Consuming the World, One Bite at a Time

Lovely Lady Lumps: Volume Larger

2010-05-10T13:40:00.001-07:00

That's me at 33, almost 34 weeks. Here is another one from our session at Milestone Photography:

The past few weeks have flown by, but they have brought extremely good times with friends and family showering us with gifts and love in preparation for Baby Wiss. We feel truly blessed. Last night we were taking stock and realized that because of the generosity of those who love us, we are just about ready for this baby, which is an awesome feeling. The only hitch was that she still had no place to sleep, which may have been a problem. So upon the arrival of her crib (and THREE attempts at getting this huge thing home) , Nick "The Handyman" put it together all by himself. Here he is being the best dad ever:

Finished product pics are to come. Thank you, again, to all of our friends and family. We're lucky to bring Laine into such a loving group of people.

Lady Lump: Volume Large

2010-04-08T17:11:00.000-07:00

Here I am at 29 weeks. Hard to believe I've still got 11 to go, huh?

Luckily, as looking down at my feet becomes a figment of my imagination, Nick's latest deployment is winding down. The other day I decided I'd had it when I attempted to fill up Steve's food bowl and bent down to his crate, catching my necklace on it and breaking it. I then had to sit on the floor to clean up the pieces and get the job done. Pregnancy - 1, Me - 0. Here are some cool shots of Nick at work in Colombia taken by Sgt. 1st Class Craig Collins.

Here he is hopping into the Colombian waters, like a pro.

We did get to Skype a few times after Colombia while he was staying in a hotel, and more important than what we had to say to each other was what Mr. Stinky had to say to his daddy.

More photos to come as Steve, Boo, Stink, and I welcome Nick home. We've missed you!

I've debunked a pregnancy myth.

2010-03-08T18:11:00.000-08:00

This week I experienced the dreaded glucose test for gestational diabetes--the one that all previously pregnant women warn is excruciating, forcing you to choke down thick orange goo on a timer then sit and deal with it for an hour. However, the drink left me thinking, "Mmmm...delicious!"

I'm sure it's my inner fat kid surfacing, but with the first sip I was taken back to a 3rd grade birthday party, sipping a sugary "jug" drink with the aluminum foil lid. Yums. Future pregnant women: don't believe the hype. The glucose test rocks.

For posterity, here's another bump shot. 25 weeks.

Lovely Lady Lump - 23 weeks edition

2010-02-19T19:02:00.000-08:00

My lady lumps are over the hump of 20 weeks, and will be growing even bigger, faster (which is unbelievable to me). Here I am at just a few days past the 23-week mark.

The past few weeks have been a blur, but Baby Wiss has been growing steadily and moving increasingly. Nick returned from Haiti and was welcomed by kicks he could feel from the outside, which was very cool. In the midst of this excitement, the Saints won the Super Bowl, Neely came to New Orleans for her bachelorette party, and and the Big Easy survived another extremely rowdy Mardi Gras season. I feel like I just came down from an adrenaline high just in time to usher in my third trimester, which, according to literature and really nice friends who "just want to warn me," is more exhausting than the first. Great! I did find comfort in the Times-Picayune's "Rate Your Exhaustion" poll this week. I'm not alone!

Baby Wiss will have serious street cred for being at the Saints' victory parade. An estimated 800,000 fans descended upon New Orleans to be a part of the celebration. Here's Erin (visiting from VA), Nick and me on Bourbon St. right after the Super Bowl win.

Less than a week later, Neely and Co. invaded Nola to celebrate her last few months as a single lady over Mardi Gras weekend. I'm pleased to say they experienced more of the city than most do in multiple visits. They did Bourbon St., Uptown for the Bacchus parade, Frenchmen St. for some original jazz, tarot cards in Jackson Square, hurricanes at Pat O'Brien's and had adventures that can't be mentioned in between. Nicely done, ladies. We miss you already!

Needless to say, I'm catching up on rest and we have an awesome weekend of couch sitting ahead of us. The only interruption will be my first pre-natal yoga class, which will be a welcome change and will, as my doctor promises, provide some relief for this sciatic nerve issue that has entered my life in the past month. Has anyone else had experience with this? Any and all stretches or magic tonics for relief are welcome.

Namaste.

"Ohhhh...we're halfway there!!!"

2010-02-03T19:29:00.000-08:00

I'm always looking for an excuse to quote the great Jon Bon Jovi. So I'm safely at 21 weeks and going strong. Here's what we know so far: Baby Wiss is a little girl who really loves strawberries and gets the wiggles when I play music on my belly. Whether this is because I'm blasting her out a little too much is TBA. Speaking of the belly, it seems to have doubled in size overnight, which I don't mind entirely because it's now very obvious I'm pregnant. I've actually found some self-esteem relief in growing forward now instead of sideways.

The other day was the first time a stranger (a male employee at Lowe's, interestingly enough) walked up and asked me when I am due. I told him I wasn't pregnant, which felt SO good because I was having a terrible day up to that point.

As for the rest of my life, Nick is still in Haiti helping with earthquake relief, but we're holding out hope he'll be home in time for all Super Bowl-related festivities about to go down in New Orleans. WHO DAT! This week Nick did make the Navy News and was on the homepage of navy.mil, which is a big deal in our book. Here's Nick "in action," surveying water depth to make way for an incoming ship:

I'm the proudest wife ever! Stay tuned for new belly pics Friday.

My Lovely Lady Lumps

2010-01-24T16:16:00.000-08:00

This is volume one of my 'bump' photos, since there's been nothing really to see until the past few weeks. Here are a couple:

WEEK 14

I was still just looking a little fat here.

WEEK 19

Here you can see that I've started to really 'pop.'

Baby Wiss is growing steadily and she seems to really, really enjoy fruit. This was made evident to my crazy-woman drive to Whole Foods last night at 8:45, where I bought two huge bags of oranges and two containers of pre-cut fruit. Saturday nights don't get any crazier than this, but I digress. About ten days ago I started feeling her roll around on a regular basis, which makes eating even more fun! Last night as I settled into my fruit coma, she danced around from her sugar rush. I gave her the soundtrack by switching on Stevie Wonder. This girl already knows a good beat.

Guess who it is...

2009-12-31T16:40:00.000-08:00

Baby Wiss is a GIRL! Here are a few photos of what she's been up to in utero.

Here she is raising the roof to get a little more room:

Mission accomplished a few minutes later, she's laid back, chilling with her feet up. Atta girl.

I hope you're as excited as we are about bringing what will inevitably be another brilliant, high-maintenance lady into the world. I'll post a belly pic very soon. I've just started to "pop" as, apparently, those in the pregnant world say. However, more pressing is the huge New Year's Eve dinner at Ruth's Chris that awaits, so additional photos will come later. Happy New Year, everyone. 2010 is going to be a good one!

It's Baby Wiss!

2009-12-02T19:06:00.001-08:00

"Hi, everybody! I'll see you June 15."

We're reviving this blog. And it's about to get exciting!

2009-11-13T18:12:00.000-08:00

Another January Milestone

2009-01-25T19:40:00.000-08:00

Yet another life changing event occurred in our lives this month...Nick turned 30!

To ring in his 30th year, we spent the day in New Orleans after a huge birthday breakfast at home (a pile of homemade mixed berry pancakes made by yours truly). We checked out the New Orleans Museum of Art in City Park (a work of art in itself), which houses an extremely varied, but interesting collection.

We took a walk on the Riverwalk along the Mississippi, had coffee and beignets at Cafe Du Monde (more on that later),

then tried a new tapas restaurant, Rambla, at the International House Hotel before heading home in a torrential downpour (characteristic of many of our NoLa date nights). The most memorable part of the night, you ask? Instead of choosing a dessert for additional birthday candles, Nick wanted one more course of tapas. The waitress was then kind enough to place a candle into Nick's steak tartare. Classic.

Happy Birthday, sweet man. Here's to the next 30.

It's a Beautiful Day.

2009-01-21T20:02:00.001-08:00

I'm still too awestruck at the historical significance of yesterday to write anything worthy of being coined 'commentary' on the day's events. I will just say that I was absolutely covered in goosebumps all day and got chills at the start of each new celebration.

I stole some quality company time to watch streaming video of President Obama's swearing in and inaugural address at my desk (Digital Wissler), and it was worth every penny. Congratulations, President Obama. Here's to an attempt to reunite our country.

The Mysterious Mirliton

2008-12-24T06:21:00.000-08:00

The mirliton, also know as "cayote squash" is a favorite ingredient used in cooking almost exclusively by natives of Louisiana (and those who live next door to them). This year, I'm giving my holiday recipes a Southern twist by making mirliton and shrimp stuffing, with the help of my neighbor Linda, a native New Orlinean. Her stuffing is without a doubt the very best I have ever had. Because people in Missisisippi aren't as familiar with mirliton, I had to go to Rouses to get the squash, where I also picked up the fresh shrimp. Here's Nick getting the shrimp ready for the pot.

Here's the "recipe" according to Linda:

-Boil about a dozen mirliton (she says MEH-lit-uhn)

-peel back the waxy layer

-saute an "entiahhh headah gahlic" with an onion in butter then throw in some fresh parsley

-then throw in 'this much' (making a bowl with her hands) of fresh shrimp

-then toss in fresh bread crumbs to taste

The result is heaven in your mouth. I promise. According to my research, mirliton are also grown in California. I want Nicole of Pinch My Salt to try this sometime and give it a gourmet twist!

We hope you are all having a very Merry Christmas, no matter what kind of stuffing you make!

No Christmas is complete without...

2008-12-21T08:55:00.000-08:00

A kid with Santa photo...

Here's our niece Audrey with Santa...this year turned out exponentially better than last year.

And for those of you, like me, that think the crying-child-with-Santa photos are even better, check this out:

Scared of Santa: Scenes of Terror in Toyland by Denise Joyce. Soooo funny.

Thanksgiving in WV

2008-12-21T08:38:00.000-08:00

We were thrilled to get home to West Virginia for a few days over Thanksgiving and even more thrilled (up until the end of the game) to get to Pittsburgh for the Backyard Brawl. It was so great to get a little snow and family in our holiday season early on! That's us above, in the nosebleed section of Heinz Field where the windchill had to be 10 degree, trying to act like we don't live in the sunny south.

We were so happy to catch up with Missy & Blair at the alumni association tailgate on the Waterfront before the game. Then we took the ferry over to Heinz Field. Hey DG's, does anyone recognize this boat???

Pittsburgh skyline (part of it) taken from the ferry. Don't let the sunny skies fool you. It was freezing.

We're baaaaack!

2008-12-20T15:47:00.001-08:00

We've decided to resurrect the blog, because, well, there's no reason not to. Just because we don't have an entire ocean between us and our friends and family doesn't mean it's any easier to stay connected. Plus, our life on the Gulf Coast is just as exciting as ever. We'll post all of our culinary expeditions from Florida through Louisiana and beyond. In the meantime, we hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season!

Last night in Sicily

2007-03-13T10:29:00.000-07:00

Nick and Steve checking out the brilliant Sicilian sunset.

After savoring our last dusk in the Med, we met our friends at Buongustaio in Motta S. Anastasia. For those of you who haven't been, Buongustaio is actually quite a gem in the little enclave of Motta. Their cuisine is fairly progressive for Sicily and its still extremely affordable. Buon appettito. Better than the great food was the company. There was no better way to end our last Sicilian night.

I'm condfident that we are the loudest crew to ever dine at Buongustaio.
We miss you guys!

More Arrivederci Sicily

2007-03-13T10:18:00.000-07:00

Nick, me, and Chad ready to play in our poker gear.

Steve is really going to miss Currier and his fancy toys...

And his life partner Paolo...

Arrivederci Sicilia!

2007-03-13T09:40:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately all good things come to an end, and our Sicilian days are somehow over. We've met some amazing friends that I know we'll have for a lifetime, and you have no idea how much we miss you already. Thank you for the great "Arrivederci" parties and dinners. We feel so blessed to have found such great friends and were wholeheartedly sad to leave. Here are some highlights from our last week off the tip of the boot.

The "sette vele" or "seven veils" cake that my co-workers bought for my last day of work. This is my VERY FAVORITE Italian delicacy. Made of seven layers of different types of chocolate, this cake was sent to Italy directly from God.

We had dinner at the amazing Valle di Marge agriturismo beside Mineo with our Mineo family: Allison, Colin, & Brian Georger, and Stacy, Katarina, Lilliana, and Monica Young. Thanksgiving won't be the same without you!

The hostess with the mostess, Coleen, threw our buddy Chad, Nick, and me an awesome going away party. It was the fourth meeting of the Swigonella Beer Club and a subsequent poker tournament. Neither Nick nor I fared well in the latter. But we're always champs at Beer Club meetings!

Thank you for the great times, Balents!

YOU MUST.

2007-02-10T08:29:00.000-08:00

When planning your trip to Barcelona, you MUST pencil in a lunch at tapas bar Cal Pep. Highly recommended by each of our guidebooks (we like to compare classics, like Frommer's and more irreverant takes on the city, like the UK-published Cadogan guides), Cal Pep is a fairly touristy stop, and once you step in to the small cafe, you begin to figure out why. We waited with the other hungry guests along the outer parameter of the seating area and were teased by the amazing aromas being plated up in front of us. When we finally snagged a seat, we knew what we wanted from watching the chefs plate up menu items from right behind the counter.

The beauty about Spanish tapas bars is that for only three to six euros per plate, you can sample a variety of items and flavors. So Nick and I were ready to try as many courses as possible.

We immediately ordered a plate of flash-fried green peppers with sea salt...AMAZING. Then we had what was possibly the best tuna tartare we've ever had. They served the tuna with a few crostini that weren't even necessary. We dove right in with our forks. We finished up with a Spanish quiche-like course. It's an egg bake topped with a creamy onion sauce. The three small courses coupled with a few (not quite sure how many..hehe) glasses of kava (a yummy, sweet Spanish champagne) was a perfect lunch at this world-reknowned gem.

Viva Barcelona!

2007-01-27T00:56:00.000-08:00

I know. You've been waiting far too long for details on Barcelona. I do apologize, and I'm trying to find time in my newly arranged schedule (grad school AND our upcoming return to the States) to update the blog. Obviously, I'm still working on that. Anyhoo, here are our favorite spots to check out in Barcelona for when you and yours make your own trek to the family-friendly city of Antoni Gaudi.

This is La Segrada Famiglia, one of Barcelona's crowning jewels and biggest tourist attractions. It's been under construction for over 120 years and isn't slated for completion until 2030!!!

Inside view of one of Segrada's beautiful stained glass windows.

Barcelona's main shopping district, Las Ramblas, at night.

New Year--Bigger Family!

2007-01-07T07:01:00.000-08:00

Just before the end of 2006, one final HUGE EVENT had to go down: the birth of our very first niece, Audrey Marie Bozarth!!!!

We are now Uncle Nick and Aunt Becca. The fact that we will impart all of our knowledge and wisdom to this little one humbles us...then makes us giggle.

Weighing in at a respectable 6 lbs, 12 oz, Audrey is resting comfortably with her hard-working mom and dad, Heather Wissler and Matthew Bozarth in Bloomington, Indiana.

Here she is with Nick's mom, her Nonnie.

If you can't tell, we're already a little obsessed with this pretty princess and can't wait to meet her when we come home in March.

Santa hit the place!

2007-01-07T06:46:00.000-08:00

Thank you everyone for all of our wonderful gifts. Despite being away from home, we were still spoiled beyond belief. We felt truly loved and missed. Thank you so much!

After. Look at all that stuff!

Even Steve was worn out from all of the Christmas excitement. He really needed a nap, but not before putting on his new sweater from his Nonnie Wissler. Buon Natale!

Sicilian Holiday

2007-01-07T06:34:00.000-08:00

This was our first holiday season away from home, and because of our fantastic friends (our family away from family), it ended up being one of the most memorable and festive Christmases we've ever had.
This is our very first attempt at roasted turkey! We got up very early on Christmas Eve to get it ready and in the oven, and it ended up being really fun. Given the massive amounts of butter and herbs Nick and I slathered on this bird, there was no way it wasn't going to be good.
Thank God we also baked a turkey, because Nick's attempt at frying one didn't turn out very well. Maybe next time, Nick!

These are our friends Nicole and Megan, digging in to traditional Condron Christmas fixin's, sweet potato casserole, granny's corn pudding, mashed potatoes...the works.
Here are Trent and Currier, enjoying Christmas tree splendor and watching Bad Santa.

Paris--Nick 'n Becca Style

2006-11-19T01:00:00.000-08:00

In honor of my 25th birthday our 2nd wedding anniversary, Nick and I headed to the City of Light, Paris, France. I couldn't have been more excited, as this was my #1 must-see destination upon moving to Europe. After hearing countless stories of Parisian exploits from my sister, Marie, I absolutely could not wait to discover this city on my own...I mean...with Nick. :)

Post-airport we headed straight for our hotel, L'Hotel Academie on Rue de Saint Peres, where we checked in to the world's tiniest hotel room and started mapping out a plan.

We headed to the Notre Dame, just a few blocks from our hotel. This is one massive cathedral! However, I've never really been into the Gothic style, and the scary panther/beasts extended from the cathedrals side reminded me of Nightmare on Elm St. 4, so we didn't stay there too long.

This is me seconds after commencing my 25th year at Georges, a Costes brothers restaurant on the top floor of the Centre Pompidou. You can't see it here, but the Eiffel Tower was glittering in the background. Great moment.

The day of our AnniBirthary we visited the newly-renovated Musee D'Orsay, which is home to Paris's modern art collection.

From the airport to the Polidor

2006-11-11T03:03:00.000-08:00

This was our first stop after landing in Paris...a highly recommended brasserie near our hotel in the St. Germain district called Polidor. We immediately fell in love with the cozy vibe in this tiny, crowded restaurant, as lots of large groups and families dined on French staples like poulet avec pommes frites (roasted chicken with fries). The restaurant was fully decorated in an autumn motif, and in honor of my favorite season I enjoyed a big bowl of pumpkin soup. Tres excellente! Nick had confit au canard (duck) avec pommes. It was sooo great! If you are going to Paris looking for an affordable, savory lunch, this is the place to go. Bon appetit!

An entry by Steven.

2006-10-24T11:29:00.000-07:00

This weekend I went on my first hike on Mt. Etna with my mom and dad. I discovered my penchant for outdoor adventures and pine cones. Every now and then I needed to stop for a break because the trail is very steep and my legs are still so short, but during my breaks I loved checking out the weird bugs that are on the volcano.

This is my dad and me taking a break.

This is my mom and me stopping to look out over Sicily. I love playing on Mt. Etna!
~Steve

Italy--Wissler style.

2006-10-01T02:35:00.000-07:00

My parents recently made the long and arduous trek across the Atlantic to see the most glamorous couple they know. Due to a slight scheduling glitch, they were only able to enjoy our presence for four days, but it was probably the greatest four days of their lives. Rebecca and I loved playing host to my parents and giving them a taste of how we've been spending the last two years of our life together.

My parents got to visit the ruins of Agrigento. Here we are taking a much needed rest. My Dad really thinks that all touristing should come equipped with golf carts as walking is just soooo much work.

You know you have a sports addiction problem when you are visiting the most finely preserved Greek ruins in all of Sicily and you insist on talking about who you want to start at QB on your Fantasy Football squad. But, honestly, that's what my Dad and I were discussing here.

If you are ever in Sicily and want a true taste of how Sicilians dine, you must visit an agriturismo. This one is called Valle di Marge and is located just outside of the town of Mineo. We drank loads of wine with lots of great friends and had an incredible time feasting like true Sicilians.

The beaches of Taormina are just gorgeous, and the town is one of our very favorites in the world. Here we are on Isola Bella soaking up some sun, and listening to my Dad wax poetic about how much he enjoys the splendor of rocky beaches.

The town of Taormina is located on top of a large hill overlooking the Mediterranean. We rode up a gondola with my parents and strolled through the town, watching loads of tourists and a couple of Sicilian weddings while enjoying some pre-dinner drinks. Next, we visited the restaurant Granduca, owner of the best view in all of Sicily. My mom got to pick out her own fish with our colorful maitre d. Granduca has wonderful ambiance, incredible food, and really reasonable prices. Rebecca and I highly recommend making a reservation the next time you're going to Taormina.

Despite having lived over 66 years, Boob (Yes, that's what Becca calls him) still enjoys frolicking in the surf with his son. Here we are in Siracusa, swimming, body surfing, and just generally acting like fools.

Meet Steve Wissler!

2006-09-23T00:40:00.000-07:00

My most recent dreams came true last weekend when we adopted Sicilian Steve Wissler, a Yorkshire Terrier who was being sold by a lady out of her car the side of the road (I know...Sicily is unbelievable). Signora Yorkie Seller had three little Yorkie boys, and Steve was most definitely the runt. She wasn't even keeping him in the box with the other two...poor little fella. Anyhoo, after a solid hour of begging Nick, he came with me to see them and he, too, fell prey to the most adorable puppy face either of us has ever seen. Plus, Yorkshires have hair, not fur, so I won't be wheezing or itching my eyes b/c I'm not allergic to this little one, which made him all the more irresistible. So needless to say, about five minutes after Nick met Sicilian Steve, Steve was riding in my little blue Fiat on his way back to our place to live in harmony with the world's two most spoiled cats, Tank and Boo. Integration into the family has been gradual--a decision made by the cats--but is moving right along. Yesterday Steve and Boo even napped together, which made this new mother very, very happy.
Welcome to the family Steve!

This week we took Steve to Taormina with our friends Brian, Allison, Colin, and Brian's mom and stepdad for an amazing meal at Granduca and some quality pet watching (a popular pasttime in Taormina). Steve went on the beach for the first time and was so worn out, he slept all the way through dinner!

Chaos never tasted so good.

2006-08-26T10:13:00.000-07:00

The Catania Market is a place I love to go by myself on Saturday mornings, although this crazy shopping extravaganza is held in downtown Catania daily. At the market I can buy the freshest spices and herbs, vegetables, fruit, bread....basically, you name it, and if it's in season, it'll be at the market and it'll be great. There are two sections of the Catania market, one for food and another full of clothes (really cheap) and housewares, but my favorite thing to do is to buy my produce for the next few days, then find a seller with super fresh fish. Usually he'll have the entire fish cut in half and laying on a bed of packed ice. I tell him how many filets I want--the best fish to get at the market, or in Sicily in general, is swordfish--and he butchers the fish for me right there. You can't beat it.
It's a chaotic place, with people screaming at you to buy their apples, shirts, squid...but it's an unbelievable experience that I haven't found outside of unique Catania.

A Day at Gambino

2006-08-26T07:01:00.000-07:00

Gambino Winery is a popular Sicilian winery located very high up on Mount Etna and at the end of a treacherous drive, but the food, service, and views are worth it. Marie, Ian, Nick and I went for a leisurely (and huge) Sunday lunch and wine tasting with our friends Trent, Coleen, Currier, Rob, and Gwyn. We had called ahead (which I recommend doing) to ensure a full meal, and we got just what we asked for, plus the added bonus of being the only ones on their terrace that day. We enjoyed a massive antipasti platter with our first two wines, then moved on to a Maccharoni alla norma course, which consists of a long and straight homemade noodle, fried eggplant, and tomatoes--probably the most popular (and tasty) dish in Sicily. We finished the pasta as we moved onto red wines and then began our next course, a mixed grill of Italian sausage and the best pork chop I've ever had. Dessert was a heaping bowl of fresh cherries and a nero d'avola--Gambino Cantari--that Nick and I purchased a case of.

Gambino's wine selection has grown over the past few years, but probably won't really mature and be great for another few. However, a visit to Gambino is the perfect way to spend an lazy Sunday afternoon. ~B

Stair Masters

2006-08-22T13:20:00.000-07:00

The nearby hilltop town of Caltagirone is most famous for two things: their boldly decorated ceramics and their "Scalazza," or gigantic stairs. I went to the lighting of the Scalazza with my friends Allison and Jennifer during Caltagirone's festival of their patron saint, the Festa di San Giacomo. It's the only time the Scalazza is illuminated other than Christmas, when a "Natale"-themed design is illuminated along the ginormous stairs.

The design is made of of multi-colored rice-paper luminaries and draws both locals and tourists from all over the island. It was very impressive!

Before the lighting we browsed around the countless ceramics shops and I bought Christmas tree ornaments painted in the signature Caltagirone style.

Etna is an angry lady

2006-08-19T02:28:00.000-07:00

Mt. Etna erupted a few weeks ago, and it was one of the most fantastic things I've ever seen. Naturally, we had to get as close to the lava as possible, so we drove with our friend Lenny about 20 minutes up the south side of Etna from our apartment and parked the car. Then, we hiked up from there, on what we thought was going to be about a 25-minute hike, but an hour later, as we climbed over dunes of volcanic ash and the "trail" disappeared, we realized we were wrong. In any case, after about 75 minutes of straight uphill climb, we were about as close as we were going to get without getting covered in spores from Etna's prickly bushes growing in the rock. We found some Italian picnickers (because, again, naturally, the thing to do when a volcano erupts is to have a picnic on it) and sat down beside them to enjoy a bottle of one of our favorite Sicilian wines that we'd brought along for the occasion, Planeta Segreta. It's a Nero D'Avola/Syrah blend that goes down easy, especially at high altitudes.

These pics aren't great, but it's the best we could do at 1am at 12,000 ft.

Consuming Capri

2006-08-14T11:14:00.000-07:00

Nick here, while Becca is more of the regaler of family fun and the updater of our infamous exploits, we are HUGE foodies and after hearing so many horror stories about disappointing dinners, I decided to take disappointment out of the equation. How does one do that, you must be asking. RESEARCH. Twenty minutes of your time spent on the absolutely essential Chowhound.com will assure you find a delectable meal in your price range. Chowhound is user-driven and contains none of the high falutin' drivel found in your typical NY Times or Frommers review.
With introductions out of the way, I must tell you about our best dining experience on the isle of Capri. Marie, Ian, Rebecca and I ate in a gorgeous restaurant set in an Italian lemon grove on Marina Grande called Da Paolino. Reservations are absolutely essential as we ate on a Wednesday night and it was packed. Beautiful setting and a really beautiful crowd. From what I read on Chowhound, it is not uncommon to see a celebrity or two, if that's really your bag. It certainly is Becca's. Sadly, we didn't see any celebs but the service there was something to be celebrated indeed. European service, if you haven't already discovered, is very hands off. In fact sometimes one is left wondering if restaurants in Europe even employ waiters. This couldn't be farther from the truth at Da Paolino. All of the waiters are highly knowledgable and highly attentive older gentlemen who will not hesitate to point you in the right direction concerning food and wine. Our waiter suggested we all try the antipasta buffet (we normally HATE buffets) and Marie, Ian and Rebecca all took his advice and returned to the table in minutes will all kinds of mouthwatering delights like eggplant quiche, marinated mushrooms and peppers, buffalo mozzarella, the list (unlike my memory) is endless.
I was truly vexed over my entree decision and once again our handy waiter (name of course forgotten) came to the rescue. I wasn't sure if I wanted the veal or the lamb chop. The waiter shook his head, looked me square in the eye and said, "Definitely the vitello, signore." And of course, the man was right. All of the entrees were incredible, especially Becca's pasta with zucchini flowers. The selection of vino was wide ranging, organized by region (as all lists should be) and included choices from France, Italy, South America, Africa, and the States. We started with a Sicilian wine we know and love called Planeta Segreta and later indulged in a Montepulciano from the North. They were both incredible.
Any dining experience can easily be soured by a less than savory dessert. Da Paolino did not disappoint. They have a desert buffet that is absoultely immense. Chocolates and fruits generally pervade and at this point the wine had already started to fog our collective memory of the specifics. What I will never forget is the best limoncello I have had anywhere in my life. Of course it is homemade and of course it was breathtakingly delicious. We had two more rounds. Surprised? Overall, I would say that Da Paolino is the third best restaurant I've eaten at in Italy. Intrigued to know the other two? You'll have to tune in for our next installment.

Ciao for now,

Nick

This is Becca enjoying a sampler from the dessert buffet at Da Paolino.

At the Grotto

2006-08-12T02:37:00.000-07:00

Finally we arrived at the Blue Grotto--a place unlike anywhere I've ever seen. Our gondolier was singing and the acoustics were beautiful. Inside the Grotto Azzuro (as it's known in Capri), we saw a small landing area at the edge of what looked like a cave. This was apparently the private entrance of Tiberius, whose castle sits on the cliff about 400 yards directly above us. Fascinating, si? Aside from visiting the Grotto, the boat ride was fab because we saw all kinds of lidos and restaurants built right into the rock above the water. There are also some incredibly constructed houses along the cliffs that blend right into the rock and flowers. Our 'captain' also stopped the boat for us a few times to take a dip in the water, however, I stayed closer to the boat than Marie did (and she was chided by the captain), because we were in very deep water and Marie and Todd forced me to watch too many gruesome scenes from Jaws when I was merely a toddler.

Take us to the Grotto!

2006-08-11T13:34:00.000-07:00

Ian & Marie came home with me to Sicily, where we re-united with Nick and headed up the boot to the breathtaking Amalfi Coast. After a short ferry ride, we were on the exotic Isle of Capri. Here we are taking an unforgettable boat ride around the island. I think our faces hurt from contant smiling.

The Condrons do Dublin

2006-08-11T13:01:00.000-07:00

To celebrate Dad's 60th birthday, the Condrons met in Dublin for the tail end of Dad and Todd's golfing adventure through southern Ireland. We toured Trinity College, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and a few amazing shopping districts. Most importantly our hotel was right across the street from Temple Bar, a bustling restaurant and nightlife district. Tom knows his stuff when it comes to the nighttime hot spots. Thanks for being the hippest, Dad! Todd and I met a likely distant cousin from County Cork and Marie discovered her penchant for Jameson Whiskey. The only thing missing from the trip was Nick, who was still in Sicily, gearing up for our Amalfi Extravaganza. In this pic, we're at the Ian-and-Marie-recommended Roly's Restraurant celebrating the birthdays of both Dad and Marie. It was an amazing dinner. Go there when you're in Dublin. I recommend the sea bass. ~B

Bienvenuti!

2006-08-11T05:58:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our new blog, created so our friends and family can keep up with our stories and new discoveries from overseas. Sometimes so much happens over here that it's hard to keep everyone updated, so bookmark our page and find out what craziness we've gotten into recently.