Saturday 23 June 2012

Lasarte Restaurante, Barcelona

Lasarte is arguably Barcelona's best restaurant and its master, Martin Berasategui, is considered the #1 chef in Spain since the closure of Ferran Addria's El Bulli.  Very deserving of its 2 Michelin stars, the food is both creative and delicious.  The flavours and textures make perfect sense, unlike many of the current gastronomical experiences that seem to be more interested in turning the meal into a chemistry experiment.


The mood of the space is subdued and warm.  Each eating area houses only a few tables so you never feel crowded by other diners.  The white plaster of the walls is beautifully complimented by muted gold accents and fresh fragrant flowers.


The food, of course, is the real star.  Tasting bites and small tapas serve as the amuse bouche - spiced pistachios, potato with roe, and smoked oyster with cream.  As appetizers we chose three tapas - smoked eel, prawn with sea urchin (oh, to eat this again!), and tuna tartare with caviar.  The seafood delights were perfectly matched, preparing us for amazing main courses.  Rare pigeon breasts with risotto-style truffle gravy and charcoal grilled tuna belly with mango, capers and greens.  A wonder of flavours!  Dessert was a sweet treat adventure.  Rice and cardamom juice over olive oil cake with olive oil ice cream was my choice and my husband devoured the French toast with coffee ice cream and caramel foam.  Yum!!


Each course was prepared with unusual flavour combinations that made for a unique dining experience.


Courtesy of www.restaurantlasarte.com

Barcelona, Spain May, 2012

This was our 2nd visit to Barcelona and, this time, we focused most of our energy on the architecture of Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926).  It is widely accepted that the city became well-known thanks to the accolades awarded to him and his glorious designs.  We explored 3 works on this trip:  Parc Guell, Casa Battlo, and La Sagrada Familia.  Each has distinct elements that immediately identify it as a Gaudi piece - saturated colour, a lack of straight lines and corners, and a profound interest in nature.


Parc Guell

Parc Guell was originally designed to be a private residential development but when the plan didn't sell, the city purchased the land and created a beautiful public park.  At its top level is a gathering place with tile-covered benches overlooking the whole area.  These multi-coloured shards were collected by Gaudi from various ceramics factories around the city and used to provide seating for the residents.  These tiles remain today glistening in the sun on the seats of the Parc Guell for everyone to enjoy!



Wander down to the park's lower entrance and you encounter one of its most spectacular attractions.  You hear the tinkling of the water before you see the fountain, made of the same tiles as above.  Surrounded by lush greenery and petit flowers, a lizard-like figure dominates the scene.  There is much speculation about its identity.  Many believe its design is based on George's dragon from the myth of old.



Casa Battlo

Casa Battlo, in the Eixample district, is one of the private residences designed by Gaudi.  I don't think that there is a straight line or proper corner in the whole house.  Creaking floorboards lead you to a light-filled room, rose-colored from the glass spirals inset in the windows.  The brass door handles look almost fluid as they seem to fit the shape of your hand.  The ceramic pieces here are brilliant colours, fully created for this space, unlike the "found" shards used in the park.  This is the place often referred to as the "house of bones" due to the unusual shapes on its facade.



La Sagrada Familia

Gaudi's life's work, lasting far longer than his life, is the incredible La Sagrada Familia.  This Catholic church is in its 129th year of construction, expected to be completed in 2026.  This labour of love has three distinct areas which have been designed by different artists over the years but they contain the essence of what Gaudi originally laid out.  The front facade evokes the stories of Christ's birth and childhood as well as the love of nature that Gaudi possessed.  For instance, the base of one of the columns sits on the back of a large turtle.  The sanctuary itself is full of light and has a Gothic feel.  Where classic Gothic style uses columns and arches for stability, Gaudi mirrors this by using tree trunks for columns and branches and leaves for arches.  The back side is post-modern in style - much more angular and dark in mood.  As these scenes depict the torture and crucifixion of Christ, the tone seems appropriate.



As this was our second visit to Barcelona, my husband was quite excited about returning to this amazing structure.  Unfortunately, his behaviour can be just a tad over the top.



Sunday 17 June 2012

I Can Do This!!

Here are some things that I've learned along the way.  These are random, in no logical order and I'll keep adding to them.


1.  If you have issues with pain, take a heating pad on the plane.  Many planes have electrical outlets on the backs of the seats for computers but they work just as well for heating pads.  Check with your airline to see if your plane has them.


2.  I have a cane with a piece that tightens the height settings in place.  Carry plumbers tape so that if the threads become stripped you can easily fix it.  It's lightweight and small - easy to carry.


3.  On a similar note,  always carry an extra foot for your cane.  I learned this the hard way.  Mine came off and fell into the Caribbean Sea.  I was without a rubber foot for 3 days!


4.  Cruising is a great way to see what you want to see without having to pack up every morning and get on the bus.  It's easy to get around the ship, there are wheelchair accessible rooms on most cruise lines and many of them have accessible shore excursions too!


5.  Did you know that there are companies who rent special needs equipment and can deliver and pick up from your destination?  Contact a certified travel agent and let them assist you.  The price of your trip has no additional cost if you use an agent.  And they're the experts.


6.  I know a guide in Rome who has a fantastic tour of the city by golf cart.  Yes, I said golf cart.  And he's a wonderful guide and guy.  Email him at:  paolo@drivinguide.com

Me and Paolo at the ruins of Circus Maximus

Saturday 16 June 2012

Benvenuto Everyone!


This is my first foray into the blogging world and I'm looking forward to sharing my travel and food experiences with you.  For years I've kept a journal of the lengthy journeys that my husband and I have taken.  I always carry a glue stick and keep ticket stubs, business cards, postcards, etc. to remind us of where we've been and to assist friends when they prepare to go to the same places.  Every night of our travels I write a summary of the day and keep track of the wonderful food that we eat.  So I guess this is just a natural progression.

Hopefully, I can provide you with advice and insights into the places I've been so that you can prepare for your own visits.  Or maybe this will renew a memory of a place you've already been.

I am also a person living with Multiple Sclerosis and have only recently been forced (yes, this is not a choice!) to address travelling with a special need.  I refuse to cease my travels and let this "thing" win.  So, you'll find that from time to time I include some tips for how to deal with challenges when you're away from home.  I'll be adding a new section for this soon so keep a lookout!

Inspiration is all around us - it might be found in culture, history, food, art - so join me in searching for it somewhere in the world.

Beginnings

Yes, that's me at the Trevi Fountain in Rome