Yummy Street

I hate to say it...but I'm becoming a Dubstep convert.

2012-02-22T19:36:00.000-05:00

Dubstep is much more than just eardrum-piercing noise to me now? WHO KNEW? I guess I have Skrillex to thank for that.

#Nomnomnom

2012-02-22T19:34:00.000-05:00

JACKPOT. Thanks Rue La La!

uTry.it: Marx Foods Challenge—Hijiki & Star Fruit Salad; Mo...

2012-02-19T13:58:00.001-05:00

uTry.it: Marx Foods Challenge—Hijiki & Star Fruit Salad; Mo...: I love Marx Foods Challenge. Why? It’s because I can guaranteed the results are always scrumptious, fun, and exotic. Don’t we all love ...

Helmut Lang Runway Show Fall 12

2012-02-19T13:52:00.001-05:00

HELMUT LANG JOURNAL

One of the coolest things I've heard today

2012-01-31T15:19:00.001-05:00

Electrified

2012-01-31T00:23:00.000-05:00

Can I haz it?

2012-01-31T00:16:00.000-05:00

Helmut Lang Luminous Cord Cropped Sweater

DIY

2012-01-31T00:14:00.000-05:00

Custom made wooden book rack by OldAndCold. ETSY

Biker Blood

2012-01-31T00:10:00.002-05:00

Helmut Lang Crushed Light Leather Vest

Denim Jumper. YES PLEASE

2012-01-09T18:50:00.002-05:00

Theorizing

2012-01-09T18:39:00.000-05:00

Thank goodness for Theory.

2012-01-03T10:07:00.002-05:00

How-To: Badass Style

2012-01-01T18:38:00.000-05:00

Happy 2012!

2012-01-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

New Years Outfit?

2011-12-31T17:00:00.002-05:00

2011-12-30T20:00:00.000-05:00

MOMA

take a seat.

2011-12-30T17:54:00.002-05:00

Munching on French Food

2011-12-29T17:48:00.002-05:00

From right: Truffle oil- parmesan- herb fries, spinach, vegetable wellington, and creamy tomato soup :)

loooooooove helmut lang

2011-12-29T09:00:00.001-05:00

rocking amazing, thick eyebrows. who needs plucking?

2011-12-28T17:48:00.002-05:00

#Layers

2011-12-28T17:47:00.004-05:00

LOVE.

2011-12-28T17:47:00.001-05:00

Oh. Em. Gee.

2011-12-19T09:26:00.001-05:00

Here are some Helmut Lang looks I'm currently loving:

2011-12-18T13:17:00.000-05:00

2011-12-17T12:45:00.003-05:00

Who says you can't eat buffalo wings if you're a vegetarian. Golden West Cafe's Buffalo Tofu might be better than the real thing. The tofu is air-puffed and so fluffy, the hot sauce gives the perfect amount of tang, and the ranch dip is amazingly light. Give it a try.

Anatomy 101

2011-12-15T13:16:00.001-05:00

#FEELINGACADEMICTODAY

2011-12-14T11:58:00.002-05:00

Finals make me mad

2011-12-14T11:15:00.001-05:00

What gets me through finals

2011-12-13T22:07:00.000-05:00

SONGS ON REPLAY. Do it.
Is it Friday yet?

Brussel sprouts just got even better

2011-12-13T08:40:00.000-05:00

Hey all you pizza lovers! The other night, I went to Iggies, an amazing pizza place in Baltimore. It's a casual, warm environment where you set the table yourself and pick up your own pizza from the counter. To top it off, the place is BYOB and they let dogs in...especially greyhounds. I got the pizza of the month, called Castagne e Cavolette, which had shaved brussel sprouts, chestnuts, pancetta, and parmesan cheese. Needless to say, it was freaking amazing.

I can't wait to recreate this at home. Nom nom nom.

Doubly Lucky

2011-12-11T12:40:00.002-05:00

Signage with a real message?

2011-12-07T16:27:00.000-05:00

BAHAHA. HA. HA. HA.

Best I Ever Had: Sushi Edition

2011-12-01T16:15:00.001-05:00

When my friend Jamie came to visit, I knew that as the foodie duo, we were going to do some serious chowing down over the course of the weekend. We started out at RA Sushi in Baltimore for happy hour. Pictured below is the Viva Las Legas Roll, and man, does it live up to its name. The description is a mouthful, as is the sushi itself: Kani kama crab & cream cheese rolled in rice & seaweed, lightly tempura battered & topped with spicy tuna, kani kama crab & sliced lotus root; finished with a sweet eel sauce & spinach tempura bits. And if you think that description is ridiculous, imagine how it tastes.

Nom nom nom.

Birds of a Feather

2011-11-27T16:13:00.001-05:00

A bird seemed to have exploded in our back yard the other day. Good thing my brother's friend makes Dream Catchers. Looks like he just hit the jackpot.

Not a bad view

2011-11-15T16:10:00.000-05:00

One thing I love about Long Island Sound is that it always looks beautiful.

On cloudy days

Or reflecting a perfect blue sky

Abolut does it once again

2011-11-07T16:08:00.001-05:00

While I was home on break the other weekend, I couldn't help but pick up this bottle of Absolut Brooklyn. How cool is this bottle? Plus, it's a Spike Lee Collaboration. Win? Yes, I would think so.

Progressive Eating

2011-10-20T16:03:00.003-04:00

If there's one thing I love, it's munching on the go. Jamie and I explored an outdoor food fair near Madison Square Park called Madison Square Eats. And boy, did we eat...A LOT. Check it!

Roberta's Pizza. Nom?

This stand had hundreds of spices and teas for sale by the pound.

These pork buns were ridiculous. The bun was so fluffy, the pork was sweet and sour, and topped with a crunchy pickle. It was PERFECT.

Hungry yet?

Food Porn

2011-10-07T16:02:00.000-04:00

Shake Shack. That is all.

Pickle Lovin'

2011-09-10T01:26:00.005-04:00

Everywhere I go, I tend to seek out the pickle. Ever since I was super little, there was something about the crunchy, salty, sourness of a pickle that I could not resist. While visiting a friend in Long Island this summer, I came across a pickle stand at a local street fair. The name The Pickle People was enough to have me completely intrigued. They offered horseradish pickles, bread and butter, cajun spiced pickles, habanero, crushed chile, dill, and extra sour. Of course, I had a difficult time choosing, so I had to get two! Horseradish and sour dill. I was obsessed with both! So the pickle adventures continue...I have found it impossible thus far to turn a pickle down.

Happy eating :)
Hannah

Shake Shack Rocks

2011-09-08T01:34:00.000-04:00

There are some things that are just worth waiting in line for. Shake Shack in NYC, is one of those things. At the end of the summer, I went to their Madison Square Park location with my mom, aunt, and cousin. I decided to get the "Second City Bird Dog", which is dragged through the garden with pickle relish, cucumber, pickle, tomato, pepper, celery salt, and mustard. I have never had such a delicious hotdog!

Lucky for me, a new Shake Shack location just opened in Westport, Connecticut. And trust me, it's definitely worth the wait!

HELLO PONCHO

2011-09-06T01:10:00.000-04:00

Personally, I tend to pick my clothes based upon the comfort factor. And something I'm thrilled about is the fact that the poncho is in this season! Great news for a pajama-lover like me.

Also-- please check out this Vogue article on Pajama Dressing. It seems as if the world is catching on to my theory of comfort inspiring style. Until next time!
Hannah

Just Living la Vida Leopard?

2011-09-02T16:52:00.003-04:00

What's more fierce than leopard? I'm still not sure how I feel about the current leopard-print jean fad, but I'm definitely a fan of leopard-print shoes! They're such a cool way to add interest to an otherwise neutral outfit. I have been secretly coveting these Sam Edelman ankle boots... so perfect for fall. I think I might have to give in and splurge!
Let your inner animal out :)

New Music Obsession

2011-09-01T11:58:00.000-04:00

Lately, I have become a Machine-Head. Florence and the Machine that is! There's something about her funky voice and cool instrumentals that has me hooked. Check her out!

C'mon Irene: Rainy-Day Fashion

2011-08-28T11:57:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone! Who says you can't look fabulous in the rain? With the dregs of Hurricane Irene passing today, I found it impossible to find something to wear. Take a look at some retro and modern ways to turn a rainy day into a fashion statement.

This mid-century couple keeps fashion in mind, even in the rain.

Quite an elegant raincoat, no?

This Zara raincoat looks more like a blazer than the bright yellow rubber ones we are used to!

For the fearless fashionista, this Zara leopard-print trench-coat is a perfect way to brighten up a gloomy day.

I hope everyone is weathering the storm alright, and I know we're all looking forward to a sunny day soon.
Hannah

Bring it Together

2011-08-23T13:08:00.001-04:00

What's better than Thursday night Yoga in Bryant Park?

Good Morning Manhattan

2011-08-17T16:27:00.002-04:00

There's something so special about New York. Yeah, it's hectic at times, and a little rough around the edges in spots (I'm mainly referring to the dirt factor), but once you develop a true love for the city, it never goes away. I just finished my internship at Coach this past Friday, and as back-to-school time approaches, I can't help but think of how much I will miss being in the city everyday. I pass the Empire State building everyday walking to work. Although I see it all the time, it never ceases to amaze me and reminds me how much I love New York.

Color me Happy

2011-08-13T01:11:00.001-04:00

I've been having some pretty colorful food lately. There's nothing better than food that is vibrant in flavor and in pigment.

My dad's tilapia roasted with onions and carrots with a side of brown rice and peas.

Delicious "tacos de gambas", or shrimp tacos at Bodega Taco Bar.

Retrospective.

2011-08-06T22:57:00.003-04:00

Hi all! I'm a little nostalgic for Madrid today. I love being home, but being abroad was one of the best experiences I think I will ever have. I was browsing through my old pictures from last fall, and I came upon this video. There is nothing more Madrileña than Flamenco.

Enjoy!
Hannah

Is there anything better than Pinkberry?

2011-08-02T22:20:00.002-04:00

I THINK NOT.

Carrot and Jelly Rainbows

2011-07-30T22:34:00.003-04:00

In Martha's Vineyard in the town of Chilmark, we went to an amazing farmer's market that we go to every year. There are tons of farmers selling fresh produce, jelly, pesto, bread, cookies, fresh-squeezed lemonade, and even soap! Check out some of my favorite finds.

Beautiful heirloom carrots.

Handmade jam!

I couldn't resist-- still putting this apricot orange marmalade on my toast in the mornings :)

Have you ever seen such gorgeous scallions?

The best food is fresh food!

Happy eating!
Hannah

Try Thai

2011-07-26T21:48:00.000-04:00

If there's one thing I love after work, it's a plate of pad thai-- the perfect combo of salt, sweetness, crunch, and zest.

Eataly

2011-07-13T11:54:00.015-04:00

Hello fellow foodies!

If you love eating as much as I do, you have to check out Eataly, Mario Batali's indoor gourmet Italian market, on 5th Ave and 23rd Street. They have a crazy huge assortment of prepared foods, meats, cheeses, coffee, pasta, fish, fruits and veggies, and little cafes that will prepare fresh, local food for you on site. Here are some photos from my trip to Eataly. Try it yourself, and definitely go with an empty stomach.

Amazing authentic Italian espresso.

A rainbow of vegetables.

CHEESE PLEASE

Can't be Italian without tomatoes!

I thought these were gorgeous.

Island Bound.

2011-07-08T21:48:00.003-04:00

Bright and early tomorrow morning, my family and I are headed to the Vineyard once again. It's the sweetest time of the year for us.

Despite the horribly corny video that accompanies this Carly Simon song, I thought of no better way to say what the Vineyard means to us than in this song, "Never Been Gone." Simon was a Vineyard lover herself, and I am still waiting for the day that I see her on the island. Catch ya later!

The Little Things

2011-07-05T11:10:00.003-04:00

Here are a couple special views of New York City. There's nothing better than stumbling across something beautiful.

A Chelsea Piers sunset.

REMEMBER TO KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN

The Chrysler building peeks through.

Grand Central at night.

Breakfast at Wimbledon

2011-07-03T11:45:00.001-04:00

Novak Djokovic just won the Men's Wimbledon title this morning against Rafel Nadal. Djokovic started out strong winning the first 2 sets (6-4, 6-1). Nadal revved the engines in the 3rd set, taking it 6-1. The two stars continued battling until Djokovic took the next set 6-3. He is now the number 1 player in the world, a bittersweet notion for Nadal (and Federer!) fans. Although I wish Nadal would have taken the title, I still love breakfast at Wimbledon on a Sunday morning.

Novak Djokovic

Waffles, and Dinges?

2011-07-02T17:09:00.001-04:00

There's nothing that can beat a freshly made waffle. And if you like food trucks and belgian breakfast treats as much as I do, you have to check out Wafels and Dinges, a waffle truck that roams the streets of New York. The only way to know where to find the waffle truck is to check their Twitter for hourly updates on their location. They offer a variety of waffle sizes and every topping you could imagine, including spekuloos spread (a heavenly, nutty butter that they spread on top of your waffle). That's about all their is to say about Wafels and Dinges-- it's simply deliciousness. So get to stalking and try one asap.

Me--elated--once I found the Wafels and Dinges truck!

Living the High Life on the Highline

2011-06-28T16:45:00.001-04:00

Great News! The new section of the Highline is open. For those of you who don't know what the Highline is, a quick review: In 2006, NYC decided to convert an elevated train track that was no longer in use into a park. They finished converting the first section of the tracks (which runs from Gansevoort street to West 20th Street) in 2009. This summer, they completed the stretch of the track that runs from West 20th Street to West 30th Street. I'm lucky enough to work on 10th ave and 34th Street, so the Highline is perfectly convenient for a stroll--and of course a bite to eat-- after work.

To go along with the new section of the park, Chef Tom Colicchio opened The Lot on Tap, which is a beer garden located under the entrance of the Highline on 30th Street. Each day you can find a different assortment of food trucks there-- from lobster rolls, to dumplings, to Korean BBQ. Needless to say, I've found this place a perfect way to relax after a busy day at work.

The Lot on Tap

Definitely check out the Highline for yourself...it's one yummy street.

Pot Pie Anyone?

2011-06-22T16:42:00.000-04:00

The other day I had a POT PIE SIGHTING. Ever since I was little, I have been unable to resist a steaming, creamy, crusty pot pie.

My friend Jamie and I had this delicious Pot Pie at Tuck Shop, a stand in Chelsea Market. This one was chicken-ham-veggie...but these Aussie pot pie enthusiasts have much more to offer than just your standard chicken flavor.
Check out the other amazing stands at Chelsea Market. The Village Voice lists 10 hot spots within the market, and Tuck Shop is obviously included.

Happy Eating!
Hannah

My First Oyster.

2011-06-01T22:25:00.000-04:00

NEW FOOD ALERT!
Yesterday was momentous. As adventurous as I am with food, I have always been a bit wary of the oyster. Despite its reputation as an aphrodisiac and overall delicacy, the little critters kind of scare me. But yesterday when I was at lunch with my mom, I decided to take the plunge. I had waited long enough...21 years and I still hadn't tried the infamous shellfish that the town I live in is known for? (Norwalk was a big oyster town back in the day.)

So with the waitress and my mom cheering me on, I went for it. These Bluepoint oysters (native to Long Island Sound of course!) were served with a spicy horseradish cocktail sauce and a ginger mignonette (not exactly sure what this was-- but picture vinegar, ginger, and onion--delicious). And guess what? The little guys were delicious, not scary at all. I think I have become a permanent fan.

Happy shucking!
Hannah

Google-- Keeping it Real

2011-05-09T16:23:00.001-04:00

Fun, random fact time!
Today, when I was in the library, I was pleasantly surprised by what popped up on my google page! Today happens to be Roger Hargreaves's birthday, and google is honoring him today by featuring a series of 16 doodles that rotate as the google homepage, all inspired by Hargreaves's animated characters. Check it out; keep refreshing the page to see all of the different doodles! It's pretty cool.

Check out the Huffington Post article about it!

Google rocks! And makes doing two research papers a little more enjoyable :)
Come visit again soon!

Hannah

Coming back to a good thing.

2011-05-08T12:57:00.004-04:00

Hello everyone!
I'm back to take a walk down Yummy Street again. It has been a crazy semester at Hopkins! After coming back from Spain, it was definitely a reality check. Took me a while to get used to coming back to the real world and doing real homework, but somehow I survived the semester. I took five awesome classes! I took a Readings course for my major, Writing Seminars, where we read five authors from the 1950's: John Updike, Vladimir Nabokov, Peter Taylor, Flannery O'Connor, and John Cheever. All superstar writers, and definitely inspiring to read.

Nabokov's Lolilta is a creepy novel about a European man's obsession with a young girl. Despite the subject matter, Nabokov really is a literary genius.

John Cheever is a master of the suburban short story.

Flannery O'Connor's fiction gives readers a look, at times grotesque, at life in the south.

I also took a class called Crossing the Literary Color Line, and read some really interesting novels by Richard Wright, Willard Motley, and James Baldwin.

Giovanni's room is a short novel by Baldwin, that features a main character that is struggling with his own sexuality.

Richard Wright is a superstar of African American literature. We read Savage Holiday, a violent tale of a compulsive man whose insecurities inevitably lead to a murder.

I took a fiction class on the short story, and read some Henry James, Turgenev, Chekov, Kleist, Hoffman, and Wharton. I got to create my own short stories, inspired by these authors, and feel that this semester I am finally beginning to come into my own as a writer.

Edith Wharton wrote The Bunner Sister, and she gives a great idea of what it was like when the form of the short story was still being explored and created.

We read a great deal of Russian writers, including Turgenev's Sketches from a Hunter's Album.

I also took a class called Men and Women in Society-- I learned a lot about gender roles all over the world and I really got a new perspective on what it means to be a woman in American society.

This class just reaffirmed by feminist values!

I also took a spanish class on literature of the Orient, so I have been keeping up with my spanish! As you can tell, things have been busy! I had my eyes glued to a book constantly this semester, and although I like it that way, I am definitely looking forward to some more free time this summer.

Now that the semester is coming to a close, I have decided to return to my beloved Yummy Street. Now that summer is approaching, I will have much more time to post about my summer adventures. I will be working in New York City this summer for Coach, in their corporate Product Development Department.

I will post regularly on my adventures in the city, and I can promise that most of that will be food-related! So get ready for more food discoveries and whatever I stumble upon along the way! Check back soon :)

Hannah

Goodbye, Madrid. It's been Real.

2010-12-04T09:00:00.001-05:00

I never thought this day would come so quickly. Today is my last day in Madrid! But this weekend, air-traffic controllers in nearly ALL of Spain's airports went on strike due to pay-cuts, stranding thousands of passengers and causing the airspace to be completely closed. Recently, the airspace has been reopened, and the controllers have returned to work, but we still don't know exactly what will happen with our flight tomorrow, with delays and whatnot. Despite this bump in the road and how much I want to go home, I will miss Spain dearly.

Adios, España. Trust me, I'll be back soon.

I can't even express what a strange feeling this is. In the beginning, I would have never believed that I would feel this comfortable in another country, immersed in a completely different way of life, but it happened. I have gotten the opportunity to do so many amazing things this trip, and I have learned so much about myself and about adapting to a different culture. I know I will carry these experiences with me throughout my life, and I will never forget these 3 1/2 months that I spent here. I'm have super mixed feelings about going back-- I miss my family and friends and some things about the US, but at the same time, I have learned to be so comfortable here, that I know I will miss Spain terribly. Thanks for everyone who tuned into my blog, and I will continue writing when I get back into the US with things I am doing, and eating of course.

Be on the lookout for my first post after I'm back in the US :)
See you all soon!

Hasta luego,

Hannah

A Weekend in Beautiful Portugal

2010-12-01T12:15:00.003-05:00

Hey all!

Two weekends ago, I went to Lisbon, Portugal for my last trip out of Spain during my time here. I didn't know much about Lisbon, or Portugal in general for that matter, but I had a wonderful time. Lisbon really is a hidden beauty, such a great city. It reminded me a lot of San Francisco, there is a bridge there that is almost identical to the Golden Gate, the streets are steep and cobble-stoned, and they still run cute old trolley cars on wires through the streets. Take a look through the sights.

I loved the architecture in Lisbon-- everything was very quaint and had an old-style feel. I also loved how the buildings were painted in vibrant colors. This house is in the neighborhood called "Alfama", one of the oldest neighborhoods in Lisbon.

This is the Plaza de Comércio, right on the water! Note the cute trolley car :)

How adorable are these houses?

We went up to el Castelo da São Jorge, a midieval-era castle, and this was the view from it. Gorgeous.

Castelo da São Jorge

We went to the Basilica da Estrela, a gorgeous basilica in Lisbon.

It rained our first day in Lisbon, and on the second day, the sun finally came out. This is one of Lisbon's main streets. Look at the cobblestones! And almost every street had lights hung between the buildings for Christmas.

During the day on Saturday, we went to Sintra, a city about 40 minutes away from Portugal. It's a cute little city with a historic moorish castle, and Portugal's historic royal palace, "Castilla da Pena".

Doesn't it look like a fairytale?

Back in Lisbon, we went to see the "Mosteiro dos Jerónimos", a beautiful monastary on the edge of the city.

Next, we went to see the "Torre de Belem", a historic tower on the water used as a look-out spot to protect the city of Lisbon.

A little ways from the Torre de Belem, we went to see the monument, "Padrão dos Descobrimentos", in honor of 33 Portuguese explorers, including Magellan, the first to circumnavigate the globe!

This is the "Elevador de Santa Juana". It's a gothic-styled elevator with a viewing deck on top, offering amazing views of Lisbon.

Me on top of the elevator!

Of course, I have to share a bit of what I snacked on that weekend. Everywhere we went, men had carts in the streets roasting chestnuts. The smoke and aroma filled the street as we walked by, so eventually we gave in and tried some. I had actually never tried chestnuts like this before, and they were delicious.

We found an Arabic tea room, and I got lemon verbena tea and baklava. Although it' wasn't exactly traditional Portuguese food, it was amazing.

More sweets! When we were in the town of Sitra for the day, we had to try the "Queijadas de Sintra", which is a sweet cheese and cinnamon tart. To me, it tasted like a creamy coffee cake.

Now THIS is what I came to Lisbon for. "Pasteis de Belem". An egg tart with a crispy-crunchy crust. One of the best things I have ever tasted. Literally.

We got them from this shop, the most famous place that makes the Pasteis de Belem in all of Lisbon. When we bought the tarts, they were still warm. Heavenly!

Hope you enjoyed my photo tour of Lisbon! It's a city I would definitely recommend visiting. I had a wonderful time.

Eek! Only 4 more days left in Madrid. Never though this would come so soon. Look out for another post here before I return to the US of A!

Hasta luego,

Hannah

A Passion for Spanish Fashion

2010-11-26T03:23:00.002-05:00

During my time in Spain, it's been awesome checking out the different style and fashion here. Just walking around our university, everyone is dressed so nicely and looks so fashionable. It's a very different feel from the sweatpants and uggs look we are so used to in the US. I wanted to do a little post on Spanish fashion-- using one of the most well known stores in Spain and the US: Zara. I've personally bought a lot of clothes from Zara since I have gotten here. They have great flats, harem pants, and awesome jackets. Here's a review of what is hot in Spain this fall and winter season.

The harem pant is something that I've been seeing everyone wear lately. It can be worn

during the day with military-style boots, or dressed up for night with high heels. This outfit is

a jumper, with military-style buttons on the top, something that is also very in here.

Layers, layers, layers. Pairing a loose, distressed boyfriend jean

with a graphic tee, sweater, and coat on top adds some interest to your outfit. For fall, you'll see

a lot of girls sporting loafers, military style leather boots, or tie up leather flats.

You'll see a lot of Spaniards adding fur (faux fur please!)accents

to their outfits, like this fur-hooded coat.

Pair it with some cool boots, a denim button down layered with a thick, pattered

sweater, and you are all set to go.

Skinny, dark jeans will always look great. Add a graphic sweater and a cool cape-style coat.

Wear it with boots, or dress it up with heels as you see here.

Although I'll never be quite as stylish as the women in these pictures or the Spaniards I see walking the streets of Madrid, I can at least try, right? Spanish fashion is super comfortable, relaxed, but structured at the same time. Personally, I love it. So get shopping!

Photos: zara.com

Spiced Pumpkin Flan- Thanksgiving with a Spanish Twist

2010-11-24T06:32:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I found a cool video online today, when I was supposed to be doing work in the library. But the good news is that it's a great recipe for pumpkin flan, and a healthy version at that! Try it out, and add some Spanish flavor to your Thanksgiving desserts.

Here's a list of ingredients you will need for the flan, and follow the video's instructions!

What you need:

1 1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons water
5 large eggs
1/3 cup sugar
1 can pumpkin puree
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 to 1 teaspoon vanilla (or a split bean)
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
pinch of allspice
pinch of mace
1 3/4 cups low-fat milk (for richer version sub 1 cup cream plus 3/4 cup half and half)
pumpkin seeds to garnish, optional

How to make it:
WATCH THE VIDEO-- The host is actually pretty funny.

I found this video on a site called Food Wishes, from a blog where you can find hundreds of other food videos. It's super cool-- definitely check it out.

Enjoy! Happy Turkey Day :)

Paris, je t'aime

2010-11-22T13:50:00.000-05:00

Bonjour! Last weekend, I went to Paris with two of my good friends here. I had an amazing time. Paris really is the city for lovers, it is beautiful. I have never been anywhere so amazing, well... other than Madrid of course! Here's a review of my fabulous Parisian weekend.

I started Paris off right-- with the Eiffel Tower of course. I'm pretty sure I took about 50 pictures of it during my time in Paris. We decided to climb up to the top to get some awesome views of the city... and we got a workout in while we were at it. There are more stairs to the top than you think!

Me at the top of the Eiffel Tower

Next, we walked over to the Sacre Coeur, a beautiful basilica set up on a hill, giving us beautiful views of the city.

We got to the Arc de Triomphe just in time for the sunset. When we walked out of the metro, we were greeted with a beautiful pink and blue sky.

After that, we walked down the Champs Elysees, the biggest avenue in Paris, with all the fancy shops. Super cool.

We made it to the Eiffel Tower to see it sparkle on our way home! The tower has a light show every hour.

Can't you tell I have an Eiffel Tower obsession?

The next day, we went to see Notre Dame. It was so beautiful and peaceful, somewhere I have always wanted to visit. There were enormous stained glass windows inside, and of course I took a good look at the stone gargoyles on the outside.

We ended our time in Paris at the Louvre. We sped through the museum (you could spend a week in there!) because we had to catch our flight, but it was an unforgettable experience. After that, I had lunch with my friend Kate (and future roommate when we go back to school!), who is studying in Paris for the semester! I'm so glad I got to see her.

Alright, so now that you've seen all the sights, let's get to my favorite part of Paris: the FOOD. Yep, that's right, I didn't stop eating all weekend. I started every day out with a fresh, hot baguette and a croissant with jam. What a life. Here's what I ate all weekend, I'm pretty sure I checked almost everything off on my French-food checklist.

This is a nutella and almond-filled crepe. It was the last thing that I ate in Paris, and probably my favorite.

French onion soup! So cheesy and delicious, and classic French.

For lunch one day, I had sauteed salmon with green beans, sweet potato, and french fries of course.

There was no way I could pass up going to Paris and not gorging myself on all different types of macarons (a delicious cookie filled with different things). I tried pistachio, raspberry, and vanilla.

Obviously, I had to try quiche! This one was spinach and cheese.

We tried two different types of french wine, and some delicious goat cheese, brie, blue cheese from all regions of France.

Creme brulee was a must. You just can't go wrong. This is probably the best creme brulee I have ever had.

As you can probably tell, I absolutely loved Paris. There is so much to see, do, and taste there. I would love to go back and spend some more time there. I just got back from Lisbon, Portugal this past weekend (it was my last trip of my time here), so be on the lookout for a post on that.

Adios, or should I say au revoir!

Hannah

Granada and Córdoba, a Trip to Southern Spain

2010-11-20T12:55:00.000-05:00

Hi all! Okay-- so we have some catching up to do. One of the coolest places I have visited in Spain was the city of Granada and Córdoba, in the region of Andalucia, Spain. I went with my program, and had an amazing time. Here's a photo tour of what we saw:

We started out the weekend in Granada. We visited "La Alhambra", one of the most famous places in all of Spain, in my opinion. It's a palace and fortress built in the 14th century by the Moorish (arab) rulers of the Kingdom of Granada.

The whole group

At the Palacio de La Alhambra!

View of la Alhambra

The gardens de "Generalife", part of La Alhambra, where the royal family would spend their recreational time.

Beautiful carvings at the Palace at La Alhambra

Other than La Alhambra, we took a walking tour of "El Albaícin", the oldest neighborhood in Granada, with great view of La Alhambra. In Granada, we went to an awesome Arabic market, that sold ceramic tea pots, carved jewelry, leather bags, and much more hand-made goods. We also went to a "Teteria", which is an Arabic tea room. So much fun!

Next, we were off to the city of Córdoba to see the famous "Mezquita", or mosque built by the Arabs. It's absolutely gorgeous. It is huge-- it's composed of 4 different parts all made of brick and stone arcs.

It was so great to see southern Spain, it's so different from Madrid! I loved the Arabic influence-- the food, shops, and architecture. I would go back in a second.

Check back for a Paris post tomorrow.

Hasta luego,

Hannah

Baila Baila Flamenco

2010-11-11T17:00:00.003-05:00

Hola!

This past weekend, I went to Casapatas, a tapas and flamenco bar in the center of Madrid. First, we feasted on traditional Spanish tapas (cheese, ham, croquettes, wine, calamari, tortilla), and afterwards went into a small theater to watch some of the best flamenco in Madrid. Flamenco is one of the first things that comes to mind when you think of Spain--it holds a special place in Spanish history and culture. Flamenco was born in the 18th century in the south of Spain, the region known as Andalucía. Flamenco is a classic art form of dance and music resulting from a combination of moorish, gypsy, and Sephardic influences. Seeing flamenco in person was unlike anything I have ever seen before. The dancers show such emotion and connect perfectly with the guitarists and singers. It gave me goosebumps. Here are a few pictures so you can see for yourself.

It's so hard to do flamenco justice with a camera. You just have to be there for yourself! Look out for another post soon... went to Paris this weekend--that means lots of cheese, baguettes, croissants, and maybe a little bit of sightseeing in between ;)

Hannah

Visitors in Madrid!

2010-11-09T16:59:00.003-05:00

Hi everyone,

Sorry for being so MIA lately. Things have gotten crazy! I finally have a boatload of school work to worry about, because I only have a month left in Spain, and it's crunch time. Time for a little update.

Halloween weekend, my friend Jamie came to visit Madrid. He is studying in Florence for the semester and I was so happy he was able to visit. We had an amazing weekend together. We strarted out the weekend by seeing "La Fiesta de la Trashumancia", which is basically a parade and a representation of how the Shepherds used to take the sheep in herds from the north of Spain to the south. There was a parade in the center of the city- complete with herds of sheep, bulls, and Spaniards dressed in traditional shepherd-attire dancing in the streets.

Parade of the Shepherds

The Parade of the Shepherds, there were herds of sheep in the center of the city!

Obviously for lunch, Jamie and I went to mercado de San Miguel, where we feasted on green olives stuffed with ham, manchego cheese, wine, and molten chocolate cake. Jamie and I interned together this summer, and we are both foodies, so needless to say, we spent a lot of that weekend roaming the city and snacking! After that, we wandered through the historic part of the city, through the Plaza Mayor and past El Palacio Real.

Our delicious lunch at Mercado de San Miguel.

In front of the Plaza Mayor.

Next, I showed him the Business District of Madrid. There are some pretty crazy buildings there, and it was the first time I had been there too.

Jamie and I in the business district.

For dinner, we ate at El Botín, the oldest restaurant still in existence today, so says the Guiness Book of World Records! We ate ham and delicious grilled chicken. It was so much fun to see Jamie, I was thrilled he was able to visit. I only wish I had enough time left here this semester to visit him in Florence.

El Botín

Look out for a post on Granada and Córdoba, Spain, where I went with my program this weekend. And I am going to Paris this coming Thursday, so be on the lookout for that too. Busy busy!

Hasta luego,

Hannah

Bull Fights... A Torear o No?

2010-10-29T14:00:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone!

On Sunday, I made a decision I didn't think I ever would: I decided to go to a bullfight. It was the last one of the season, and I figured I should give it a try. Although I wasn't thrilled with the idea of it. So we show up, it's a blustery cloudy day, and that was enough to give an eerie mood to the event. Not going to go into all the details, but it was definitely a once in a lifetime experience for me (and I'm not sure if that's a positive or a negative thing). Here are some photos from the bullfight. Don't worry, there's no gory ones. Thankfully, I was far enough away in the stands to not be able to see any of that!

There are other Toreros who fight the bull in the early stages.

This is the last round of the fight, when the Torero (bullfighter in Spanish) comes out. He is the one who always uses the red cape.

Just hanging out with the bulls before the fight.

The toreros warming up.

Bullfighting is classic and almost emblematic of Spanish culture-- in history that is. Because today, the only people that really seem to go to these things are old men and tourists. Many people are extremely against it, and bullfighting has already been banned in Barcelona, and there are people attempting to do the same here in Madrid. Personally, I'm all for banning it. Needless to say, my friends and I only stayed for 3 rounds, that was definitely enough. Regardless of the brutality of the bullfights, it was still something cool to see... I guess. I don't think I'll be going back anytime soon, but it was something that was definitely interesting to see.

Check in again soon,

Hannah

The Spaniards Love their Soccer

2010-10-26T12:00:00.000-04:00

Hola!

On Saturday night, I went to a Real Madrid game, the soccer team here in Madrid. They played the team called Racing Santander, a team from the north of Spain. I got to see some of the best soccer players in the world, including Christiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo is known for being a heart-throb, but also a star on the field. He scored 4 goals out of the 6 this match, a career record for him. It was so exciting to go to the game, it was something I definitely did not want to miss out on during my time here. The stadium was packed-- horns were blaring, and crazy fans were screaming Spanish cheers and dancing together. So much passion. Real Madrid dominated throughout the game, beating Racing Santander 6-1. I had so much fun. Here are a few pictures from the game:

Us at the game

Such a cool atmosphere, I would go again in a second.

The outside of the stadium.

Ronaldo's fourth goal-- a penalty kick.

This game is something I will remember for a long time. It was so awesome to see everyone rooting so hard for their team, and their cheering definitely paid off. Real Madrid is undefeated so far this season, and I'm excited to see how far they go.

Hasta luego,

Hannah

Hanging with Royalty--El Escorial

2010-10-23T19:58:00.001-04:00

In the courtyard outside El Escorial

Hey everyone,

This weekend, I took a day trip with my program to El Escorial, a royal palace, monastery, and basilica all in one located just outside of Madrid. First, we started out in the palace section of El Escorial, where King Felipe II lived with his family.

There were beautiful paintings on the walls-- landscapes and portraits of the royal family-- but I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside! Next, we wandered through hallways of tombs of the royal family. There were even carved coffins for the royal babies. Some of the tombs-- made of marble and granite and carved with beautiful designs and latin sayings-- are left open for royalty to come.

The town and mountains beside El Escorial

There is a beautiful basilica at El Escorial, complete with painted frescos on the ceilings, a golden altar, and an incredibly high ceiling leading to a stone cópula. We walked through the beautiful library complete with carved wooden globes, books with gold pages, and intricate doorframes. El Escorial was absolutely gorgeous, and so interesting!

The entrance to the basilica

We ended our trip outside in the gardens behind the palace, where we enjoyed the amazing weather and incredible views of the countryside and mountains.

View from the garden, so gorgeous. Look at the swan in the lake.

El Escorial and the awesome gardens in back.

What a view.

Me in the gardens outside

As always, we concluded the day with lunch-- I had a bean stew with sausage, and tuna in a tomato sauce for my main course, and flan for dessert. Not a bad day at all.

Check back soon,

Hannah

Segovia, a Trip Back in Time

2010-10-21T14:17:00.003-04:00

Hey guys,

This past Saturday, I went to Segovia, Spain with my program. I was so excited to go, I had heard great things about it. Segovia definitely surpassed my expectations. It was gorgeous! We drove about an hour north of Madrid to get there, and when we got off the bus, it was surprisingly chilly! Something I wasn't quite prepared for, and I'm paying for it now with a little cold.

View from el Alcázar

El Alcázar

But it was all worth it once we arrived at El Alcázar de Segovia, the royal palace set on a hill overlooking the beautiful countryside below. Fun fact: this palace was supposedly the inspiration for Disney's Cinderella Palace! How cool is that? The picture from my last post is me inside El Alcázar posing with a suit of armor inside--one of many. El Alcázar has wooden ceilings decorated with intricate carvings and painted tapestries on the walls of each room, definitely a step back in time.

Doesn't it look like the Disney Castle?

El Alcázar

View from the top

After that, we went to la Plaza Mayor of Segovia. It was so cute and small! I tried tarta de Alcázar, which was basically an egg sponge cake with a sugary glaze on top. There's no way to go wrong with that.

Yummy!

They yummy food continued with lunch! For my appetizer, I had a plate of ham, obviously. There was chorizo, salchichón, and a bunch of other types of miscellaneous ham to try. For my main course, I had an entire fish. Now we are talking a whole trout here-- I mean head, bones, slippery tail and all. Despite appearances (and the fact that my lunch was looking at me), the fish was delicious. For dessert, we had a sugary cake filled with marzipan (remember the stuff I tried in Toledo? The half sugar half almond paste pastries?), delicious.

Another fun fact about Segovia: they have a traditional pork dish called cuchinillo, which is a 3 week old pig. It's super tender, so tender that they have the custom of having the waiters cut the pig with a PLATE. At the restaurant, we watched as the waiter violently cut an entire pig with a ceramic plate, and then threw the plate on the ground and broke it when he was done. It was very interesting, and definitely a cool cultural thing to see. I couldn't help feeling bad for the baby pig though. :(

My fish

Next, we went to see the Aqueduct of Segovia. I'm sure some of you that have taken Spanish have seen pictures of this in your textbooks. It was wild to see it in real life. It's an enormous series of arks made of granite, dating all the way back to Roman times. The aqueduct transports water from the mountains into the city. It is gorgeous, and still functions today. Pretty sweet.

The aqueduct. So cool

Segovia was great-- lot's of good food, friends, and awesome sights. It's such a cute city, and it's perfect for a day trip.

This weekend I have a lot planned: we are going to the theater tomorrow night, then visiting El Escorial (the palace right outside Madrid), and going to a Real Madrid soccer game! Should be a good weekend. Be on the lookout for updates.

Que te lo pases bien,

Hannah

Guess Where I've Been?

2010-10-18T16:39:00.002-04:00

I went somewhere super cool for a day trip this weekend. Look out for a post on it this week! But here's a little clue just for now.

Let's Get Cooking

2010-10-18T13:28:00.013-04:00

Hola! So I thought it was about time to share a recipe. Tortilla Española is one of the most typical Spanish foods out there. It's super simple-- normally just potatoes, onions and eggs, but you can dress it up any way you want. This past weekend, I had a tortilla with caramelized onions, at Txirimiri, one of the best tapas spots in all of Madrid. It was super cheap, too!

Yummy tortilla with caramelized onions inside

Emeril Lagasse

A little something about me: I'm a total Food Network junkie, so I have been browsing their website during my time in Spain (hey if I can't watch it here, I might as well try to get my fix somehow, right?). I found a recipe by Emeril Lagasse (one of my personal favorite chefs) for Tortilla Española with a little bit of a twist. I went to Emeril's live show when I was little with my family. During one of the commercial breaks, Emeril invited all the kids up to his fridge on the set and gave us ice cream! I was so excited to meet him. Hope you enjoy the recipe, give it a try!

Tortilla Española with Aioli

(Recipe and photo courtesy of Emeril Lagasse and Food Network)

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons Spanish olive oil

• 6 cups thinly sliced Spanish onions

• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

• 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 1/4 teaspoon sugar

• 3 baking potatoes, (about 2 pounds), peeled and sliced into 1/8-inch rounds

• 8 eggs, lightly beaten

• 1/2 cup julienned serrano ham

• Aioli, recipe follows

• Chopped fresh chives, for garnish

Directions

Heat 1/4 cup of the oil in a large 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally. Season with 1/4 teaspoon each of salt, pepper, and sugar. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until wilted, golden, and well caramelized, about 45 to 50 minutes. Remove the onions from the pan and set aside. Wipe the skillet clean.

Pour an additional 1/4 cup of oil into the skillet and heat over medium heat. Season the potatoes with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper. Add the potatoes to the hot oil and cook, stirring and gently turning, until tender and slightly golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the potatoes from the skillet and wipe the skillet clean.

Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in the skillet over medium heat. Combine the reserved onions, potatoes, beaten eggs, and ham pieces in a large bowl. Season with the remaining 3/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper. Add the entire mixture to the hot oil and cook until the bottom is set and the top is still runny, about 12 minutes. As the bottom of the tortilla is cooking, use a rubber spatula to run around the edge of the eggs, lifting slightly to allow the eggs to run to the bottom and cook.

Place a large plate or serving platter on top of the skillet and invert the tortilla onto the plate. Carefully slide the tortilla back into the skillet so that the browned side is facing upward. Cook until the bottom is golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes longer. Remove the tortilla from the skillet and serve hot, or cool to room temperature, and serve. To serve, cut tortilla into thin slices and spoon 1 or 2 tablespoons of the Aioli onto the side of the tortilla. Garnish with fresh chopped chives.

Aioli (Spanish Garlic Sauce from Catalan):

• 6 large cloves garlic, peeled

• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

• 2 egg yolks

• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

• 3/4 cup Spanish olive oil

• 1/4 cup chopped chives

Place garlic cloves in a blender or food processor and pulse until finely chopped, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. Add the salt, egg yolks, and lemon juice and process until well combined.

With the machine running, add the oil in a thin, steady stream until the mixture is thickened. Stir in chives, adjust seasonings as needed and serve with Tortilla Espanola.

Yield: about 1 cup

Buen provecho :)

A Grand Return to El Mercado de San Miguel!

2010-10-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

A week or so ago, I went back to our artisanal food market here in Madrid, El Mercado de San Miguel. I couldn't resist! And this time, instead of just taking pictures of the food, I got to eat it. My friend Dasha and I started off with a delicious cup of gazapacho. The texture was perfect.

Next, we had a cheese plate-- Manchego of course-- complete with a little toothpick with a stuffed olive, cheese, and a piece of ham. What a great second course!

For dessert, we went to the frozen yogurt stand in the market. Confession: I am obsessed with Pinkberry, the frozen yogurt place in New York City, so I was so excited to find a similar concept in Spain. Here you can get vanilla frozen yogurt and choose from a variety of toppings: fresh fruits, peanut butter, nutella, chocolate, etc. We tried yogurt with the topping turron, which is almond butter, and very typical in Spain. It was absolutely delicious. I plan on going back to get my frozen yogurt fix again soon.

I have a feeling that I'll be making many more trips to El Mercado de San Miguel before I leave Madrid. There's so much more to try!

Happy eating,

Hannah

London Calling

2010-10-13T12:00:00.001-04:00

'Ello Govna!

This past weekend, I went to London with my friend Caitlin. I stayed with her Aunt, who lives in London. Her grandparents were also there, along with her new baby cousin! Her family was so gracious to let me stay for the weekend with them. It was so much fun. Caitlin, who has been to London before, was a great tour guide, we saw almost everything there was to see!

We love London!

Here's a photo tour through my time in London-- a blitz through the must-see sights.

The National Gallery. They have a huge collection of fine art

Big Ben and the House of Parliament, right on the Thames River

I couldn't stop taking pictures of Big Ben

The London Eye and Big Ben in the distance

Shakespeare's Globe Theater

St. Paul's Cathedral

Tower Bridge, it's a lot more thrilling than London Bridge, that's for sure.

Here's the London Bridge!

Me at lunch

We had an amazing lunch right on the Thames River.

An amazing department store-- Fortnum and Mason

Macarons!

Wandering around Harrod's was a must. There was so much to take in-- delicious food, perfume, designer clothes, bags, sports equipment, furniture, art, and more. Classic London.

Harrod's!

I got to see Sherri, my best friend's mom, in London on Sunday. She was there for business, so we met up and went on the London Eye together and had lunch! It was so much fun, and great to see a familiar face from home.

Buckingham Palace

I absolutely loved London. It's somewhere that I have wanted to visit for a long time, and I'm glad I finally made it. I definitely want to go back.

Nice to Meet You, Doner Kebap

2010-10-11T15:21:00.004-04:00

AWESOME FOOD ALERT:

I talk about food a lot on this blog. But this time, instead of talking about cute little pastries or tapas, I'm going to talk about something completely different.

So ever since my cousin, Ari, studied in Madrid when he was in college at Boston University, I have been hearing about the infamous Doner Kebap that stole his heart. A Doner Kepab is basically a middle-eastern style gyro-- lamb or chicken, with lettuce, tomato, yogurt, and a miscellaneous but DELICIOUS red sauce, all stuffed (and I mean stuffed) into a flatbread. The other night, I had my first doner kepab while in Spain. I felt that it was about time, considering my cousin had been asking me if I had tried one yet! It was absolutely delicious, and now I completely understand his obsession. Doner Kepab places are open almost 24/7, so you can have one of these just about any time of day.

This might look like a goopy mess, but trust me, it is absolutely delicious and something you have to try.

My Neighborhood... Mi Barrio

2010-10-10T18:09:00.003-04:00

I realized the other day that I have been so preoccupied showing you all the exciting things I have been doing so far in Madrid and other parts of Spain, that I completely forgot to show you where I live!

So here's a tour of my little corner of Madrid:

This is my apartment building!

My street

This is Calle Ibiza, a main street off of the one I live on

This is where I take the bus to the train station every morning

Parque Retiro, just a few blocks from my house. There was a beautiful sunset there one night on the lake

I love my neighborhood! It is so safe and quiet, it's close to the park, and the streets are lined with little cafes and tables. I love being able to call this area my home away from home.

Hannah

Museum Madness

2010-10-10T00:50:00.000-04:00

So there's a lot more to being in Madrid than just eating and wandering the beautiful calles. So a week ago, I thought I'd have an entire afternoon of culture-- of wandering through museums with my friend Dasha. After school, I went straight from the train station to El Museo del Prado, a historic art museum in the center of Madrid. Here you can find an enormous art collection of Spanish and European art, I wandered for hours around the museum, finding paintings and sculptures by El Greco, Goya, Diego Velázquez, Rubens, and Raphael. The Prado has an overwhelming amount of art, more than I could ever imagine seeing in one, two, even three trips. I plan on going back soon to do some more exploring. The Prado is something you definitely have to see when in Madrid.

Me in front of Museo del Prado

El Prado

After the prado, Dasha and I went across El Paseo del Prado (a main street in Madrid) to another art museum, Caixa Forum-- something completely different than the Prado. This is a free museum funded by the Caixa bank in Madrid as a public welfare project. We saw three exhibits: one on Fellini- the Italian film director, one on García Lorca and Salvador Dalí, and another called Infancia, featuring life-size pictures of children from 3rd world countries, with a description of their life. It was a very artistic and powerful exhibit. This museum is free, and the exhibits change seasonally, so you can enjoy modern exhibits in a beautiful modern building-- a stark contrast with the classical art you can find in the Prado.

The front of the Caixa Forum Museum

Madrid is full of all sorts of different types of museums-- be it modern or traditional. I can't wait to see more museums during my time here.

Hasta luego,

Hannah

A Picture-Perfect Visit to El Palacio Real

2010-10-05T11:26:00.002-04:00

Hey there!

So I've been feeling pretty settled here in Madrid. Most times, I feel like a local-- or close to it anyway. I love having a daily routine and doing my own thing here. But at times it's fun to do the necessary touristy things-- museums, monuments, and the like. One class that's offered at Universidad de Carlos III is an art history class. A bunch of my friends are in it, and a large part of the class is going on field trips to different art museums and monuments throughout Madrid. I'm not in the class, but I tagged along this past Friday to El Palacio Real, why not right?

El Palacio Real is the official home of the King of Spain, but he doesn't live there. This enormous building, nowadays, is only used for official ceremonies of the state. Like you would expect, upon entering the palace, every inch of wall, floor, and ceiling is covered with intricate carvings and paintings. Beautiful frescos covered the ceilings of each room, and we wandered from room to room observing every inch. We saw the throne room, the king's bed and dressing rooms, the billiards and smoking room, an enormous dining room with a table large enough to seat dozens of people, and more. The palace had a different room for everything! The place was truly a work of art.

I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside (bummer!), but the plaza outside the plaza was just gorgeous. Here are a few pictures of that. If you want to check out more about El Palacio Real, click here.

Us outside El Palacio Real

The gardens in front-- these statues continue in a long row all the way along the edge of the garden

What a perfect day

The hallways around the plaza in front of the palace. Gorgeous

El Palacio Real. It's enormous! I'm thinking of starting my own postcard company haha... Madrid is just picture perfect

Paz :)

So that's all for now folks, check back in soon for a tour of my neighborhood!

Hannah

Ayuda, la Música Nos Está Volviendo Locas!

2010-10-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, we went to one of our favorite cafes (a fairly recent discovery), called "Turf" in La Plaza de Santa Ana here in Madrid. This little plaza is surrounded by gorgeous art-deco style buildings and cafes, all with little tables for outside seating. I was taking a picture of the building below, and realized there was something different about it. Can you see what's hanging from the top left balcony?

Here's the zoomed-in view. Someone had written on a sheet: "HELP. The music is driving us mad".

Now I'm not completely sure what this is referring to-- whether it's the accordion players that stroll around the plaza, or the men who sing with their heads pressed against their guitars, but I certainly got a kick out of it.

Gotta love Madrid. I definitely do.

Hannah

La Huelga was... a Walk in the Park, for Me at Least

2010-09-29T15:31:00.003-04:00

So today was a super relaxing day. Woke up late, ate breakfast, and taught my ten year old Spanish sister how to make her own blog! She's been adding to it all day, it's so cute. I did a bit of homework, wrote some entries in my diary, and took a long nap.

A flyer advertising la Huelga on the sidewalk.. they were all over the street!

After being in the house all day, around 7 pm I figured it was about time to get outside for a walk. I walked around my neighborhood-- not sure what to expect from the day of la Huelga-- I hadn't gone outside yet! But everything was normal. People were walking in the street, sitting at cafes, going about their daily business. Sure, there were more stores closed than there normally would have been, but that was all I could really notice. I saw a bunch of Huelga flyers plastered to the sidewalk as I walked.

El Retiro

I went into the park, El Retiro, and sat by the lake. It seemed like all of Madrid had gone to the park too. Little kids filled the playgrounds with their parents, couples strolled the paths and sat on the grass together, and people rowed and kayaked in the lake. You would have never known that at that time, there was a demonstration going on at the Atocha train station just five minutes away. I'm sure if I had gone to school today, I would have noticed a big difference.

On the way home, I stopped at a frutería by my house, and bought some mandarin oranges, dried apricots, a peach, and some beautiful purple grapes. The fruit man loves me now, because I basically bought out his entire store. He kept saying, "venga, más cositas," meaning "more, buy more". Que guay. And the grapes were delicious too. In the end, this turned out to be a wonderful day off.

That's all for now. Look out for a new post in a couple of days.

Hasta luego,

Hannah

Huelga General en España

2010-09-28T16:35:00.002-04:00

So guess who has no school tomorrow (Wednesday)? Me! Since we have arrived in Spain, we have been told about "La Huelga General" that is planned for September 29th, 2010. The labor unions are calling for higher wages and better working conditions. The main things that will be affected tomorrow are the country's transportation systems: the metro, train, and buses. This is why we are not going to school tomorrow-- the transport systems will run at 50% tomorrow, so there's no way to know when the next train, bus, or metro will come.

The motto for la huelga is: "Huelga General, Yo Voy!!" This is a call to action for Spaniards to participate in the strike, attend the demonstrations, etc. This afternoon, on the bus home from school, I saw this motto spray-painted on street corners and sidewalks.

Spaniards have the right to strike, and it is an important part of negotiating better working conditions. I'm curious to see the outcome of tomorrow's strike. Another thing about the huelga is no one really knows how it's going to turn out. We can't be sure exactly who, or how many people will participate. A variety of demonstrations are planned for tomorrow, in the Atocha train station (where we normally would take the train to school) and in the Sol neighborhood. As for me, I just plan on staying home and enjoying my day off-- with movies, reading, and lots of snacks.

A Day In Toledo- Kickin' it Old School

2010-09-27T13:13:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone,

On Saturday, I took a trip to Toledo with my program. We took a bus bright and early, 9 am to be exact. But the early morning was all worth it when we arrived a little under and hour later in Toledo. Toledo is an extremely historic city, that has remained intact for centuries. The Toledo you see today is almost exactly the same as the Toledo hundreds of years ago. Toledo is the capital of the region of Spain called, "Castilla de La Mancha". It is known for being a city where people of all religions were able to coexist together: Jews, Catholics, Muslims, etc. The city is set on a mountaintop, giving you incredible panoramic views. We walked over the ancient Roman Alcántara Bridge, which is also the gateway to the city.

Puente del Alcántara

We visited the cathedral of Toledo, which was filled with intricate carvings, stained glass windows, and lots and lots of paintings-- many by El Greco! There was also a wedding going on in the cathedral. We saw many fancy guests dressed to the 9's. The women were wearing tiny hats decorated with feathers and flowers.

The cathedral

We also saw one of el Greco's most famous painting: El Entierro del Conde de Orgaz. They say that this painting is one of the most important paintings in art's history. There is so much going on. We stood in front of it for a good ten minutes, there was so much to take in.

El Entierro del Conde de Orgaz-- El Greco

We also saw one of the oldest synagogues in all of Europe, the Sinagoga de Santa Maria la Blanca. The synagogue was constructed by the Arabs for the Jews in 1180. Later, when the Jews were expelled from Spain, it was converted into a church (hence the name- Santa Maria), then into a grain storehouse, then horse stables. It seems strange to think that a place that was once a synagogue could be converted into all of these things, but as our tour guide said, it was a blessing that the synagogue stayed in use, because thanks to that, it is still around today. Throughout history, Toledo was inhabited by a large population of Sephardic Jews (until they were expelled from Spain in 1492), who spoke Ladino. The synagogue is known as one of the most important sites for Sephardic Jews.

The sign outside the gate of the synagogue

The inside of the synagogue. It looks like a mosque, because it was built in that style by the Arabs

Beautiful panoramic views of Toledo!

Our program director bought us a box of marzipan candies. Marzipan is 50% almond paste and 50% sugar.
What could be better than that? Toledo is famous for these marzipan pastries, made in all shapes and sizes. Some are filled with fruit jelly

After seeing all the necessary sights, we went to a delicious restaurant for lunch. We had fresh bread, scrambled eggs with mushrooms, baked chicken in a white wine sauce, potatoes, flan and coffee for dessert. Overall, it was one fabulous day. Toledo is a city with so much history, and walking through the labyrinth of streets takes you back in time.

Hannah

Croissants and El Mercado de San Miguel

2010-09-25T14:12:00.004-04:00

A couple days ago, I went to El Mercado de San Miguel, a huge market in the center of Madrid. It is a gorgeous glass-paneled building full of all sorts of stands selling fresh goods. We walked through the maze of little shops selling cheese, wine, frozen yogurt, fresh fruit and veggies, all sorts of cookies, chocolate, fish, and fresh pasta. There were also little stands selling different types of prepared food, like tapas, sushi, and gazpacho! One of these days, I plan on going back and buying food for a picnic: figs, cheese, wine, and bread.

This is the outside of the market

Perfect fruit. Look at the clementines in the righthand corner-- some of them are green!

A macaron rainbow

Enormous merengues! Delicious

These were the most delicious croissants I have ever tasted.

This week, we went to a bakery called the Croissanterie. We tried multiple days to go, but every time the store was closed! Finally yesterday, it was open, and it the croissants were better than I ever imagined. Now seems like the right time to say that I'm super enthusiastic about croissants. I love them! I did a little bit of research on the croissant just for fun. Here's a video on how to make croissants, something that I want to do soon.
Also, here's a link to the history of the croissant. Enjoy.

Hasta pronto,

Hannah

Eye Candy

2010-09-21T03:40:00.000-04:00

Barcelona is a city of beautiful sights. When we were walking through the streets, I couldn't stop myself from taking pictures of almost everything. I came home to Madrid with just under 300 new pictures! Here are a few of my favorites from the trip. These pictures will speak for themselves.

Hasta ahora,

Hannah

A Fabulous Weekend in Barcelona

2010-09-20T16:47:00.004-04:00

La pedrera by Gaudi

Hello everyone! I have so much to update you on. This weekend, I went to Barcelona with some friends from my program, Dasha, Caitlin, and Jacob. A lot of my friends from Hopkins are studying in Barcelona this semester, so it was wonderful to see them and have them show us around the city this weekend. Here's a bit of what we did this weekend:

We saw La Sagrada Familia church. It is so beautiful, and the other side is still in construction.

We walked through the city park and came across a gorgeous fountain

We went to a market called La Boqueria. It had all sorts of fresh-food vendors selling every type of food you could ever want. Needless to say, I was in heaven.

So pretty

Delicious empinadas at the market

These are the most beautiful figs I have ever seen!

Everything at La Boqueria was so fresh

Me with my friend Sam! She is studying in Barcelona this semester. It was amazing to have her show us around. I was so glad I was able to come for a visit

This was my breakfast everymorning. A fresh croissant and a cafe con leche. Not too bad

Arc de Tiromf

Les Gigants de la Ciutat

I loved walking around taking pictures of all the beautiful architecture

At el Parque Guell. We climbed up many steep hills to get to this park. It is surrounded by mosaic benches designed by Gaudi.

Barcelona is a work of art!

Overall, it was a great weekend. We saw all there was so see in Barcelona, and I would love to go back. So back to another week of school, and we are off to Toledo for a day trip this Saturday!

Look out for another post tomorrow,

Hannah

Baba Nam Kevalam, Learning the Art of Mediation

2010-09-15T10:46:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone,

I have been learning a lot about Spanish culture lately. But this past Saturday, I learned about something completely different.

A monk, or a Didi as she is called, who is an expert in meditation and head of the European Kiirtan missionary (a yogic practice that stresses the connection between body and mind) came to Madrid this past Saturday. My Spanish mom has practiced mediation for many years, and Didi came to stay in our apartment for a couple of days. She tours all around Europe teaching people about meditation.

On Saturday, she gave a seminar at a meditation center in Madrid. I went, and it was absolutely fascinating. The first thing I learned was how to greet someone. You press your palms together in a praying motion, touch your thumbs to your forehead, then your heart, and say "Namaskar". This is how you say hello to someone as well as goodbye to them. talked a lot about the importance of giving your mind time to rest, just as you would your body. She also said that meditiation is a way of calming our thoughts, thus calming our body as a result. At the workshop, we learned the universal mantra, "Baba Nam Kevalam", meaning "it's all in the stars" (this is my simple translation of it) in ancient Sanskrit. A mantra is used to focus on something while meditating. Didi said that it is impossible to completely clear your mind, so a mantra is used during meditation to replace the other thoughts. At the end of the seminar, we chanted this mantra and meditated. It was very interesting. I found it hard to clear my mind, but the mantra definitely helped a bit.

This is the front of my family's restaurant here in Madrid. All of the food is "microbiotica", made naturally and healthily. The Didi stressed that a special diet is required to practice meditatinon properly and have a healthy balance between body and mind. Everyone in my family is a firm believer in this, and this is why they are vegetarians! I have learned a lot about what I am putting into my body and how it will affect me physically and mentally.

After that, the Dada (this is what you call a male monk), who was head of the meditation and yoga center my family goes to, made a delicious lunch for us. We ate a curry soup with brown rice, a soup with herbs called "da", which is full of protein, and a delicious salad with seeds and cranberries. Didi teaches both Hindu and Islamic practices, with a stress on meditation. Sai Baba was an Indian Guru, and Didi is one of the many monks who teach his practices of mediation all over the world. Tomorrow, she is off to Valencia to teach others about meditation. I feel so lucky I got to learn from her.

So to use what I learned,

Namaskar:)

-Hannah

Sunset at Temple Debod

2010-09-13T16:10:00.006-04:00

Here is a picture (a bit dark.. but you get a great view of the sunset behind us) of my friends and I watching the sunset last night at Temple Debod, the Egyptian temple in the center of Madrid. The temple is next to a fountain in the middle of a park-- just off Gran Vía. Quite an unusual place to find an Eqyptian temple if you ask me. The temple is set on the top of a hill, giving you a view of the country outside of Madrid to one side, and a beautiful cityscape to the other. What a wonderful way to spend a Sunday night! I think we are going to make it a tradition.

Weekend Adventures: Fashion, Fiesta, Friends, and Good Food

2010-09-12T18:27:00.005-04:00

Me at Vogue's Fashion Night Out. They had a bunch of these old vogue magazine covers all over the streets in front of the stores. Lots of Audrey Hepburn. I liked this one

Things have been super crazy lately. And this weekend has been an especially fun one. Let's recap! Thursday night was the start of fashion week here in Madrid (same thing in New York City). To celebrate, Madrid holds a huge event called "La Noche en Moda", or "Vogue's Fashion Night Out". On Thursday, Madrid's most fashionable people all flocked to Salamanca, the ritziest neighborhood here-- with enough shopping to satisfy even the biggest fashionista. Picture it as an entire neighborhood filled with the fancy shops on Park Avenue. I went with two of my good friends here to check everything out. Although I felt far from stylish in comparison to everyone else there, I had an amazing time going into all the fancy stores (every store stayed open this night with live DJs, drinks, and free giveaways). It was quite the experience. Afterwards, we went to the Moncloa area of Madrid and met a lot of fun Spaniards at a discoteca! All 14 of us in the program went out together-- it was so much fun, lots of bonding.

On Friday, I went shopping with my spanish little sisters. We spent the entire morning in Zara. Heaven! I only bought a pair of flats, but defintely plan on going back. My little sister, Paula, bought a fur vest (very flashy!), and my sister Ana bought a pair of faux leather leggings. Needless to say, my sisters and I have very different styles. So much fun. Later in the day Friday, I walked around the La Latina neighborhood with an old friend from home who is studying in Madrid this semester too! Small world.

I have eaten in my family's restaurant at least once a day this weekend. The food is delicious and I love getting to know the chefs and waitresses.

On Saturday, I walked around the area of La Latina again. It's a tiny little neighborhoos, and I love wandering the streets with my friends and exploring new cafes.

I passed this window while exploring. So much candy!

A sunny side street in La Latina

We got coffee at a cute little cafe called "La Escalera de Jacob", Jacob's Ladder! It was situated on a cute little corner in between La Latina's colorful buildings. We also made our way to have some tapas before dinner. Anything goes here.

Me with my cafe con leche

Dasha and me at a tapas bar :)

Saturday was "La Noche en Blanco". The main roads in Madrid are closed and the entire city goes onto the street to see art exhibits, visit museums, or just wander around. We went to La Plaza de España, a park in the center of the city to hang out after walking around. It ended up being a great night.

This statue is called "El Oso y El Madroño". El Madroño is a type of tree. This statue is located in La Puerta del Sol in the center of the city. The statue is known as a symbol of Madrid

The crowd in Sol during La Noche en Blanco

On Sunday, I started the day with some homework (I have to remember that I have to do work here sometimes!). Later, I met up with some friends and got delicious blackberry frozen yogurt in La Plaza Mayor. After that, I stopped at the parque del retiro to hang out in the shade. I met up with a friend in the late afternoon to walk around. We got some sandwiches for a snack-- cheese and tomato and turkey and cream cheese. Yummy. After that, we walked up the street of Gran Vía towards the Templo de Debod, an old egyptian temple in the center of the city. From there, we got a perfect view of the sunset. I think I walked about 10 miles or more, but it was an amazing day, and a fantastic weekend overall.

Look out for another post soon about something really cool I did this Saturday.

Hasta mañana,

Hannah

Architecture 101

2010-09-08T19:22:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone,

Today was another day full of classes and exploring my university. For my Journalism class, we have to write a blog in Spanish, so once we start that I'll post the link. In my Latinamerican Literature class today, we read "El Rey Burgués" by Rubén Darío. Miraculously, I can understand all of my professors as well as the homework, or "deberes" as it's called here. I have lots and lots of reading-- in Spanish of course. Tomorrow is the last day of classes for the week, and I'm sure I'll have more exciting updates over the weekend. For now, I thought I'd give you all a little tour of Madrid's amazing architecture, one of my favorite parts of the city so far.

This is the top of a gorgeous apartment building in the center of the city, in the neighborhood called "Sol". I love the ceramic details, and the decorated railings. Even better, this house has a perfect view of the Plaza Mayor

There are also many buildings made of marble or sandstone here, with detailed carvings and statues. I took this picture from our double-decker bus tour the other day, along with 100 other pictures of the city

El Museo Prado

This is another typical Spanish style building, with the iron railings, molding, and vibrant color

This is one part of the Parque Retiro. I took this when I was walking home one night from the center of the city. This garden looks a bit like Alice in Wonderland. The rounded trees, perfectly manicured grass, and brightly colored flowers remind me of the Queen of Hearts' garden

The buildings are lit when it starts to get dark each night. So beautiful

These wrought-iron railings are very common here. How nice it would be to have a balcony like this right outside your window

The Real Madrid stadium. We plan on going to a game soon, as soon as I buy my Kaká jersey!

That's all for now, this Saturday is "La Noche en Blanco", a special night here where museums and shops stay open late and the entire city goes out! What a life.

Hasta pronto,

Hannah

El Rastro- an Epic Fleamarket

2010-09-06T02:57:00.003-04:00

Yesterday morning, I went to Madrid's neighborhood of "La Latina" to check out the famous flea market held on Sundays here. At the metro stop near the market, hundreds of people came in herds to the market. We walked around through a maze of vendors selling all sorts of goods-- handmade sandals, quilts, paintings, jewelry, t-shirts, ceramic pottery, furniture, and other antiques. It was quite an overwhelming experience. The Rastro covers entire blocks of La Latina, and every square foot of space is filled with people, browsing at the many booths. Despite the heat and mass amounts of people, the Rastro is something that you have to check out when you're in Madrid.

While we were walking around the market, we saw this man playing a huge didgeridoo (I had to look that one up for the spelling)

Here's a view of El Rastro. This is only one section and one street of the entire flea market.

There were a crazy amount of people at the flea market yesterday--it seems as if all of Madrid makes their way to La Latina on Sundays

Hannah

Vegetarian Heaven, with a Steak on the Side

2010-09-05T17:14:00.000-04:00

I've been eating pretty well lately. My Spanish family owns a vegetarian restaurant called "El Biotik" on a cute little street called "Calle Amor de Dios". They just renovated the restaurant and today was opening day. I ate there yesterday and today for lunch, and the food is absolutely amazing. Today, I had gazpacho and salad, followed by grilled seitán with a creamy cheese sauce, a kabob of tomato, pineapple, yellow pepper and squash, and potatoes and tofu. Yesterday's lunch was just as wonderful.

This is the meal that we were served at my family's vegetarian restaurant yesterday. It's brown rice, algae, and a mixture of cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, squash, cauliflower, and seitán in a creamy cumin sauce.

For dessert, we had cake with orange zest and caramelized sugar and platano walnut

Last night for dinner, we went to tapas for the first time in Madrid. It was cool to see the difference between tapas in Madrid and Salamanca. We started with a green salad with fresh goat cheese. So delicious. Again, we had croquettas (filled with cheese and ham), just like we did in Salamanca. But there were also some new things: garlicky goat cheese with bread for dipping, and lots and LOTS of meat. When the steak arrived at the table, it was raw. My first thought was, wow the Spanish like their meat suuuuper rare. But then our program director quickly told us that we were going to grill the meat ourselves on a searing hot slab of stone. So so cool. And amazingly tasty. I'm not a red meat person, but the steak was covered in shavings of sea salt and spices, and even I can admit that it was delicious.

We also had potatoes and roasted green peppers-- salty and delicious

This is the stone we used to grill the steak on. So much fun

We've been exploring Madrid's different neighborhoods, "barrios", day and night

Ironically, classes start tomorrow at Carlos III. So while everyone back in the states takes the day off for Labor Day, I'll be having my first day of school! Wish me luck.

Hasta pronto,

Hannah

A Day in the Sun--El Barrio Sol

2010-09-02T20:46:00.004-04:00

Today was another wonderful day. After the last day of orientation at Carlos III, we went to the area called "El Sol" to walk around and explore. We went to the Plaza Mayor and found a delicious cafe to drink wine and eat churros and chocolate. What a life.

The Plaza Mayor en Madrid

Really huge bubbles in the plaza

Us in the plaza

Chocolate con churros. Absolutely delicious

Drinking the chocolate after--absolutely amazing. What could be better?

Hannah

Snacks, snacks, snacks

2010-09-01T17:46:00.000-04:00

So considering today was full of taking tests, listening to professor's speeches, and getting lost on Madrid's various forms of public transportation, I didn't take any pictures. But I thought it would be fun to take your through a short tour of some of my favorite snacks so far. Enjoy.

Delicious Spanish-style pizza with chorizo, green peppers, cheese, and garlic--with wine

Nutella with cookie sticks for dipping. Genius

This was our graduation feast at Colegio Delibes in Salamanca. The plate on the left is all dessert, and the right is all ham, cheese, tomato and puff pastry deliciousness! Not a bad send off to Madrid

I have fallen in love with the fried corn here. They sell them in these small snack shops called "frutos secos"-- that sell nuts, trail mix, rice crackers, a crazy amount of disgusting gummy candy, and these delicious corn nuts.

Hannah

Getting Lost, and Liking it

2010-08-31T14:26:00.000-04:00

Today we had a free day. We started off the morning by meeting in the park to walk around. Then, we bought all sorts of goodies and had a picnic there. After about 4 hours, we decided to walk around to the center of the city, on la Calle Gran Vía, one of the busiest streets in Madrid. We did a little bit of shopping (I bought some little sneakers for walking around). We wandered through a maze of little side streets of the Gran Vía, got a little lost, but found our way back! Here are some pictures from today:

Us at el Retiro this morning

Picnic in the park-- brie, crackers, fresh peaches, and almonds

We passed by an amazing chocolate shop with macarons in the window

During our walk around the center of the city on the Gran Vía, I couldn't stop taking pictures of all the buildings. The architecture here is breathtaking

A cute side street

This is the delicious layered chocolate mousse we had at the chocolate shop for a midday snack-- fudge on top, then milk, white, and dark chocolate

The little neighborhoods we walked through resembled Soho in New York City

Tomorrow, we are going back to Universidad Carlos III to take another written test and have our first day of orientation. I'm excited to listen to the professors speak about our classes. I will be taking Periodismo (Journalism), Literatura Hispanoamericana (Latin American Literature), Cuento (the Spanish Short Story), a Spanish language course, and Politica y Sociedad (Politics and Society). It should be a good day.

Hannah

A Day in the Park and HUGE Bocadillos

2010-08-30T19:09:00.000-04:00

Today we went to Universidad Carlos III to take a speaking test and explore the campus. Classes start this coming Monday, so we have some time to explore the city. This week we also have orientation for our classes and another written test to place into a language class. Lots to do before classes start.

Here is the train station in Madrid. We take the train to school from here

We had the most delicious sandwiches for lunch at a store close to our school. There were hundreds of posters on the walls each with a different type of sandwich. I changed my mind about ten times before I settled on a sandwich on whole grain bread with chicken, lettuce, brie, honey, and apple slices. It was delicious. I have never had a better sandwich.

The sign in the front window of the sandwich shop. So cute

So many signs inside!

My delicious sandwich

After we toured Carlos III we returned to the city and walked through the park, "el retiro". It's Madrid's equivalent of Central Park. After that, we walked around Madrid to get accustomed to the city. Of course, I got lost trying to get back to my apartment, but eventually I found it. I'm learning more everyday.

El Retiro

The lake inside the park

Inside a greenhouse in the park-- this sculpture is made out of laundry baskets

Tonight, I spent time with my family, we had dinner and just sat around and talked. Also, I did my first load of laundry here. My family does not have a dryer so I learned how to put my clothes out on the line and take them in once they were dry. It was actually kind of fun, but I was scared I was going to drop something down into the courtyard.

Madrid has been great so far. I have been learning a lot from my family and adapting to a totally new lifestyle. I'm loving it. Tomorrow, we have a free day and we plan on having a picnic in the park and exploring the center of the city. Que guay.

Hasta mañana,

Hannah

My New Family!

2010-08-29T19:18:00.001-04:00

So to make up for not posting for so long... I thought I would post again today. Today, I went to my family's country house. They have a farm house where they grow plants using biodynamic methods. My family is also vegetarian, so they have been cooking delicious dishes, such as rice with seitán chicken, and vegetables. Tonight, for a snack, we ate fresh figs that they grew on their farm. They were delicious. I feel so welcome here already. I'm back in Madrid now, but here are some of the photos from my day in the country.

Beautiful view from the town

Ruins of a Roman Bridge

Cute restaurants in the center of town

Hannah