Author: GOING NINETY MILES

Hola and welcome to GOING NINETY MILES. Enjoy learning about amazing places to visit, good restaurants, seeing cool photos and more awesomeness.
food · france · love love love · paris · travel

City of Lights

GOING NINETY MILES4 Comments

Man, things have been a bit crazy here. Three weeks ago I was in Paris and then my cousin was here for two weeks. All of that being most excellent but busy busy. Plus I was teaching my English classes (which I must blog about soon) in midst of all of that.

Let’s recap PARIS, shall we? I landed at the Paris – ORLY airport and was determined to try out the metro instead of just catching a cab. It was so easy! (And I must admit I was quite proud of myself; just ask Jeannie as I mentioned the fact just a few hundred times) But then I chickened out doing it the way back – mostly from time constraints!

I met Jeannie at the Mercure Paris Opera hotel (not bad but absolutely nothing fancy) and we headed out for some food. After ditching two restaurants because they didn’t have exactly what we were looking for, we found the perfect one. We ordered two croque madams (pretty much a grilled ham and cheese with an egg on top – DELICIOUS), two beers and caught up on each other’s lives. Which sadly we never have enough time to do, we might need a few weeks at a quiet lake house for that.

Next up, the ferris wheel! Here are a few things we saw:

Can you see the reflection from the ferris wheel carriage?

The Louvre! So cool.

For the next two days we ate more croque madams (somehow that doesn’t sound right) and began our search for the best steak tartare. And my favorite of the three was at the Hotel Amour. We sat in their cute courtyard, were served bread with butter and almost licked the butter bowl clean. The steak tartare was spiced perfectly and came with a side order of steak frites. What’s there not to like!?

When we weren’t on our quest for the perfect food, I took photos. One thing to mention about Paris is that everything is so BIG! The buildings, the monuments, the churches = HUGE. I like things a bit more petite. How about that for using a french word in my post? By the way, I graduated college (Oklahoma State University WOOT!) with a minor in French, and now, I can speak n-o-t-h-i-n-g. Although I did come back to Spain saying Merci and Bonjour to everyone.

I have always been in love with the metro signs of Paris.

I love this one.

On our last night we headed up to Montmarte where many famous artists lived and worked – Picasso, Dali, Monet, van Gogh. How cool to walk the streets where they had walked, to look over the city like they did every day. And what a view it is!

The breathtaking Sacré Coeur.

 

And to end the post with things that made me laugh. I might have a bit of a strange sense of humor but I found these completely hilarious.

Pestacles or coque anyone!? Go to Paris now and tell me about your favorite croque madame and steak tartare!

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eat ~ mallorca · food · Mallorca · yum

Eat ~ Mallorca RIBELLO

GOING NINETY MILES1 Comment

Do you love Italian food? I DO! Felix and I just went to restaurant RIBELLO in the iconic area of la Longa of Palma. I have been wanting to go here for months and am now kicking myself for not going sooner. It. Was. Fantastic.

The menu wasn’t too extensive but I would believe that every single item would be excellent. Our starters were a spinach dip and prosciutto wrapped around a thick lobster cream. And for the main course I had a spicy tomato based sauce with penne that came with a hunk of buratta (a fresh Italian cheese, made from mozzarella and cream) on top. And my lovely boyfriend had the lemon pasta with scampi. I think I have to stop writing now because I am so hungry and can only think about the amazing pasta dishes. (Growl) (That was my stomach)

Also on the menu was pizza, beef tenderloin, and a hamburger that I saw come out of the kitchen several times. There is mostly pasta on the menu, it IS an Italian restaurant but there was a decent variety. Plus the prices are super! I was surprised at how reasonably priced the food was for such a popular place.

Ribello is only open for dinner Monday – Saturday. They don’t have a website so here is the info.

Now call for a reservation and GO.

Ribello, C/ Apuntadores 11, 971 729 130

drinkin' · food · hotels · new orleans · travel · usa · yum

NOLA

GOING NINETY MILES1 Comment

NOLA – New Orleans, Louisiana. Ah-May-Zing! So much fun. And I feel silly for saying this, but it was my first time there. I really don’t know what took me so long. I guess it was just the distance from my older stomping grounds. In Oklahoma we would head towards Lake Texoma, Padre or once for a college spring break we drove from Stillwater to Fort Lauderdale. When I lived in Dallas, well, I went to, um, Dallas! And when I was in the New York/CT area I went to well, Manhattan, of course. But also to Mt. Snow, Vermont and a few other random Pepsi sponsored ski areas.

But I am getting off track. Jeannette (the lovely) and I went to the Big Easy for our 40th celebration. We met up at the Maison Dupuy hotel. A very nice hotel with possibly a dead, bald guy in the hot tub. He NEVER left y’all! The rooms were clean, the shower had nice water pressure (something that is very important to me), the front staff were nice and friendly, there was a pool and free Wi-Fi. All in all, a great hotel for a decent price.

As I just said, I had never been to NOLA, even though Jeannette was a seasoned pro. We headed down Bourbon St. to see the crazies and get a drink. I was bound and determined to have a Hurricane but then thought, do I really want to throw up on my first day here? I settled for a beer and Jeannie introduced me to my new favorite beer – ABITA Purple Haze.

Abita beer whether it was Purple Haze or Amber was a constant for the remainder of our trip. Well, that and Bloody Marys, mmmmmmmmmmmmm, don’t EVEN get me started on the bloodies from Molly’s at the Market. We watched them being made: a little Guinness, half a squeezed lemon and lime, some Cajun seasoning, worchestire, horseradish, tabasco, juice from the pickled green beans (i wish i could have brought back 12,000 jars of those) and their already mixed bloody mix. The first time there we had THREE. I would have had more to stare at that mellow cat that hangs out on the tables with the customers but my stomach was rumbling and we needed to get ready for dinner.

Speaking of dinner/food we ate SO GOOD. Here were our stops and each were amazing. And in all actuality, it was mainly about the food. Don’t miss any of these.

1.  Dante’s Kitchen – Ok, this place…they have the best vegetables in any New Orleans restaurant, an outdoor patio, and an amazing wine list. They have incredible meat and fish dishes too. This is a great restaurant to get away from downtown, and one of the most inspired menus I’ve seen anywhere. The food and produce is fresh, fresh, fresh, and they accentuate the freshness with the preparation and presentation. The only thing I will say is that the portions are HUGE!!! Bring some friends and plan on having one of the best meals of your life.

2. NOLA – This is one of Emeril’s restaurants in New Orleans. Featuring an eclectic menu of New Orleans Creole and Acadian cuisine with an occasional ethnic twist, the rustic style of cooking showcases Southern Cajun, Vietnamese and Southwestern influences using Louisiana products. Private dining rooms, a bread and pastry bakery and wine cellar are located on NOLA’s third floor.

3.  Coop’s – Hands down this was my favorite place. The fried chicken was out of this world and the prices were excellent. This French Quarter bar, with its placement across the street from Margaritaville and down the street from Café du Monde, is kind of in tourist central, meh; but these guys have the real deal in red beans and rice, gumbo, fried chicken, and super authentic local favorites. Also check out the side salad, with the BEST homemade Green Goddess dressing in town. The servers are sweet and super tattooed, the kitchen is basically in the outdoor courtyard, and next door is the fantastically alt-goth bar…

4. Felix’s Oyster Bar – Besides being the name of my favorite boyfriend, it was also a fantastic place to grab a seat, an Abita and a dozen oysters. They also have Po-boys, seafood platters and some darn good fried pickles. Man, I could really go for another dozen oysters with lots of horseradish and lemon.

5. Central Grocery – Central Grocery is home of the muffuletta, one of New Orleans’ great sandwiches. A circular loaf of soft Italian bread is sliced horizontally and piled with salami, ham, and provolone, which are in turn topped with a wickedly spicy melange of chopped green and black olives fragrant with anchovies and garlic. You miss this, and you might cry.

6. Café Du Monde – World famous for its cafe‘ au lait, beignets, and the opportunity to people watch. Another New Orleans favorite, stop by for a chicory coffee and beignets to cure your morning hangover. The service was a bit slow while seated so maybe check out the TO GO line on the side if you are in a hurry. But it is a don’t miss.

7. Satsuma Cafe – Their Kale Salad, made of all local ingredients, fresh, and organic, features Lacinato kale, Parmesan dressing, and (this is New Orleans after all) a piece of bacon on the side. This is the BEST SALAD in the city, hands down. A few blocks away from Desire Street, (which kind of says it all), and in the stunning Baywater, this is the hippyish place to go for great coffee and espresso, fresh ginger muffins, super great Nutella banana pancakes, fresh BLT’s with real tomatoes, hummus, bagels and lox with all the sides, and fresh juices made to order. It’s also all organic. Sit at the Squirrel Table and read the New York Times, or a local paper with the locals (and believe me, they’re there). It has a totally great vibe and fresh, fresh, fresh organic food. These guys make an effort and it shows.

I think I will take a break here. Now I am craving an oyster po-boy, an Abita Purple Haze and some excellent fried chicken. Stay tuned for some more New Orleans news and lots of cool pics. Ciao!

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art · favorite things · let's daaaance! · love love love · music favorites · she's crafty · tragic

Cooky Puss

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I know you all are dying to hear about my trip (yup, righhhht) but with the death of Adam Yauch (MCA) yesterday I feel I must express my love for the Beastie Boys. I know nothing will replace the trio, maybe the Beastie Boys will go on but it will never be the same without MCA.

I wore out my Licensed to Ill tape by playing it constantly in my Buick Electra in high school (and college), then bought it on CD and when that was ruined, I downloaded it and burned my own. I know EVERY SONG. No Sleep Til Winterpark was shoe-polished on the side of Linda’s parents van on our 1988 Spring Break trip. And I am sure that tape was blasting the entire drive from Oklahoma to Winterpark, CO. Plus the fact that we decided to mosh as much as possible but after waking up the next day with each of us having what felt like a case of whiplash we scrapped that idea.

I mentioned I know every song on Licensed to Ill, and I ain’t kidding. My personal best is Paul Revere but Brass Monkey and She’s Crafty are in close second. I still believe my boyfriend is quite impressed when I finish all the lyrics (even without it being on) to Paul Revere. It is either amazement or horror from him, haven’t figured out which is which yet.

Hey Ladies, So Wha’tcha Want, Pass The Mic, Intergalactic were my other favorites. But their last album, Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, I really enjoyed. So I guess I have two great bookends from them, their first and their last album.

Rock on MCA, hope you and my cat are rapping it out up there.

animals · cats · familia

Back In Black

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Hey y’all! I have been out and about in the lovely areas of Arizona, Louisiana and New York. My bi/tri annual trek overseas. I have so much to share about my time in New Orleans, my FIRST time ever there – I can’t believe it took me so long. And my usual stomping grounds of New York City.

Arizona was fun but busy taking care of two youngins. My nephews, aged four and one point five were quite the handful! My mom and I were the basic caregivers while my brother was in school and his wife in South Korea for her brother’s wedding. Congrats to the newlyweds!

Let’s see, I tried to catch up on my new favorite TV show SMASH. I am pretty much addicted to anything that has singing and dancing in it. Therefore, Glee and Smash are what I watch. But I have been getting into Downton Abbey. Albeit the lack of singing and dancing. Amazing! Maybe because it is British?

I also watched a few movies: The Help, Hugo, Bridesmaids, Twilight the Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part I (could there BE a longer title?).  They were good but I wanted a bit more from all of them….  SORRY!

Alright, I just wanted to say a quick HOLA! I am back in Spain and so happy to be back. Sadly, one of my cats died while I was gone (don’t worry she wasn’t alone, my boyfriend was here taking care of them). But to end my post I would like to say, Rest In Peace Sweet LD (aka Fatty). I miss your shy ways and still see you lounging in your favorite black chair. Sending you love and light my sweet, fat, completely black cat. Miss you Fatty. oxox

favorite things · friends · go ~ mallorca · Mallorca · spain

All Aboard – Destination Sóller!

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Typing this post while listening to Madonna’s new album MDNA. L-U-V Madonna!

So that is a bit off track (ha, track – get it? train track!) from what my post is about but just wanted to throw out a “holla” to the material girl. If she visited Mallorca I do believe one of the first things she would do is ride the train from Palma to Sóller. This darling train complete with carriages largely constructed from wood with banquet-style seats, brass fittings and gaslights is a most enjoyable hour-long journey through the mountains. My friend Perla was here visiting and we went two years ago but wanted to go again! So, let’s go!

I  loved the paper ticket. I still have mine! We caught the 1:30 train, which gave us enough time to wander around Sóller a bit and then catch the last train back to Palma at 6:15. Don’t forget that you have to come back! Well, I guess you don’t necessarily have to come back. There are many lovely hotels to stay at for the night.

The 27 kilometre length of track (one of the narrowest in the world at 914 millimetres) opened in 1912, connecting the capital with Sóller and cutting journey times down from a day to just an hour and a quarter, thus allowing the citrus growers of Sóller to get to the Palma markets and back in a day.

Little has changed since then: the tiny station (at Placa Espanya) is reached through a wrought-iron gate bearing the words “Ferrocarril de Sóller”. The first part of the journey is a bit slow, as the track runs along through Palma but within fifteen minutes you start to reach the outskirts of the capital and into open countryside, with the peaks of the Tramuntana as a spectacular backdrop.

As you approach the first stop at Bunyola, olive fields give way to pine forests.

Beyond the village the train enters the first of twelve tunnels, which become progressively longer, until it breaks through the mountains and emerges on the west side of the island. The views here are superb as the train winds over bridges and across dry torrents, high above a valley rutted with terraces and dotted with disused farmhouses.  In the distance you can spot Sóller and the villages of Biniaraix and Fornalutx.

As you slowly make your way into Sóller the orange and lemon trees are close enough to stick your arm out and grab one. From the station in Sóller you can wander down into the town square, there are many shops, cafés and a beautiful church to see. Or you can jump on the tram that takes you to the sea at Port de Sóller.

Somewhere I thought I read it was a twenty minute walk to the port. I was wrong! Don’t do it. Just jump on the tram. Sadly, we didn’t do the tram because we ran out of time but next time I am definitely taking the tram to the port! So we wandered around Sóller; we grabbed a bit of lunch, a beer here and there and took in the sights. Fantastic!

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