K_YRAY

Iceland is unbelievably beautiful! We spent a few days exploring Reykjavik with most of our time spent in/around The Highlands, West and South Iceland. In Reykjavik we walked around discovering all we could.  Such a lovely and colorful city.  

While exploring the raw and rugged areas of Iceland we did a lot of fun fings! Jetboating, paragliding, silfra snorkeling, horseback riding, hiking, Northern Lights chasing and exploring amazing spots off the beaten path in a 4x4.  

In Reykjavik we stayed at Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel- would totally stay here again.  Great decor, friendy staff, great breakfast. 

The White House Inn B & B was adorable, comfy, and a lovely breakfast. Highly recommend. 

Fosshotel Nupar - comfy bed, big bathroom, friendly staff. Room opens to a sizeable deck with a gorgeous view and if you are lucky a northern lights dance show.  

We didn't travel to Iceland because of the food but have to say that every meal we had was at the very least satisfying.  Our most amazing meal was the fresh fish soup at Sjávarpakkhúsid. The restaurant is located in the cute fishing village of Stykkishólmur.    We also REALLY enjoyed our waffles with jam & cream and hot chocolate at Mokka Kaffi.

2 weeks in Japan. MAGICAL! Tokyo-Art Islands-Kyoto-Mount Koya! We wanna go back NOW!

4 beautiful fall days of hiking/exploring the Walking Dunes, trail running around Shadmoor State Park and playing in the water and sand at Ditch Plains Beach.  Followed by evenings with wine by the fire pit. Perfection.

Just spent 10 days in Paris---such an incredible trip.  Rented an apartment in Le Marais and highly recommend this rental company and the apartment we stayed in. The location just can't be beat! We had sunny and 70 degrees everyday--which lent itself to several picnics in parks and long strolls on the streets of Pairs.  We ducked in and out of boutiques, boulangeries, art galleries, cafes---anything that caught our eye.  We sought out and explored rabbit holes to discover anything and everything.  Took a day trip to Reims to taste lots of champagne.  A highlight was when we hired a wonderful captain to drive us around the Seine during sunset--if you can do this---DO THIS!  Such a beautiful trip with my girl---Paris is truly a stunning city!

Impromptu getaway.  Hiking, biscuits, cocktails and sunshine with Lala and Truman. Hiked Craven Gap and Craggy Gardens.  For fuel we hit up Hole Doughnuts, Biscuithead, Rhubarb, Curate, and Nightbell. 

Crushin' on Asheville!

Spent Thanksgiving 2014 in Woodstock, NY.  We got a surprise snow storm that made the holiday a whimsical winter holiday wonderland.  

We love living in NYC!

In 2010, and after 10 years in Atlanta, Laura and I moved to NYC.  Specifically, Brooklyn,NY.  WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE living here and exploring all that NYC has to offer!  AND TRUST ME---we explore like JUAN THANG!!!!

"Who want's to go to Montauk?"   We all do!  One thing we discovered early on living in NYC, is that our souls need a long weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle at least once a quarter, otherwise we would go insane. We are so thankful to have discovered a little gem of a place called Montauk. It is a surfing/fishing village on the end of Long Island.  We make the trip to Montauk twice a year and go off season, usually end of April and beginning of October.  We rent a cottage across from Ditch Plains Beach, pick up paddle boards from Air and Speed, and make cozy fires in the backyard fire pit! Truman loves to run up and down the beach and roll in the sand, but won't go out on a paddle board with me…yet.  Montauk has a ton of hiking trails, our favorite being "Walking Dunes/Phantom Forest", just beautiful!  Camp Hero Bluff and Ditch Plains Bluff trails are gorgeous too! Naturally Good Foods, Herb's Market, White's and Ditch Witch are our favorite spots to eat and stock up on provisions.

After the bitch of a winter we had in NYC- we were in desperate need of sun and warm weather!  We spent 5 incredible days in Tulum.  We got thai massages at Yaan Wellness. Ate lovely dinners at Hartwood and Casa Banana.  Took a few bike rides around the jungle.  Mostly we enjoyed the beautiful beach, pool, food and drinks at our hotel Be Tulum. We loved Tulum so much we are planning a trip for next year. 

We love you Montauk!  We love you Sag Harbor!  Thank you for treating us so well!

Who knew we had green thumbs?  We lived in Atlanta for 10 years with backyards begging for some tilling. Not once did we attempt to grow/plant anything other than a few flowers from Home Depot to put in a plastic pot for porch decor.  Believe it or not, we have a sizeable terrace in NYC, and decided to go power ranger with a terrace flower,plant/herb garden. Damned if we haven't killed anything.  In fact, all of our plantings are surviving and thriving.   Let's hope this continues to be the case.  

WOW!  We were totally wowed by Shelter Island!  The island is really beautiful, laid back/sleepy, and utterly charming.  Most folks we met owned second homes or summer long rentals...and couldn't have been nicer.  At times, people were so friendly, we felt like we were in the south.  We had coffee by the pool every morning.  The weather was so fantastic that most of our meals were alfresco.  We threw around our frisbee like it was our job, rode bikes around the island- and laid on a lounge chair, hammock or float for most of the day.  We hit up the local farmers market twice- quaint but wonderful stock.  Had some of the best fresh made tamales ever at Stars Cafe.  Our friends Pam and Wanda traveled up to spend a few days with us.  The four of us had drinks and dinner at Sunset Beach, we were blown away by the atmosphere-gorgeous views, service and music.  We literally felt like we were in St. Tropez!  Truman begged us not to leave...we almost caved!  Montauk----WE STILL LOVE YOU!

A long weekend in Rhinebeck, NY sledding, hiking Poet's Walk Park, wine drinking, building fires in the fireplace and Apple TV/Netflix.    

Loaded up Truman and spent 5 days in Maine.  South Portland, Maine mostly.  We hung out in downtown Portland one day and it is a very vibrant coastal town. We had the Scallops Pernod (the best scallops we have ever eaten by the way)  at Street and Co.  But the true gem of our trip was South Portland.  We rented the cutest little red bungalow next to Willard Beach, so Truman could run up and down the beach with the local pups.  We ate at Scratch every day either for breakfast or lunch.  Finally ate a proper lobster roll at The Lobster Shack. Road bikes around South Portland and Downtown Portland.  Hiked some of the most beautiful ocean/woods terrains, including Two Lights State Park, Wolfe's Neck,  Robinson Woods.

Just got back from spending a fun filled week with the fam in Ocean Isle, NC.  Played lots of football and ultimate frisbee on the beach.  Lots of boogie boarding.  Stand-up-paddleboarding EVERYDAY.  I just love hanging out with my newphews...they are so much fun! Ate a bunch of ice cream and had a few cold ones!  

My cuzzie Brian, his wife T and their offspring W & W flew up to hang with us for a few days last week.  It was great getting to play in NYC with them, but I think the best part was watching Willow enjoy NYC at the ripe old age of 4.  Willow is all girl - doll crazy, wears bows and jewelry, always has pink polka dots or flowers on her pants--BUT she ain't afraid to roll in the dirt (one of my favorite things about her).   Willow got to see the Statue of "Liverty".  Made a salon appointment at American Doll to get Isabella's (her American doll) hair styled. Danced around Dylan's Candy Bar for lots o candy.  Stood in Times Square gazing at all the hoopla. Rode the wheel at Toy's R Us.  Found every piece of art contained in the children's guide at The Cloisters.  Chowed down on 2 pieces of the yummiest cornbread eva at Sylvias.  Danced to the mariachi band on the subway. Had a huge meltdown in Bleeker Street Records...and was then rewarded for it with a red velvet cupcake and hot chocolate @ Pasticceria Rocco.  Made giant bubbles and romped around in Central Park.  Asked the waitress for a beer at Slane.  Last but not least and much to my surprise Willow enjoyed eating eel, clams, miso soup and lebanese food during her first trip to the Big A.   

sand -  sun  -  beer  -  fun  -  

food -  sail - peach daqs with rum

cornhole - frisbee - late nights - kites 

makes friends - family -  chill - happy

ROME

We saw a ton of historical-architectural points of interest: Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Arch of Titus,Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps, Arch of Constantine, Campidoglio, Tiber Island, Campo de fiori,  Janiculum Hill and Fountains, Aurelian Wall, Circus Maximus,  St. Peters - Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, Roman Jewish Ghetto and the Knights of Malta gate -Keyhole to see secret view of St. Peters on Aventine Hill.    Of course-All visually stunning!  

Highlight 1:  We had the luxury of a private guide, Laila Volpe,  for the Vatican Museums- she got us into the Vatican without waiting in line!  Laila knew that the Pope was speaking that day in St. Peters Square- she got us in to see him speak...pretty amazing!  We told Laila that we wanted to eat lunch like a local...she got on her cell phone-made a call and the next thing I know we are in the Jewish Ghetto of Rome eating lunch at Sora Margherita.   Sora Margherita is a supper club- in other words- we struck gold with Laila...WE OF COURSE LOVED THIS!  We asked Laila to join us for lunch- she obliged- and helped us order our lunch- no one in the joint spoke a lick of English!  The local patrons(eclectic mix) and staff certainly knew we weren't local, but welcomed us with open arms.   For lunch-the best fresh pasta we have ever eaten....I had simple-fettucine-black pepper-pecorino cheese (I crave this dish to this day---have tried to recreate it at home-it just ain't the same) and Laura gobbled up her Fettuccine Pomadoro.  Laila ordered us some jewish specialties-Double Fried Artichoke and Fried Zucchini flowers-both D-LISH!  We enjoyed our time with Laila over a couple carafes of red table wine.  We then parted ways with Laila and spent time walking around the Ghetto-eating gelato - people watching from a bench.

Highlight 2: Walking around the streets of Rome at night -not knowing where we were going--just exploring shops and streets and people watching.  The last night we were in Rome-we had been walking for a few hours-but wanted to go to a specific restaurant( Navona Notte) for dinner-suggested by Laila of course- and in all of the wandering around---we actually ended up at the restaurant by chance...meant to be I suppose! Navona Notte served us some of the best pizza we have ever had!  We sat outside next to another couple---they happened to be from Boston---we had great conversation with them-so we spent a few hours drinking wine with them and watching all of the local street activity!  

Florence was overwhelmingly wonderful!  We visited the Galleria dell'Accademia and sat and stared at Michelangelo's David for a while - the David is extremely impressive- the story behind David and the fact that Michelangelo did this in the early 1500's---well--it is just impressive!   

Other highlights:

hung out in Piazza della Signoria and Duomo of Florence, Ponte Vecchio and took in the Arno.

walked up to Piazzale Michelangelo for the breathtaking views of the city.  

ate a "HUGE" lunch on the "other side" at Furio Porta- http://www.fuoriporta.it/

shopped 'til we dropped and explored the streets of Florence- walking at night the streets were absolutely stunning!

indulged ourselves with many delicious glasses of red table wine, birra, gelato and italian pasteries.

​Tuscan Towns visited:  Chiantishire, Lucca, Montepulciano, San Gimignanmo, Siena

CHIANTISHIRE--CASA EMMA 

We visitied the Casa Emma Vineyards-Winery located in Classic Chiantishire. We actually drove around the Chiantishire area for about an hour in silence.  Silent because the beauty of the countryside was breathtaking!  Paolo Paffi hosted our tasting of the Casa Emma wines.  An Australian couple joined us for the tasting.  Laura and I ended up having a variety case of wine shipped back to the states.   The Casa Emma vineyards were gorgeous! Plus our host Paolo was a very passionate guy-making for a fun and animated wine tasting.  Casa Emma produces nice wine!   

LUCCA

We spent an afternoon in Lucca pedaling thru the streets and along the outside of the walls.  The weather in Lucca was perfect for riding -sunny with a cool crisp in the air!  For lunch we sipped on a glass of wine and enjoyed some panini's at an outdoor cafe.  We noticed that most folks got around on bikes-even the elderly- as biking enthusiast this was inspiring and fun to watch!.  After a nice afternoon of riding we enjoyed a few delicious "eyetalian" pastieries.   We hung out in the Piazza dell' Anfiteatro, and went inside the Cathedral of St Martin.  

MONTEPULCIANO

The village of Montepulciano was gorgeous...it had a dark feel to it...vampire like...which could be the reason some of the movie series Twilight was filmed here.  Before getting to the actual village of Montepulciano we drove to an oiive oil producer via the tuscan countryside ...the landscape was so gorgeous, just like a national geographic photo! Really magnificent!

Highlight 1:  

Olive Oil tour and tasting @ Frantoio Buraschi a small olive oil production facility.  The facility was small...but the oil and the actual tasting experience packed a powerful punch.  Luca joined us, as no one at the facility spoke enlgish.  The tour was given by the matriarch of the family- an older italian woman who looked like she worked to the bone all of her life.  After the tour-she asked if we would like to taste some of the oil.  We certainly did.  For the next 1:30 we had an incredible tasting experience.  We started with bruschetta (our host made it right in front of us on a big fireplace)...it was simple toasted bread-their EVOO and salt...best we have ever tasted.  She could see how we gobbled it up- so she offered us a small glass of red table wine- homemade, by her- it was incredibly tasty- we must have downed it...because she then brought us a HUGE carafe of wine- we tried our best to decline as it was 10:30 in the morning, but she insisted- so we consumed.  She then commenced to cutting us slice after slice of proscuitto-sliced fresh in front of us- then made more bruschetta ---then liver pate- this went on for a little over an hour-the slicing the pouring--- she said we were too thin-and that we needed to eat!  By 11:30 we were high as kites! : )  She and Luca spoke Italian the entire time (we captured some on video)- we never really knew what was said- we tried our best to communicate in italian-in any case, she knew we were happy and we loved our experience with at her kitchen table! 

We ended up buying 6 -One Liter bottles of Olive oil,  and gave her a big hug for her kindness and hospitality!  This tasting was one of the favorite things we did the entire trip. 

(An interesting side note-we recently ran out of the liter bottles we brought home--- after much searching I found some online for 60 dollars a bottle.  We paid 8 euro for this in Italy...o boy!  As much as i love it...i can't justify the cost...but it is without a doubt the best Olive Oil I have ever tasted.)

Highlight 2: 

Simone and Luca treated us to lunch at Osteria dell’Acquacheta. This was a wonderful surprise, as you must have a reservation to eat at Osteria dell’Acquacheta which can be booked for months in advanced.  The restaurant seating is family style, we sat at a table with two guys that drove in from Rome just to have lunch.  They had their dog with them, a little dacshund...the dog sat in the guys lap seated next time me....this made me happy-as I was missing my boys something awful! Osteria is known for their HUGE steaks.  The kitchen is open and elevated like a stage to the seating area, so you can watch the guys in the kitchen do their thang!  Believe it or not-we did not order a steak.  The thing was as big as a pumpkin and we are not big steak eaters.  But we did order some delicious food- I got Baked Pears with Melted Pecornio cheese.  Laura got Pici Pomodoro.  We then split a Peach gratin with red table wine dessert.  

SAN GIMIGNAMO

San Gimignano is a beautiful walled city!   Driving to the village we passed many wineries and B & B's.  If we ever make it back to this region...would likely stay a few nights inside the walls-LOVELY-LOVELY-LOVELY!  The highlights were walking up the towers to see an incredible panaromic view!  And eating the best gelato we had in Italy.

SIENA

We mostly did in Siena what we did in all the other villages-eat-shop-walk around- and just enjoy ourselves.  Spent quite a bit of time in Cathedral of Siena.  We visited quite a few churches while in Italy and this was the most interesting to us.  The Cathedral of Siena is gothic style.  If Tim Burton designed a church- it would look similar to the Cathedral of Siena.  We ate lunch at a little bodega called Gino Cacino- the shop owner gave us a free plate of their homemade Pumpkin Risotto! Yum for us!  Then hung out in the Piazza del Campo taking in the beauty of the architecture.

ASSISI

We toured the Papal Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi then ate lunch at PALLOTTA tratorria where we enjoyed the Umbrian style version of Greens and cornbread (I want some now just thinking about it) manicotti and gnocchi!  

Then we hit the highlight of our visit to Assis--hiking far into the woods and reaching the Eremo delle Carceri San di Francesco.  Basically a "praying place" or hermitage,  in nature where St. Francis of Assisi would return to pray, contemplate and hermit himself.  Along the way to the praying place, we passed many a nun.  I actually caught a few pics of a nun while she was praying-contemplating.   We also saw a German group of folks having a ceremony along the trail!  Very beautiful and spiritual place.  

The building on the property was beautiful but a little haunting too:  Here is a great link with better photos if you are further interested:

http://www.magicoalvis.it/assisi/EremoCarceri-1.htm

BEVAGNA

We spent two nights in Bevagna staying at L'Orto degli Angeli.  We stayed in Room 3 - ARCANGELO GABRIELE ROOM. Our host was so sweet, and one night she found out that I had a bout of indigestion-she whipped me up a homemade remedy of warm water-lemon juice and sugar.  Within 30 minutes of drinking this concoction, I was a new woman and ready to expore.    L'Orto degli Angeli was beautiful just as the village of Bevagna was.    Simone-the mastermind of Tuscan Travellers, suggested we stay in Bevagna, we really didn't want to stay in Bevagna, as we had never heard of it and could not find much information on the village. Simone just insisted that we stay, So we caved...AND ARE SO THANKFUL WE DID!  Bevagna has a medievel feel.  The streets were narrow but clean.  There weren't a lot of folks around.  The town was very quite, but from our room we could hear the echo of conversations of folks sitting on a stoop near us.  And in the near distance a school bell rang for children to get to class.  Walking through the streets we kept getting an incredible smell of fresh baked bread and pasteries. Bevagna was just beautiful- it is a small walled city that isn't on the tourist path.  With the exception of two people, no one we came in contact with spoke English-so we did a lot of pointing-smiling-nodding-and butchering of the Italian language.  Aside from the lack of communications skills, we loved Bevagna, may have been our favorite village.  One night for dinner-we stopped in Polticchia Luciano, a village bakery and pointed at things we thought looked good. We ended up eating 2 savory items and 2 sweet pasteries.  WHOA~the savory items were triangle shaped sandwiches filled with fresh Mozzarella and tomato--INCREDIBLE--we craved and looked for one of these sandwiches the rest of our trip. the sweet pastries were so light and DeLISH!  The next night we walked into Pan di Zenzero a wine cafe- and low and behold the owner spoke a bit of English.  We were ecstatic, ordered a bottle of local organic wine and some cheese and headed out to sit on two chairs outside of the cafe.  We stayed here for a couple of hours- watching about 10 people walk or ride a bike by the entire time.  We had a great time chatting with the owner of the cafe and she liked us so much she made us some bruschetta and olive plates.

Bevagna was a wonderful surprise-laid back and it's simplicity was stunningly beautiful.  Thank you Simone G. for the gift of Bevagna!

PERUGIA

We happened to visit Perugia while they were hosting their annual chocolate festival called EuroChocolate---THIS WAS A WONDERFUL SURPRISE!  Perugia is the capital of the Umbria region- a bigger village-a college town for study abroad students- and now home to "Foxy-Knoxy".  We had some of the best hot chocolate we have ever had---it was thick, almost pudding like, hot and creamy ---this giandua hot choc got in our moufs!  We also did limencello shots from a chocolate candy cup! Yummy!   We stocked up on chocolates to give to folks back home!  The festival was fun, not to crowded and of course the chocolate overload! 

SPOLETO

Our  highlights:

• walking along Ponte delle Torri
• hiking up to The Albornozian Castle
• long lunch at a mom and pop enoteca.  The Mom of the duo made all of the dishes- and served us with a smile!  We of course had a few carafes of red table wine.  Started with pecornio and truffle cheese.  Then had a wild boar salami board. Moved on to bruschetta with chick pea and white truffle oil hummus.  My main meal was polenta, truffle with Wild Boar stew (Spoleto is in the Umbria region which is known for truffles and wild boar)-WOWSA DELSIH!  Laura had what they called "Unusual Soup" chickpea-basil -barley---she said it got in her mouf!  
• finished with two of the strongest espresso's we have ever had...and went up a pant size in one sitting.

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We loved Jackson Hole!.  Stayed at Hotel Terra Jackson Hole.  Hired two local guys to take us back country snowmobiling---AND OH MY---it was incredible-- so much  sparkling deep snow!  Also, went snow tubing- muy fun!  One thing that surprised us about Jackson Hole is the thriving art community and the number of Modern/Contemporary residential homes.  Would love to go back in the summer for a different perspective.  

Kara tubing

17 years and counting!  Just the two of us you and I!

​Wish I lived closer to my family so I could see them more often, but I try to get back at least once quarter to see them.  A list of musts every visit:  Ultra silly time with Hayco and Hudge, Big Ed's Pizza and Wright's Cafeteria and of course anything my momma cooks for me.   

10 years in Atlanta, A-town, ATL, Hotlanta!   We totally miss Taqueria Del Sol, Lotta Frutta and Sublime Doughnuts, our Vets at East Atlanta Animal Clinic, The Decatur Wine Festival, JCT Kitchen, Star Provisions, Woodfire Grill, The Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival, Piedmont/Candler Park and Biking Arabia Mountain.  But most of all we miss our family and friends.  Loads of great memories made with them!

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​He is the coolest dog I have ever known! He loves his MOMS, is driven by his nose, loves to go on walks, gives Hi-5's, and understands everything that is said to him! AKA: Captain Tanneyman, Buzzy, Tom, Danneman, Tan Tan the bakersman, T-bone and last but not least Handsome Houndog.

​More Photos Here 

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Home is where my dog Truman is!