5/07/2008

#2 - PRAGUE: BRILLIANT HISTORY, BRILLIANT CITY

PRAGUE is a beautiful city, it's that simple. Cobblestone roads, ancient architecture, pubs beside pubs beside pubs and more meat than a T-Rex can handle. The Czech people like their meat: Sausage, Goulash, Duck, Ham, Chicken, Ribs and a surprising favorite... Pork Knee. Yeah that's right, Pork Knee.

We spent five full days in Prague visiting majestic sites like Charles Bridge, the Astronomical Clock, the Castle, the Powder Tower, the Jewish Quarter, Squares, Plazas and ofcourse Pubs. Beer is ridiculously cheap in Prague, a glass costing you about a buck canadian, a pint about a buck and a half. Food and accommodation are also reasonable but shopping is where things get pricey but really who goes to Prague for the shopping, it's all about the city itself.

The people are friendly, always smiling and very helpful especially if you make an attempt to speak Czech which always gets a laugh. They are very happy to show their city off to tourists and I'm glad they are, there's so much to see but the further out from the city center you go, the less touristy and more old world Czech it gets. There are still some old Communist ghosts lurking about throughout the city and there are still alot of Russian paraphernalia about (including the pilot cap I picked up) but with each passing year Prague gets a little more "modern", hopefully never too modern.

PRAGUE, brilliant history, brilliant city.

5/05/2008

#1 - AMSTERDAM: SEX, FRIES & BIKES

Our trip through Europe was bookended by stops in the classic city of AMSTERDAM which I can sum up in three words: Sex, Fries and Bikes. The RED LIGHT DISTRICT is the same as it was 16 years ago when I visited it in 1992, dingy, smut-filled and full of red lights. There are more BIKES in Amsterdam than people and they are everywhere, there are parking garages dedicated to bikes, four storey structures filled to the rim with bikes, seriously. The FRIES seem to be the national snack food of the Netherlands and they are awesome, a big cone of fries smothered in some type of sauce (usually Mayo, Sambal or Statay for us), it's a great treat especially after a few pints.

Our Favorite restaurant in Amsterdam was the mexican joint LOS PILONES located in the Leidensplein district", honestly it was some of the tastiest Mexican food we've ever had, all four of us agreed that it was worth a return visit.

If there is a darker side to our time in Amsterdam it's that the city is expensive, decent rooms and meals cost a bit but transit is cheap and the metro gets you everywhere. The Heiniken Museum was closed for an upgrade and I got a wicked stomach flu on our last day in Europe, so I saw our Amsterdamian Hotel Room for 24 hours instead of the city... awesome.

AMSTERDAM... sex, fries and bikes.

WE'RE BACK!


Total Days: 23
Total Countries: 3
Total Cities: 5
Total Pictures: 1650+

We are tired but happy and just starting to slog through all the pics before posting, stay tuned for the recap on EUROTRIP!

5/01/2008

MISS YOU MOM

We are on the final leg of our trip through Europe and it's great times but it is also May 1st and 13 years ago today my mom Angelica passed away suddenly at 49 years of age. I miss her lots and my memories of her always make me smile but it's always a little tough, especially today.

I miss you Mom and love you!

4/09/2008

VANCOUVER EATS

For a while I've been writing restaurant reviews on DINE HERE as well as on the Corsiworld Blog (HERE's one for GASTROPOD for instance). Well I decided to start yet another Blog, this one focusing on Food Reviews and I call it VANCOUVER EATS. I've only got 4 reviews up there right now but I will update each time we try something new! Enjoy!!!

VANCOUVER EATS

4/03/2008

2 DOGS & A CAT WALK INTO A BAR...

People have been asking about our Animal Kingdom so here's the skinny:

CARMINE - Doing well, caught onto using the "peepads" quickly and accidents have been minor. He's learning "sit" and "stay" but name recognition is taking longer than hoped but it will come. He's eating well and also trying to eat all of Laverne's food at the same time. One area to focus on is "environmental socialization" as he gets quite skittish outside or in his crate in the car. Overall, he's great!


LAVERNE - The mysterious sickness has passed and she is her normal self again, WOO HOO! Enjoys having a little brother to play with but sometimes gets into that "frenetic zone" and can play a bit rough with Carmine. At first, Laverne wanted no part of Carmine but it seems that the more they hang out together, the better they become with each other! Big Win!


PINCHY - The Pincheriffic Pinch! The seasoned vet of our trio, Pinchy is actually getting a kick out of Carmine as Carmine is not afraid of the cat. They chase each other around, Pinchy swats at him but Carmine keeps coming back for more. Laverne is now getting in on the action as well. As a bonus, Pinchy spends more time downstairs with us rather than always upstairs on the third floor.