Gayle Brennan Spencer – sending random thoughts to and from South Austin
Above: “I Wonder if Iolanda (a Portuguese singer) Ever Notices Me…”
Oh dear, my posts truly lag behind our trips. The first installment of this appeared here more than a year ago. Trying to play catch up, and street art is meant to be viewed without explanatory words anyway.
Continue reading “Postcard from Palermo, Sicily: Street art stands on its own”
Above: Speciale de Claires oyster at La Boite a Sardine
A fair number of French will tell you in unguarded moments that ‘Marseille is not France,’ and what they mean by that is that it’s too Arab, too Italian, too Corsican, too mixed up with foreignness to be truly and adequately French. But, anybody who knows me knows that’s exactly the kind of mixed up gene pool I like to swim in and eat in. It is a glorious stew of a city, smelling of Middle Eastern spices, garlic, saffron and the sea.”
“Marseille is a Must-See City in France,” Anthony Bourdain, CNN, October 2, 2015
Offering up a quick alphabetical tour of restaurants we came across and enjoyed while in Marseille this past spring.
A trendy, upscale yet casual, lunch-only spot attracting neighborhood millennials to the point where reservations are recommended, Cantoche is not in a location you would simply stumble across as a tourist. But it’s definitely destination-worthy and less than a fifteen-minute walk from the Vieux Port.
Continue reading “Postcard from Marseille, France: Seafood, spices and mysterious black vanilla”
Gaspacho. Spelling the word with an “s” and not a “z” makes a world of difference in Morelia. Cubes of refreshing fruit with no tomatoes in the mix. Traditional gaspacho stands are found everywhere in the heart of the city, with locals more than willing to line up at their favorite ones. Although customized for the individual, don’t miss out experiencing estilo Moreliano with its contrasting flavors of tangy lime juice, cotija cheese and chile layered into the combination of regional fruit. Beware. It’s highly addictive.
With that ideal breakfast out of the way, time to head out for more substantial repasts at restaurants listed alphabetically. By chance, these first three spots are a bit off the main tourist grid but are all a walkable distance from the center.
Continue reading “Postcard from Morelia, Mexico: Vamos a comer”
Postcards from Barton Springs 