universities & colleges and dozens of breweries including much beloved Sam Adams and Harpoon brands. However, the craft cocktail is infiltrating this traditional, salt-of-the-earth market with several popular bars known for specializing in delectable drinks. If you look hard enough, you'll find a gem or two, typically tucked away in basements, behind curtains or, in this case, in an old foundry.  

Luckily, we didn't have to look too hard. My event planner friends, Kim and Elizabeth, know the Boston food & drink scene inside and out. They were the geniuses who introduced me to Belly's Four Blind Wines tasting that I wrote about last spring. This time, they organized a cocktail class for a handful of our friends at Grand Ten Distilling in South Boston. Lonnie, our fabulous bartender, showed us how to properly make two cocktails - a gin smash and a drink similar to a manhattan. Then he helped each couple invent their own signature drink. 

Lonnie was an incredible host. Here is a man who truly loves his job, knows a lot about booze, and gets visibly giddy when concocting a new drink. Below is Lonnie delivering our first lesson in the Gran Ten Tasting Room:
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About Grand Ten Distilling
Grand Ten is located in South Boston, about a 10-minute walk down Dorchester Ave from the Broadway Red Line T stop. Here you'll find Boston's old foundry - rows of low rise buildings that were once used to manufacture high quality iron for government weaponry. Once the demand for guns declined, the foundry evolved into wire factories. 

One of the many things I love about Grand Ten is how they incorporate the local history into their labels. For example:

  • Wire Works Gin pays homage to the building's historical purpose - wire manufacturing. 
  • Medford Rum was named for the original - one of the most popular rums during the 1800's. The original was manufactured and shipped from nearby Medford, MA ( Tip: pronounce it Medfid, otherwise you'll be labeled an "intahlopah" and be laughed out of town).  
  • My favorite is Fire Puncher vodka, named for Tommy Maguire, who in 1887 fought a raging fire at an Iron Works building with his fists. Don't believe me?  Check out this newspaper clipping from 1887. He was a little bit brave and a whole lot of crazy, which is a fitting description for the person who drinks Fire Puncher straight up - it's SPICY! 
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The atmosphere of the tasting room is industrial hipster - wicked tall ceilings, exposed beams, metal factory lamps, brick walls, and dudes with beards  Oh, and let's not forget the old green truck that adds a little color to the ambiance:
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The back room is where all the magic happens. It looks a lot like a chemistry lab with beakers and burners filled with mysterious concoctions. The copper still looks like something out of Frankenstein's lab. That or R2D2 and CP30's love child.  Clearly, there is a lot of science and experimentation that goes into Grand Ten's products. 
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Cocktail Class
Gran Ten provided us with all the necessary gear for proper drink making. We learned how to measure, muddle, stir, shake and pour the right way. 
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Our first drink was a refreshing gin smash made with muddled mint leaves, Wire Works gin, honey simple syrup, lemon juice and orange bitters. 

Our second drink required Medford Rum (which actually has a taste more reminiscent of whiskey) and some vermouth. I noticed the name of the vermouth they provided was a Spanish brand named "La Cuesta". If you've been reading this blog for a while, you may recall my visit to Cuba where I learned a lot about my family history. My grandmother's last name is "de la Cuesta" and her ancestors originated from Spain. Perhaps there is a connection! 
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Here is our beautiful second drink:
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Then it was time to create a drink and we challenged Lonnie to help us make one with coconut cream. We knew Lonnie was good, but was he THAT good? Sure enough, Lonnie delivered and we made a frothy pink cocktail using the ingredients below. It was a tasty drink that I later named the Pink Panther.  
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[Pictured Above] Kim enjoying our invention - the PInk Panther!

At the end of the evening Grand Ten gave each of us a cocktail glass as a parting gift.
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Honestly, I'm not a big cocktail drinker so I can't expertly review the liquors. However, I enjoyed all the drinks we made and the individual tastings, which says a lot since I don't typically like gin, rum or whisky. Chris, who has a more sophisticated palette when it comes to the hard stuff, liked the Medford Rum so much that he bought a bottle. And he's not a rum drinker.

For me, the best part of the experience was learning something new from a great teacher (Lonnie) with good friends as my fellow students.  

Grand Ten offers private parties, tours and private cocktail classes. Or just swing by for a tasting! 

Note: This is not a paid endorsement of any kind. Our entire group paid for our class and any bottles we purchased afterwards.
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Photo Tour: Sunset in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

10/13/2014

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During a recent family visit to Puerto Rico, Chris and I spent a perfect afternoon in Old San Juan.  We adore this colorful city (it's where we got married after all) and we lucked out with a perfect golden afternoon in the middle of hurricane season. Here area some of my favorite pictures: 
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Fall Travel Fashion Finds: Outerwear

10/1/2014

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In much of the world, October's brisk breeze and shrinking days cause the trees to flaunt their finest outerwear. Inspired by autumn's transformation, here are a few travel-friendly outerwear options for the fall:

Michael Kors Removable Liner Trench Coat [Macy's]

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This classic trench is my go-to jacket for fall city travel. The removable wool liner and button-on hood make it highly versatile - a must for unpredictable fall weather. The outer layer resists water and stains, and holds its shape over time. Below is a photo of my coat from my trip to Paris in October 2011. I still use this jacket today! 

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Faux Leather Biker Jacket [Zara] 

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Faux leather works for travel because it's easy to care for and you don't have to worry about ruining real leather when you get caught in the rain.  I like this jacket because it has a detachable fur collar and various pockets.  While these jackets are a little bulky for a carry-on, I managed to travel with one in my backpack for the last four months of my trip around the world.

Anorak Jacket [Target]

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I purchased this coat in gray earlier in the season and LOVE it for travel. It's wind-resistant, lightweight, has a hidden hood, optional cinched waist and the sleeves roll up allowing you to show off your favorite bracelets. So far four random people have stopped me to compliment me on this jacket. The best part? It's under $50! 


Ultra Light Down Quilted Jacket [Uniqlo]

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The puffer jacket look can be polarizing. However, you won't look like the Michelin Man in Uniqlo's ultra-thin lightweight down jacket. These warm jackets are so thin that they can be used in the winter as an inner layer for your overcoat. They are an ideal solution for trip that involves both city and outdoor adventures. Plus, they scrunch up into a small bag making them perfect for travel. 

Smartwool Eternity Scarf  [Athleta]

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Smartwool is beloved by many a traveler for its ability to moderate body temperature. This season, Athleta is carrying an eternity scarf and slouchy hat made of the popular marino wool material. I own both and they are incredibly soft and light. Whether at home or traveling, I will probably live in these items until spring. 

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    Eva has been traveling for 15+ years, including an 8 month journey around the world.  

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