Ruth: Ok, friends and family, it is time to confess that for Christmas this year Gordon and I have not bought presents for any of you. But all is not lost, because instead of opening up items you don't want or need, Gordon and I can now cook fantastic Thai food for you. Today we went to cooking school at May Kaidee's Vegetarian Thai restaurant ...
Yesterday was to be the final showdown between the anti government protesters and the the Thai Prime Minister. An estimated 150,000 protesters poured into our neighborhood to demand that the government step down. However, before the crowds arrived the Prime Minister announced her resignation and called for a new election. The mood was buoyant and the protest peaceful as the demonstrators paraded through the government ...
Ruth: We made it to Bangkok even if our bikes didn't. I am guessing they spent some more quality time with the customs boys at the Seattle airport. We are hoping they will be delivered today. Our first day in Bangkok was a calm and tranquil one. We are nicely settled into the lovely Baan Tepa Boutique Guesthouse where you would never guess that you ...
On our second visit to Rome we were ready for the city. Right after the pilgrimage we were a bit too overwhelmed by the crush of tourists to fully appreciate it. We have spent the last two days walking through piazzas and streets that are full of treasures. Today we spent most of the day in the Vatican Museum. I could easily spend a month ...
After Palermo, Naples seems less gritty than its reputation had us believe. While the traffic is loud and chaotic the city is beautiful in a vibrant way. And this is the home of Pizza.A pharmacist directed us to her favourite local pizzeria, which coincidentally was where President Clinton also enjoyed his first slice of Napoli's best. The prices were far from presidential, with the most ...
Sicily's interior has so many treasures both natural and historic that it should be a perfect destination for a cycling tour. The roads are magnificent and largely free of traffic. The terrain is mountainous, but the distances between towns are good. Gord and I are however struggling to find routes that have accommodation in the places where we need it. There are areas in Sicily ...
One of the real pleasures of travelling in Italy is the food, especially after a day of cycling. Within Italy Sicily is reknowned for it's unique cuisine, which mixes elements from the various groups that have occupied this land.In Cefalu we tried a Margherita pasta served with a sauce of tomatoes, pine nuts, raisins, garlic and roasted bread crumbs. It was sweet and nutty and ...
The best part of cycling in Sicily other than the scenery is the fuel. And not just any fuel, we are talking Cannoli! These little sweeties are my new reason for living. Mamma Mia. When we asked about gelatto our host in Corleone suggested Cannoli. I had heard the word mentioned in a number of Robert de Nero films but I wasn't even sure if ...
We cycled up from Palermo into Sicily's beautiful interior. It was lovely to finally get beyond the traffic and burbs of the big city. The interior of the island is surprisingly green, with areas of deep forests and impressive mountains and ridges. It is also heavily farmed and the orchards of ripe persimmons were beautiful.We are staying in Corleone, a town made infamous by the ...
After one night in the charming seaside city of Cefalu we cycled along the coast to Palermo. We have spent the last two days exploring this diverse city. Palermo is simultaneously gritty and magnificent, and the transitions between can be shockingly quick. Some parts of the city look like Paris, but a few blocks away you could be in a medina in North Africa. It ...