Taking a Gander around Gaudi-land

 

With so much coverage that goes on in the world of travel at one point you start to feel like you've seen it all. If those feelings of boredom start to set in there is one simple solution, all you need to do is head to Barcelona....the city where Gaudi is god. Speaking of God, even if one doesn't believe in the existence of God, a trip to one of Gaudi's works would get you wondering.

His genious goes beyond architecture and design. I visited Casa Batlo, one of the houses he built in Barcelona and the whole experience left me at total loss for words. Gaudi not only incorporated design elements into his work but he had a superior understanding of how to channel in light and where it should hit for maximum effectiveness.

The above photo may seem like two different windows but they are the exact same window. On one side the light falls in and illuminates it creating a jewel-like effect. But if you walk to the other side of the door the glass in the frame looks completely different. His understanding of lighting combined with design are completely flawless. No doubt there was genious in that man's genes.....

 

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Crazy Cuisines: Giant Snails Ahoy.....

Lima has no end to bountiful and creative restaurants with crazy cuisines. One of the most interesting concept restaurantsI came across was Amaz, a restaurant inspired by food people eat in the Amazon jungle. After reading various reviews on trip advisor and finding out about an entree of giant snails, I knew I had to go get my exotic food fix.

 

 

I don't know about you but I can't think of a better way to spend a first date with someone than over a plate of giant snails. Why wait until the third date when they see your place for the first time and get greeted by 23 cats?  Giant snails are a great way to show your lunacy right from the very moment they sit down at the table

 

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Making Mustard My Mistress at Mailles Mustard Boutique

Meandering through the Maille Mustard Boutique in Madeleine Place Paris, I began to realize more and more the love affair the french have with mustard. Unlike North America where mustard is used as a lowly condiment,  in France mustard is held with very high esteem and an essential ingredient in the kitchen of every french cook. 

If there is any one place to fall in love with the beloved ingredient of mustard it would be at their boutique at 6 Madeleine in Paris.  Never in my life have I see to the degree of variety and quantity or quality of mustard in any one place.  It became apparent that Mailles is so much more than about mustard, it is about making mustard your MISTRESS.

Seeing mustard on tap completely blew my imagination. For those who took their gastronomy seriously,  fresh mustard on tap was available that you could carry away in a ceramic holder.   On the day that I happened to go the gastronomic gods must have smiled on me because they told me they had rare limited edition Chablis and black truffle mustard on tap only available between Oct to March.  And in that moment i knew what my Parisien splurge was going to be......