Goodbye July!

July was kind on me and although I've been feeling quite lazy these days,  I've managed to explore some places and experiences closer home that can be great ideas for those visiting Lisbon.

A sunset cruise on river Tagus and a wine tasting along the Arrábida coast were two amazing experiences that I've already shared with you. A visit to Cabo Espichel was also so enjoyable and soon I'll be telling you all about it and giving you my best tips for a visit. A couple of years ago, I've visited Rome (in July!) and this July I've brought you my favorite fountains on the Eternal City and a special recipe to remember Rome. This post is the first of a new series, that I've called Travel Cooking, that I'll be writing especially for all those of you that share my passions for travel and food. Is also thinking of my foodie readers that I've created a new blog page featuring all the restaurant reviews and food related articles. You can find my Food Chronicles here!

August will bring some new places, stories, and experiences. Until the next monthly wrap-up, leave you with the nine photos that are the Top 9 for July on our Instagram account. You can follow us there for daily photos and tips.

Travel Cooking | Saltimbocca alla Romana

If you're a regular visit to the blog, I'm sure you had no trouble figuring out that I love food. For those who just recently get to know me and the Wanderer's Chronicles I must say that this is the plain truth: I love good food! Both eating and cooking it.

So, as you can imagine, while visiting a country, restaurants, cafés and markets are mandatory places to go. But such pleasant experiences can't be restricted to the days I spend on each country. Cooking books and, many times, some specific ingredients, find their place on my luggage and accompanied me home. Back home, starts the adventure of reproducing my favorite recipes!

For all those of you that share my passions for travel and food, I'm starting a new series - Travel Cooking - where I'll feature recipes from different countries and regions. Hope you will enjoy it!

I'm partial to Mediterranean cuisine and particularly Italian food. So, let's start with a favorite of mine  - Saltimbocca all Romana. Grab a glass of vino, imagine yourself on a terrace overlooking Rome and taste this delicious veal escalopes, sided by some risotto (I choose asparagus) or pollenta.

Saltimbocca is a delicious  Italian meat recipe that has become popular in many countries. The very thin veal escalopes do not even need salt, since the intense flavor of the prosciutto is enough to season them. The Marsala wine in the sauce gives a special sweet touch that combines perfectly with the salty tasty of the prosciutto and the pungent aroma of the sage. Such a tasty treat it only  can "jump in the mouth" as soon as it appears on the plate!

Chronicles from Rome | My 5 Favorite Fountains in the Eternal City

Rome has fifty monumental fountains and hundreds of smaller fountains, bringing freshness to the streets and squares and water to its inhabitants and visitors. With over 2000 fountains in all, the Eternal City has more fountains than any other city in the world. Today I'll bring you just a hand full of my favorite ones, conscient that this is an unfinished work.



FONTANA DI TREVI

The Fontana di Trevi is perhaps one of the most emblematic and well-known fountains of Rome. Who has not seen the scene of the movie La Dolce Vita by Fellini, in which Anita Ekberg enters the fountain and invites Marcello Mastroianni to follow her?

Despite its grandeur and drama, the Trevi Fountain sits on a relatively small square (actually it is the crossroads of three streets (tre vie)!), where almost all the tourists who want to visit it hardly fit. In spite of the turmoil, of the policemen who whistle when one approaches too much of the water and the queues to take a photo or to throw a coin in the basin, the fountain is splendid, with its tritons and sea horses, that seem to want to jump from the basin, ready to gallop ahead!



FONTANA DELLE TARTARUGHE

The Fontana delle Tartarughe it's a beautiful fountain, in a quiet little square (Piazza Mattei). It has a curious history since it was not built in the place where it had initially been planned. On the other hand, the turtles that give it its name are not part of the initial design and were added decades later, during a restoration.



FONTANA DEI QUATTRO FIUME

Located in Piazza Navona, it represents the four main continents of the world and the great rivers that cross them: the Nile River in Africa, the Ganges River in Asia, the Danube River in Europe and the Rio de la Plata in America (the It has not been discovered!).

The lively Piazza Navona is one of the most well-known squares of Rome and it has a rectangular shape since it was originally a Roman stadium. Over time, the houses were built on the benches, and by the end of the fifteenth century it was characterized as a square. In the seventeenth century, the Fontana dei Quattro Fiume was built, following the Bernini project, in the center of the square and today it is one of its main focuses of attention.



FONTANA DEL PANTHEON

The Fontana del Pantheon can be found in Piazza della Rotonda, in front of the Pantheon. This is another beautiful fountain, from the last quartile of the 16th century, surmounted by an obelisk, which refreshes and fills with its crystalline sound this busy square.

The Piazza della Rotonda is one of Rome's busiest places, either during the day or at night, when its restaurants and terraces fill with visitors. The fountain is a central motive of attraction, only losing prominence for the imposing Pantheon that, after having been built by Agrippa, was, after its destruction, ordered to be rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian, in order to erect a temple to all the gods, both from Rome and from the conquered territories.



FONTANA DELLA BARCACCIA

The Fontana della Barcaccia is a singular fountain situated at Piazza di Spagna close to the Spanish Steps. The fountain was built with the shape of a half-sunken ship with water overflowing its sides into a small basin. Its unusual shape is probably due to an old legend that may have inspired Bernini to whom the design of the fountain was commissioned. According to the legend, when the Tiber River flooded, the water carried a small boat into the Piazza di Spagna that stayed in the center of the square after the water receded.

Love Chronicles | Romantic Spots in Europe

In total Valentine's spirit I've invited a few fellow bloggers to choose a city of their preference and present a city spot and  one or more activities for a great romantic experience. The lovely ladies from Doro Henrietta, Got the Travel Bug Too and Atlas Adrift joined me in this sweet task and here you have four Valentine's Day suggestions that not even the most romantic soul could refuse. Amsterdam, Rome, Venice and Sintra are overloaded with romance and just waiting for you to drop by.


AMSTERDAM by Doro Henrietta

There’s nothing more romantic than a walk along Amsterdam’s canals with your loved one. Being such a popular destination among tourists, Amsterdam tends to get pretty crowded though – not necessarily what you’re looking for on Valentine’s Day.

To escape the crowds, I’d suggest taking a walk through the “Westelijke Eilanden”, the “Western Islands”. These three manmade islands were built in the 17th century, as part of the third enlargement of Amsterdam. Nowadays, the area which has a village like feel to it, is a popular place of residence among Amsterdam’s creative souls.

The Western Islands are just a short walk south-west of the Central Station. Despite their central location, it is a very peaceful and quiet area, and probably my favorite hidden gem in Amsterdam. With its narrow street, beautifully restored 17th century canal houses and wooden draw bridges, the waterfront neighborhood is just perfect for getting lost!

If you fancy a drink or a bite to eat after your walk, you can head over to Jordaan District. The area is full of nice restaurants and little “terraces” and easy to reach from Amsterdam’s Centrum.



ROME by Got the Travel Bug Too

Rome is a magical city that could easily spark romance! I believe that Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck really brought out the romantic vibe of the “Eternal City” in their movie, “Roman Holiday”. It was filmed entirely in Rome and the story centers around Princess Ann (played by Hepburn), who sneaks out of the embassy and explores Rome without her security guards.  She meets an American reporter, Joe Bradley (played by Peck) who finds her sleeping on a park bench near the Roman Forum. Later, Joe decides to take Ann on a tour of Rome all while getting a juicy story for the newspaper (unknowing to Ann.)

At Piazza di Spagna, halfway up the Spanish Steps - Audrey Hepburn’s character sat and ate a gelato with her new friend, Joe. The Spanish Steps is the perfect spot for a romantic outing day or night. There is something magical about sitting on those steps with the one you love! In the piazza, there are many opportunities for a romantic carriage ride, including roses!

VENICE by Atlas Adrift

Ah Venice, the eternal city of romance! Pastel houses reflected onto calm waters make for the perfect getaway with that special someone. Honeymoon, anniversary, or just because.

Try to hide the blush as you lock lips with your sweetheart over a quintessential gondola ride through the twists and turns of the quiet canals. Take the scenic route from Barcino Orseolo to arrive at the Grand Canal. Touristy or not – this is an experience which can’t be missed!

Next, indulge in a gelato tasting together. I highly reccomed La Boutique del Gelato, where there are 100’s of delicious flavors to choose from!

Laugh and play together as you feed the pigeons swooping by in St Mark’s Square. Skip the long line at the bell tower of St Mark's, and take in the view from the San Giorgio Maggiore instead.

Enjoy dinner at Cantina Do Spade, the historic where the famous lover Casanova laid the pathway for romantic gestures. He was rumored to wine and dine women here in hopes they would fall for him. Sip red Italian wine at Do Spade bar on Calle de Spade, near the Rialto Bridge, where most of the love locks have sadly since been removed - a reminder of love and commitment around the world. 

After dinner, swoon over a ballet or opera performance amidst the gold balconies of Theatre La Fenice  opera house. 

SINTRA by The Wanderer's Chronicles

Less than an hour from Lisbon, Sintra is the epitome of romanticism. The luxurious woods in the mist, the castles and palaces, the small hotels and cosy restaurants, the beautiful parks, the legends and the stories, all contributes for a special feeling of romance and adventure while you wander its narrow streets and mountain roads.

Choose some of the attractions so you can enjoy them calmly and take a picnic for lunch. Do not forget to buy some sweet travesseiros on arrival at Sintra. You can find this pastries at Piriquita in the town center. Head to the palace (by buss or more romantically by coach) and make the tour. Than you can walk trough the park and visit the Chalet of the Countess of Edla, the romantic hideaway of D. Fernando and Elise Hensler.

Have your picnic at Monserrate park. The Park and Palace of Monserrate are some of the most beautiful architectural and landscape Romantic creations in Portugal. The gardens have received species from all corners of the world, and a walk trough its grounds after lunch will surely be an enjoyable moment.

You are not that far from the town, and you're just on time to have your afternoon tea at Lawrence's (the oldest hotel in Portugal) before return to Lisbon. For extra  romance, you can stay for dinner or even for the night, as the hotel has the most romantic suites with stunning views to the park.

One Down, Eleven to Go!

January started with a cold weather and came to an end under the rain, and although I quite enjoy those sunny but chilling winter days, walking around the city, rainy days invite me to stay home, close to the fire place with a hot cocoa on my hands.

The January blog posts make me revisit some beloved places of Paris and Rome, and Lisbon was brought to you in a city guide with simple tips and useful information. Unfortunately my plans to visit Oporto could not come to reality but I hope to return to that amazing city before Spring.

Soon we all be running trough the smallest month of the year and in no time I'll be here rapping up February! Hope to have some new topics to share with you during the second month of 2017 and to continue to bring to you some of the Instagram accounts that impressed me more recently (have you read the post on the 17 travel Instagram accounts, under 17K, to follow in 2017?).

These nine photos are the Top 9 for January on our Instagram account. You can follow us there for daily photos and tips.

Chronicles from Rome | 7 Must Go Places in the Eternal City

Rome is known to be the Eternal City and visiting it is like making a voyage in time, stepping from an era to the next. From the Imperial Rome, to the Medieval, through the Renaissance Rome to the Baroque we can find the impressive marks of architecture and art.

The city has so much to see and enjoy that we can stay for weeks without running out of places to visit. Unfortunately, for most of the visitors the time is limited and choices have to be done. If you don't have that many days to stay in Rome, plan your visit to check all of this unmissable places.


THE ROMAN FORUMS

The Forum was the center of the political, juridical and comercial life of the Ancient Rome. As the Roman population grow, the original Forum get too small and in 46BC Julius Cesar ordered the construction of a new one. Several Emperors after him did the same.  Today, the archaeological sites of the several Forums constitute an organic complex renamed in the modern era the “Imperial Forums”, reaching from Capitol Hill  (Campidoglio) to the foot of the Quirinale Hill. Walking around those ancient stones is an unforgettable experience that no visitor can miss.

THE COLOSSEUM

The construction of the largest amphitheater of the Roman Empire was commissioned  by Vespasian in 72 AD in a swamp area of the city. It was used for gladiator fights and hunting simulations involving ferocious and exotic animals. With almost two thousand years, the Colosseum is still the symbol of the eternal city, drawing thousands of visitors every year. This means long queues and an endless wait, but don't despair, you can avoid it buying the tickets online. The visit to its interior is really worthwhile.

THE PANTHEON

The Pantheon, built by the Emperor Hadrian between 118 and 125 AD  is a true master piece of Roman engineering.  As we enter, our eyes are drawn to the central round aperture at the very top of the dome that illuminates the entire building. Built over the ruins of a previous  temple
commissioned by Marcus Agrippa, to a whom was made a dedicatory inscription on the portico, the Pantheon was transformed in a charge in the Middle Age. There you can find the tombs of Raphael and of several Italian kings.

PIAZZA NAVONA

Piazza Navona is an elegant square, full of people and animation. Built on the site of Stadium of Domitian, still preserves its outline while presenting a predominantly Baroque style.  The main focal point is undoubtedly the Fontana dei Quatro Fiumi or Fountain of the Four Rivers, placed in the center of the square. The piazza is a highly popular meeting place for Romans and tourists alike, and a nice place to have a meal in one of its numerous restaurants.

FONTANA DI TREVI

Inspired by the Roman triumphal arches, the Fontana di Trevi was built in the 18th-century. This beautiful Baroque fountain is one of the most crowded spots in Rome and is not easy to get close to its edge. If you fantasize with a reenactment of the iconic scene of the movie La Dolce Vita, think twice as entering the basin of the fountain is strictly forbidden. Nevertheless, you can drop a coin in the water, guaranteeing a future return to Rome.

PIAZZA DE SPAGNA

The area around this square is a must go place. From having a meal (or a gelato!) at one of the Cafés in the square, to appreciating the view from the scalinatta, to  take a walk in the Pincio Gardens or a visit to the Villa Medici, not to say, for the most fashionable of you, a shopping tour to some of the most famous fashion stores streets in Rome (Via Condotti rings any bell?), there is a lot to do around this beautiful square.

VATICAN

A visit to the Vatican City is mandatory, not only to Piazza San Pedro and the Basilica but also to the Vatican Museums. To visit the Basilica di San Pedro beware you must be wearing suitable clothes. Shorts and mini skirts or even sleeveless dresses or blouses are not allowed. The magnificent Vatican Museums are among the greatest and most important in the world. Its magnificence and popularity explains the extremely long queues tailing back from the the entrance. But rest assured, once inside you'll find your patience to be totally rewarded. There is so much to see that you should allow at least half a day to check the most important exhibits.

Wanderer's Gallery | Rome