Rancho Bernardo Inn Resort & Spa | San Diego, California

On the morning I set out to explore, a thick fog enshrouded the grounds. The faint mist present in the air clung to my camera and clothing as I slowly meandered around the gardens. So much for the sunny San Diego California weather I envisioned beforehand. I won't complain because the misty morning added a layer of mystic to my early morning stroll. The only other people stirring at this hour of the morning (7am) were resort employees. I took this time to thoroughly soak up the surroundings while waiting for breakfast to begin.

It was easy to get wrapped up in the old-world décor they used to adorn inside and out. The exposed wooden ceiling beams added a richness to the atmosphere, and the cozy nooks scattered throughout created very inviting micro-environments to kick back or have a chat. I'm not accustomed to staying at resorts with luxurious accommodations like those found at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. I'm used to camping out and sleeping in a tent, actually. A far cry from the elegant escape that this inn offers. What I learned while I was there was that this Rancho Bernardo resort was more than just a place to turn in at the end of the day. Instead of merely being a place to sleep, it was more of a destination!

Not only do they offer deluxe guest rooms that are nicely decorated, they have a premier 27-hole golf course, a full-service spa, and various dining options with several on-site restaurants complete with a bar and coffee shop. They have everything you need and more at the Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego, CA; it almost seems as though they are trying to keep you there. Had Sony not already planned out my activities for the day, I would have found it hard to leave!

I only slept at the Rancho Bernardo Inn for a total of two nights. Even though I didn't get much sleeping done due to the jet lag, I still found the suite to be a nice place to unwind. The beds were extra cushy with super fluffy pillows, relaxing on the balcony was a special treat, and so was the super sized shower! I didn't have a whole lot of time to spend in my room, but it was comfy when I did have some downtime.

I felt very well-taken care of during my stay at the lodge. It was an incredibly beautiful resort with many different amenities to keep you occupied and satisfied no matter what you needed. Whether you are in the mood for a game of golf, a special spa treatment, posh accommodations, or a place to host an event or meeting, the Rancho Bernardo Inn Resort & Spa is a terrific place to stay for anyone looking for an upscale experience in San Diego, California. 

What did you think about the Rancho Bernardo after reading this post?

When you travel what accommodations do go for? Hotels? Hostels? 

Please share your thoughts!

Interested in finding out more about my trip to San Diego? 

Follow the links to find out more:

• 10 Reasons Why You Want to Win a Sony WX9: Detail about the new Sony camera I tested out.
• Oceanside Farmer's Market & Picnic: !Warning! This post will make you hungry :D
• Sony Foodie Sneak Peak: An Overview of my San Diego Trip and how I got there?!? 
• Find WW on Facebook for exclusive photos & videos not featured on the blog or anywhere else!

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Oceanside Farmer's Market & Picnic | Sony Foodie Blogger Event | San Diego, CA

{This post is part of a series outlining a recent trip I took to San Diego, California to take part in an event that Sony Electronics was hosting for food bloggers to test out the new Sony Cyber-shot WX9. All images within this post were taken with the new WX9 that will be released sometime in April.}

Before we began terrorizing vendors and their products, as if we were paparazzi looking to get paid, Chef Chris Ivens-Brown gave us a little insight into his philosophy and approach to cooking and preparing meals. He also shared additional information regarding his efforts to raise awareness to help consumers make more sustainable choices when selecting food, especially when it comes to seafood. It was refreshing to see a Chef, who's not just jumping on the slow food bandwagon, instead he's someone who is actually using his influence to make positive changes for a lasting impact. (I hope to share more about his efforts in a future post.)

Unleashing a group of food bloggers who were freshly gifted with shiny new Sony cameras on the Oceanside Farmer's Market was an extremely interesting experience to be a part of. People perusing the vendor-filled streets had an inkling that something was special about what we were doing, although they weren't exactly sure what we were up to. One giveaway, was that we all had the same point and shoot cameras in hand accompanied by the same wild look in our eye as we set out to capture images.

Catching so much attention from onlookers required me to field quite a few comments and questions from curious customers and vendors about our association with Sony, which also lead to spilling the beans about the new Sony Cyber-shot WX9 and the cool features we were testing out. My enthusiasm for this handy camera was extremely apparent as I explained my favorite modes, although the point was not for us to become new sales people for Sony, we were supposed to just have fun and take pictures. However, keeping quiet about the camera would have been very difficult to do given the circumstances.

We had about an hour to explore the market before we needed to meet back at the bus for the picnic lunch. I, of course, used that time to photograph a number of different things that caught my eye. The many flowers on display were my most favorite subject to capture, but I also enjoyed shooting the more unusual items discovered along the way, too. An interesting encounter that blew my mind were the Buddah Hand lemons, never have I seen a citrus fruit with tentacles before! They looked alien and super creepy.

The tastiest treat I sampled was the raw pickled garlic with cayenne pepper (pictured in the collage above). Luckily, a fellow blogger urged me to go back and try some before we left the market. I'm not one who typically likes raw garlic, but this combination was sooooooooo good. It only took me about 2 seconds to figure out that I needed to buy a jar to take home, especially since Cody enjoys eating raw garlic. I knew that he'd love this stuff. The jar is quickly dwindling!

After spending some time walking around the market, it was time to be taken to our ocean side picnic. As I mentioned in the sneak peek posted earlier in the week, this was not your typical picnic! Instead of blankets in the grass as I envisioned, we would be dining beneath shaded tents overlooking the ocean.

The food spread spanned two six foot tables that were covered with the most delicious looking food from end to end. Chef Chris Ivens-Brown thoroughly explained what each dish was before the bloggers began preparing their plates. There was barely any space left on my plate by the time I made it to the end of the table. It was too sad that I didn't leave any room for the cheese platter. It was a sacrifice that I chose to make, though. Besides, I was much more concerned about leaving room for dessert!

Although leaving room proved to be a lot more difficult than I anticipated after I began enjoying my meal. I scarfed down the Smoked Turkey Club with applewood smoked bacon, garlic aioli, and a cage free boiled egg. And the Maryland Jumbo Lump Crab Cake was also one of my favorite flavors along with the Cedar Wood Seared Wild Salmon. Truth be told, it was all delicious, and I wanted to eat more than I had room for!

{Click on this image to see the food tags}

At the end of the massive meal, I joked that it'd be awesome if I had a second stomach, so that I could keep going, but alas, I had to show some restraint. Although any little bit I did manage to exercise was pretty short-lived, because dessert was soon placed in front of my face. I heard the words Chocolate Molten Cookie come out of the chef's mouth, and I lost all control! Do you blame me?!? I didn't think so.

Amazing food, great company, and the beach in the background all converged to create an experience I felt extremely lucky to have been a part of. The coordinators of this event, Chef Chris' team and the Sony Staff, did a wonderful job of making it a memorable afternoon. It was hard to believe that the day wasn't over yet, either. We still had dinner at Sony Headquarters to look forward to, which totally blew this lunch out of the water! If you love food as much as I do, you won't want to miss the upcoming post I have in store for our dinner!! (Follow WW on Facebook to receive updates about new posts, recently added photos, and a giveaway that I'll be announcing soon!)

Which one of Chef Chris' dishes looked the most appetizing to you? Maybe you'd want to go light and sample the Grilled Vegetable Brushetta? Or, perhaps, you would skip the main course and go straight to dessert? If you share your thoughts, I may post a recipe or two!

If you enjoyed this post, I encourage you to hit the “Like” button and share with others. Thank you :D

Related Links:

• Sony Foodie Sneak Peak: An Overview of my San Diego Trip and how I got there?!?
• Video of Chef Chris Ivens-Brown: An overview of the dishes served at the picnic, you gotta love his accent :D

{VIDEO} Oceanside Picnic w/ Chef Chris Ivens-Brown | Sony Foodie Blogger Event | California

This video was taken as Chef Chris Ivens-Brown explained the dishes we would be sampling for lunch during the Sony Foodie Blogger picnic in San Diego, CA. It stinks that my camera battery died right before he was done, but this still gives you a great run down of what's in store. You can see this in HD on Facebook.

Want to see more?

 I'll be sharing the images from the Oceanside Farmer's Market and picnic this Sunday! Bring your appetite :D

 The details I have posted about the event so far can be found here: ow.ly/​4paGP

Shopping in New Orleans on Magazine Street | New Orleans, LA

 

In my research about places to visit on my trip to New Orleans, there was one road in particular that kept coming up. I searched for restaurants and unique shops along with many other places of interest before heading to the Crescent City. After adding the suggestions I found to my Google map, I realized that a trend was beginning to emerge. What I found was that the majority of businesses I was adding were all clustered together on the same stretch of road.

Little did I know at the time how serious this shopping district in New Orleans really was. While I had about 15-20 Magazine Street merchants on my New Orleans map, that was nothing compared to the collective of shops actually located on this strip, which totaled approximately 160+ retailers and restaurants. I mean, we're talking about a 6-mile stretch of “mom & pop” specialty shops filled with everything from home décor to clothing & jewelry. Magazine Street is truly a shoppers dream.

For some odd reason, I thought that my Sister and I would make our trip to Magazine St. a quick stop, but boy was I wrong! Typically, I'm not a big shopper when I've traveled such a long distance, or any time, really. Plus, my carry on was already overstuffed as it was; even my souvenirs had to be mailed back. However, despite the fact that I am not an avid shopper, I really enjoyed strolling around this beautiful neighborhood, peeking in at the places that piqued my interest.

We stopped in at many the Magazine St. shops in the Uptown area of New Orleans and oohed and ahhed over all the items that I would have loved to purchase. Cute dresses, neat jewelry & unique home decorating items were all things I could have easily went home with had I not exercised some restraint. But I fought the urge to splurge! It's wasn't easy, though, with all of the awesome stuff we kept spotting. To a seasoned shopper, the temptation would be impossible to overlook because you're bound to come in contact with many I-can't-live-without-items on display begging you to buy them. Even I don't know how I resisted & I'm not a big shopper to begin with! 

Our first order of business was to get a bite to eat, although our original plan, which was to buy a bag of boiled crawfish from Big Fisherman Seafood, was thwarted because they were all out and wouldn't get any more in for 2 weeks. Forced to improvise, we kept walking until we stumbled upon another suitable option. What we found instead was Joey K's, a popular Magazine Street restaurant among locals who are in the mood for homecooked food at reasonable prices.

This hub in the heart of Magazine Street in New Orleans has a funky flair and has been featured on the Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins & Dives. While we could have sampled any number of delicious dishes named after neighborhood streets, such as the Shrimp Magazine & the Trout Tchoupitoulas, we opted for a seafood sampler of fried fare to fill our tummies. The platter had fried shrimp, oysters, catfish and hush puppies all of which were rather tasty, although next time I might try one of the signature dishes.

Even after stuffing ourselves we were still up for exploring. We popped into the Poet's Gallery to soak up the visually stirring “A Carnival of Saints & Souls” exhibit featuring fine art dolls and photography. The display of dolls showcased were created by an array of artists and they ranged from cool to creepy, although still darling. I wanted to adopt one myself.

FunRock'N was the next place we stopped in at. It was crowded with fashion and other quirky finds, there was something for everyone to be found in this modern day five-and-dime.

A fast forward from fashion to furniture lead us to take a quick look inside Nadeau (furniture with a soul). This store housed many hardwood pieces from India and Indonesia. I was somewhat surprised by the reasonable prices most of the items were listed at, although they were still out of my range. Not entirely, though, there were a few smaller (more affordable) decorative pieces that I would have totally walked away with had they been local.

Once our full bellies had time to digest, we decided to stop in at Sucre to satisfy our sweet tooth. I was seriously delighted to be stepping foot through their doors because I've actually ordered from their store online in the past. Walking into the brick & mortar store was like stepping inside of a sweet treat with the mint green coated walls. Glass cases were overflowing with confections of all kinds from cakes to chocolates to parisian macaroons.

The mini-desserts were all magnificently presented which made making up our minds rather painstaking, they all looked scrumptious. I didn't want to pick on looks alone. I also wanted to pick one that was big on taste, too. Although I'm sure you couldn't pick a bad one no matter how hard you tried. My Sister and I decided to share the Turtle dessert, a chocolate bread pudding, chocolate mousse, salted caramel mousse concoction that was pure bliss. I'm glad that we shared because it was really rich.

Afterward, we hobbled to the car so that we could hit up another section of Magazine Street further up the road before heading back home. The next stop was GoGo Jewelry, by far one of my favorite stops along the way. Their foundry was jam-packed with necklaces, cuffs, earring & rings, you name it, they had it. The designs were uncommon and unlike any other pieces I have seen before. Very cool stuff, indeed.

Next door to GoGo was a different kind of Magazine Street boutique called, UP/ Unique Products. What caught my eye when walking by was the life-sized alligator crafted entirely out of melted green Mardi Gras beads. Inside they had a lot of other items made from recycled materials that would otherwise be discarded as well. It was wonderful to see a store dedicated to environmentally friendly retail products where items are being handmade.

Across the way, we decided to swing into Spruce. From the outside one might get the impression that this is a gallery as opposed to a home décor/design studio, the showroom was clean and contemporary with eco-conscious style in mind. I wanted everything in that posh place, it was beautiful.

While Magazine Street is a mecca for shoppers and is considered the “Best Shopping Street in New Orleans”, it's more than a mere shopping destination. With its diverse array of restaurants, shops and other businesses to keep you coming back for more, I can see why it's such a popular place for locals and tourist alike. Just make sure you take an extra suitcase for all of the wonderful goodies you're bound to find!

Related Links:

• Magazine Street Merchants Association | Website  
• Joey K's Restaurant | 3001 Magazine Street | (504) 891-0997 | Website 
• Poet's Gallery | 3113 Magazine Street | (504) 899-4100 | FB Page
• FunRock'N | 3109 Magazine Street | (504) 895-4102 | FB Page
• Nadeau Furniture | 2728 Magazine Street | (504) 891-1356 | Website
• Sucre | 3025 Magazine Street | (504) 520-8311 | Website
• GoGo Jewelry | 2036 Magazine St | (504) 529-8868 | Website
• Up/Unique Products | 2038 Magazine Street | (504) 529-2441 | Website
• Spruce Eco-Studio | 2043 Magazine Street | (504) 265-0946 | Website
  
  

Photo Essay: Bourbon Street by Night | New Orleans, Louisiana

I'm well aware of the stigma that is synonymous with Bourbon St. It has a seedy reputation for reasons that are readily apparent once you've seen so for yourself. The wacky and weird are everyday occurrences on Bourbon St., so be prepared to witness the odd and outrageous. Some things will make you laugh while others will make you gasp.

My first trip down the strip was rather alarming to say the least. A homebody like me felt extremely out-of-place with the party people at first, but I quickly came around. The electric energy was impossible to resist mingling with no matter how hard I tried.

Day or night, the streets are teeming with bead wearing, oversize drink toting pedestrians who are ready to PAR-TAY! It also seems as though no matter what day of the week you venture to this non-stop party spot, it's always Fat Tuesday. 

Strolling down the strip flanked by the blazing glow of neon lights along with the flooded streets and balconies overflowing with fellow party goers was a lot to take in at times. And I was told on many occasions that what I experienced was nothing compared to Mardi Gras. Seriously, I can't image.

It's no wonder that nightlife fanatics from all over are flocking to New Orleans to let loose. After all, the city was named the #1 destination for nightlife in the world by tripadvisor.com. Not to mention the fact that they pretty much invented the cocktail. Bourbon Street is most definitely a tourist attraction on its own with numerous bars, restaurants & night clubs to keep you occupied.

While it's wildly popular among tourists it's pretty much loathed by the locals. And I can't really blame them. Tourists can be obnoxious, especially when large quantities of alcohol are added to the mix. Bourbon St. is an anything goes kind of place with no laws regarding open containers, which allows people to walk around the streets with cocktails. Even the bars don't have specific closing times that they must adhere to. They can stay open until 2am or 5am, it just depends on whether or not people are still drinking. With barely any rules, things can get out of hand, people start acting like fools. That's why locals don't step foot on that strip.

 

I was warned, but I went against my better judgment and took my chances. And it was fun while it lasted.  Maybe even too much fun! There were only two nights during my trip that we braved Bourbon St. After the second night, I declared that I'd had enough. There is much more to New Orleans than Bourbon St. and I still had a lot left to explore. But staying up till all hours of the night made that an extremely difficult task to undertake. It was an experience that I won't soon forget even if I'm not ready to repeat it any time in the near future!

Related Links:

• Pigging Out @ The Oak St. Po-Boy Festival
• Postcard from New Orleans | Ending a Sugar Strike in Style @ Cafe du Monde

Pigging Out @ the Oak St. Po-Boy Festival | New Orleans, Louisiana

In a city that lives to eat, it's no surprise that a food festival centered around stuffing your face can pack in a crowd of people. This is especially easy to do when the superstar happens to be the quintessential staple of New Orleans culinary culture. It's nothing fancy and can consist of any combination of ingredients from seafood to cold cuts and is sandwiched between two slices of french bread, the Po-Boy.

The 30 vendors participating in this years po-boy festival lined a shut-down section of Oak St. Navigating the shoulder-to-shoulder horde of hungry sandwich seekers was trying at times, although that was the least of my worries. Bigger issues were more important, like which of the vendors we wanted to buy a po-boy from. This was no easy feat when it comes to how indecisive I can be at time when presented with an overflow of options. In this case, they were plentiful and seemingly endless. 

  

Once you have narrowed down the choice about what you'd like to devour first, your next predicament is dependent upon whether or not it's worth standing in line for. Some of the lines had upwards of 30-40 people waiting, which wouldn't have been so bad had they not been inching forward at a snails pace. Although once you set your sights on a particular po-boy it was hard to turn your back on the possibility of savoring such a tasty sandwich. Proximity and price also had a lot to do with selections we made as well.

In an attempt to taste test as many po-boys as we possibly could, my Sister and I decided to share our sandwiches. At the end of the day we tried at least 5 different ones. And who knew we would do such a good job of sniffing out the crème de la crème because I later found out that we ate many of the po-boys that were voted the best of the festival. 

One of our favorites came from Red Fish Grill who won the honor of Best Shrimp Po-Boy with their Grilled Shrimp & Blackened Avocado Po-Boy; it was packed with flavor and the shrimp were super fresh and tasty. Our second favorite came from Sammy's Deli who won the honor of Best Specialty Non-Seafood Po-Boy with their Fried Chicken with Chisesi Ham and Swiss Cheese Po-Boy, talk about a scrumptious concoction, it was amazing! Another notable po-boy we tasted was from Coquette Restaurant who won the People's Choice Award for the Homemade Hot Sausage Po-Boy, it was juicy and the least expensive one we had all day at only $5.00. 

I felt really lucky that my trip coincided with one of the many festivals that New Orleans hosts because it allowed me to try a variety of po-boys in a short period of time. There were a whole handful of other sandwiches that I would have liked to sample, however my stomach could only endure so much. Had I not had the opportunity to attend the Oak St. Po-Boy Festival, though, I wouldn't have put a dent in the plethora of po-boy options the city has available. 

 

It was an interesting and amusing experience to say the least and I hope that the next time I venture to New Orleans that my trip will include another festival where I can feast on other flavors made famous by the Crescent City.

Related Links:

• New Orleans Po-Boy Festival | Website 
• Red Fish Grill | 115 Bourbon Street New Orleans, LA 70130 | (504) 598-1200 | Website
• Sammy's Deli | 3000 Elysian Fields Avenue New Orleans, LA 70122-3627 | (504) 947-0675 | Website  
• Coquette Restaurant | 2800 Magazine Street New Orleans, LA 70115-2229 | (504) 265-0421 | Website 

 

Postcard from New Orleans | Ending a Sugar Strike in Style!

My one and only wish for the first day of exploring was to end a five week long sugar strike in style by eating a plate full of deep-fried dough doused in powdered sugar, otherwise known as beignets. Mission accomplished!

We went in with the intention of sharing a plate of 3, however, after plowing through our first few we decided that it was imperative to order yet another plate. The excitement of eating sugar for the first time in five weeks was almost as exciting as the band playing on the sidewalk just outside the cafe. A front row seat was waiting for us when we got there so we could see all of the action.

Afterward, we set out to explore more of Decatur St. by foot. It's hard to believe that I spent a total of five hours touring the city – well, a portion of the city -- and only saw a very small fraction of what this place is really made of. To give you a better idea of how little ground we actually covered, we didn't even walk the entire length of that one road. Luckily, I have plenty of time to see even more while I'm here, which I definitely intend on doing!

A Reminiscent Roundup: Oahu, Hawaii

This time last year I was gearing up for a solo journey of epic proportions. I knew before making the trek that it would undoubtedly be a life changing experience, although little did I know exactly how great of an impact it would really have when all was said and done. The islands magical influences can have quite an effect on the unsuspecting traveler who has never been that far away from home. Particularly so, when you're not used to being that far away from home alone!

Most of my time on the island of Oahu, Hawaii was spent in quiet contemplation as I embarked upon adventures on my own that consisted of many different activities. I had no specific goals or a rigid itinerary before getting on the plane. Now that I think about it, there was one specific goal I can recall having, which was to just let myself be. I felt no pressure about doing or seeing as much as I could in the 5 short days that I was there; I was more interested in taking it easy and actually relaxing on this brief respite.

A near perfect balance of tranquility and activity was how I managed to spend my days. And the jet lag helped me to make the most of my time by not letting me sleep past 6am. It was somewhat frustrating at times since I wasn't going to bed until 2 or 3am. I suppose that sleep would be on the bottom of any persons list when you have a tropical paradise waiting to be discovered right outside your door.

I already blogged about most of my trip to the island, but I'm in the mood to revisit this soulful sojourn since I'm feeling sentimental. Links to the previous posts can be found at the bottom.

In my sporty red Jeep, I covered every corner of the island. By far, the most scenic drive to take a ride I found was Highyway 83. This joyride hugged the turquoise shores of the Pacific Ocean for nearly the entire stretch. If you can imagine, I had a hard time keeping my eyes on the road! While I immensely enjoyed spending time on the islands open roads, I did make quite a few pit stops along the way.

One of the most amazing encounters led me to the Byodo-In Temple. Located in the Valley of the Temples, at the base of the 2,000 foot Ko'olau mountain range, is the replica of a 950-year-old Buddhist temple in Uji, Japan. One can't help but be overcome with an extreme sense of peacefulness while roaming the grounds of this magnificent complex. I was early and lucky enough to be one of the first visitors, so I had the temple to myself, which greatly enhanced my experience. It was very hard to leave; I could have stayed there all day had that bus of tourists not shown up.

For my actual birthday, a friend and I attended an authentic Hawaiian-style luau where we stuffed ourselves with delicious food and watched some highly entertaining performances. The four hour long feast for the senses was a rip-roaring good time that I really wish I could repeat for this year's birthday.

A trip to Hawaii wouldn't be complete without spending time in the great outdoors, and I'm not just talking about sandy white beaches either. Snorkeling, was a pastime that I found myself thoroughly enthralled by. It was my first time catching a glimpse of the aquatic life in their natural habitat. I floated along the surface in a constant state of awe as I spied on the sea creatures, it was so much fun swimming with the fishes. 

To keep from getting too waterlogged and to survey what was beyond the sea and sand, I also ventured upon other outdoor recreational activities. While on the island of Oahu, I managed to complete two pretty popular hikes to satisfy my urge to commune with nature. The hikes I did were like night and day with one tucked deep inside a lusciously verdant rainforest, while the other was situated inside an extinct volcanic crater. 

Manoa Falls was the first trek I did to see an impressive 160ft waterfall. The second one, called Diamond Head crater, was nowhere near the gentle grade I experienced earlier at Manoa Falls. Diamond Head was a lot steeper and required several staggering stair climbs to reach the top, but the long range views do their best to make up for the massive amount of sweat lost in the process. The hikes were definitely a great detour from the usual island activities and offered some awesome exercise too.

This trip down memory lane makes my heart ache as I really wish there were a birthday trip this year, too. I mean, I'm coming up on the Big 3-0 and this is the first birthday in 4 years that I won't be heading somewhere outside my usual surroundings. 

I promised Cody, though, that we would spend my birthday together this year, and I wouldn't want to let him down. It's not too much of a compromise, though, because I want to be with him as much as he wants to be with me; although that doesn't stop me from yearning for us to be somewhere new together.

At least I have these beautifully vivid memories of Hawaii to carry me through until my next journey! 

Original HAWAII Blog Posts:

• Celebrating my Birthday Hawaiin-style!
• 6 Sights to See on Highway 83 (Part 1)
• 6 Sights to See on Highway 83 (Part 2)
• A Place of Peace & Serenity: Byodo-In Temple
• Honolulu's Most Popular Hikes

Pleasing Your Palate in Puerto Rico

In my last post, A Preview of Puerto Rico, I left out all of the delectable details regarding the Puerto Rican cuisine we sampled while we were on the island. It wasn't because I forgot, it was because I thought the food deserved a post all its own! We tried so many wonderful things that I am very excited to finally tell you all about.

MALLORCA:

This fluffy, sweet pastry that's buttered, grilled and sprinkled with powdered sugar is not your typical breakfast sandwich. What sets this Spanish danish apart even further from a regular pastry is the fact that they come with a variety of fillings that you would order on a normal breakfast sandwich, such as ham, bacon, egg and/or cheese. 

 

Seems sort of weird to mix ham and cheese with powdered sugar, right?! It did to me, but I was willing to try it! I ordered my first Mallorca with jamon, huevos, and queso - all the way. The bread was light, airy and had a hint of sweetness to it. And I found the mesh of salty and sweet to be highly unusual, but oh so yummy! 

 

STREET SNACKS:

An important part of the Puerto Rican diet is the plethora of fried fritter-like finger foods that are easily found all over the island. Our most favorite item that we tried multiple times from several different places were the Alcapurria's. Alcapurria's are plantain croquettes stuffed with beef, pork or crab; they were super tasty. 

At one point while we were walking around the city, I spotted a guy eating a gigantic elephant ear-like disc (but flat) and was intrigued, he laughed as I stared intently with my mouth wide open, perplexed yet wondering how I was going to get my hands on one! Come to find out, it was a deep-fried codfish fritter called a Bacalaito, they are typically served as an appetizer for lunch or dinner. The various vendors that we purchased these street snacks from were very affordable; I think we got away with spending less than $5 each visit! You can't beat lunch for two at that price!

MOFONGO:

This quintessential Puerto Rican dish is a favorite of many and consists of mashed green plantains mixed with garlic and other flavorings before being fried in a pan. When served plain it is merely a side dish, but if you take advantage of the stuffing options available, this is the way to go for a main-course meal. We ordered our signature Puerto Rican entree stuffed with fresh mahi mahi and shrimp, it was devoured within minutes! Native Caribbean flavors were very evident in this mouthwatering meal. Traditionally, Mofongo is served in a pilon, which is much like a wooden goblet and makes for a rather interesting presentation. 

DELICIOUS JUICES:

Tropical fruits, amongst other things, often wind up at the table in the form of a tasty beverage. By accident, we tried a few different kinds that I think are worth noting. In particular, we happened upon a vendor selling “La China Dulce”. We were thirsty and feeling adventurous, and were stopped dead in our tracks by the stacked baskets filled to the brim with these yellow-green grapefruit-like orbs, so we investigated. It was quickly realized that they were oranges, but they weren't the color of any orange I'd ever seen before!

In Puerto Rico, naranjas or oranges are called Chinas. Since we weren't sure of how it would taste Cody and I shared a cup. It ended up being a deliciously sweet concoction that was far more flavorful than any orange juice I've ever had. Cody and I were fighting over sips as the heavenly nectar diminished. We nearly turned back around once it was gone to get another, but decided it was too far. After craving one the next day, and not being able to find the same vendor who must have picked up and moved elsewhere, we were kicking ourselves for not going back the day before. 

 

Another juice we tried was called Mavi. Mavi is a not made from a tropical fruit like La China Dulce, instead it is made from the bark of a mauby tree. Puerto Rico isn't the only place that this fermented formula is popular as it is a beverage consumed by many Caribbean islanders. While Cody very much appreciated this beverage, I found it hard to enjoy. It wasn't that it was too bitter, but the sweetness was a little too sickly sweet for me, an acquired taste I'm sure.

This definitely doesn't cover the extent of the delectable foods you don't want to miss when on the island of Puerto Rico, but I encourage anyone traveling that way to do some digging of their own to find flavors to look forward to. I had many other things on my list to try, but I could really only force myself to eat so much! :D

A Preview of Puerto Rico

The extent of our Puerto Rico explorations took place on the eastern part of the island, the vast majority of that time was spent in the heart of historic Old San Juan. Weather conditions upon our arrival and throughout our trip weren't always favorable, but we were given a pretty good mixture of sunny and stormy days, so we didn't let those that were dreary dampen our excitement to explore. We really enjoyed the simplicity of just strolling the blue cobblestone streets, taking pictures of the assorted sorbet-colored colonial style buildings, and sampling tasty Puerto Rican street snacks along the way. Rarely did we venture into any of the shops or galleries throughout our tour, although some were too hard to pass up. 

  

After two days in the fast-paced city, we headed toward the easternmost tip of the island to be swept away to a more serene setting, but not before making a pit stop first! Originally, we planned on spending an entire day in the tropical rainforest of El Yunque, however, all-day dwindled to a few hours due to misinformation we received from an out-dated guidebook. I was still glad that we managed to fit it in at all, because I would have hated to miss it altogether. This super quick pit stop had us speed-hiking a trail through a non-stop drizzle to the base of a very popular waterfall where we were privileged enough to take a plunge in at the end. It was an exhilarating way to finish off this whirlwind tour! On our way out of the park, we stopped off to catch a glimpse of a roadside waterfall before heading toward the town of Fajardo to hop on the ferry over to a smaller island called Vieques. Due to the earlier confusion about ferry times, we had to wait a few hours for the next boat.

The ride to the neighboring island took about 1.5 hours, and was a fairly pleasant way to kickback and take it easy while someone else worried about navigating. Once on Vieques, we worked out a ride with a publico to take us to our guesthouse in Esperanza. Perched high up on a hill, in a residential neighborhood, was the setting of our homebase for the next few evenings. We didn't mind being off the mainstrip since the walk was a short 10 minutes to the beach. Our time on Vieques was divided between walking the sandy white beaches while treasure hunting, and frequenting the local restaurants to refuel and indulge. In the evening, we took a captivating tour of the nearby bioluminescent bay, which was a major highlight of the entire trip. Can you imagine swimming amongst a sea of glimmering micro-organisms that glow upon contact?!?! It was an amazing experience! This magical paradise was definitely a great place to slow down and enjoy the solitude.

  

After a rough ride back to Puerto Rico on the ferry, and climbing back into the saddle of our rental van, we attempted to make our way back to San Juan. It wasn't until we got lost a few times that we found our way to the next and final destination, the Andalucia Guesthouse was located on a semi-busy street, just a few blocks away from the beach. For the area we wanted to be in, which was close to the airport, this place was perfectly situated and was close to some rather convenient amenities. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to thoroughly inspect our surroundings before our departure the next day. So many food choices, so little time! We did, however, find a moment to eat at an awesome bakery before leaving for the airport. 

Wait! Is that it?! Nooooaaaah....
What I have shared here is a very quick run down of everything we did during our most recent trip to Puerto Rico. There are many missing details that I plan to fill you in on over the next couple weeks. For instance, a detailed 'report' on the scrumptious foods we ate during our stay on the island. A sampling that will be filled with snacks, out of the ordinary breakfast treats, and other yummy morsels. Food was one of our favorite parts of this trip, and I can't wait to make you salivate :D Overall, it was one of those vacations that had a great mix of adventures that kept us on our toes, but one that also allowed us to take it easy when we needed it the most. STAY TUNED!!

Posted in: My World Tuesday