The chance to meet new people Every time I travel alone, I end up in conversations with the most interesting people that I may not have had the chance to meet had I been traveling with someone. When I was on a local bus in Dublin, I asked the woman next to me (in her 80s) which church we were passing. We talked about her favorite city and my home, New York, and at the next stop she asked if she could take me out for tea and the best scones in Dublin. In a little cafe on a cobblestone side street, two hours went by. We had so much in common and she shared some of her 80 years of wisdom with me. In Paris I met a girl at dinner who was also traveling alone. We talked all throughout our meal, and instead of taking the 40 minute train ride back to my air bnb alone, I had a buddy to ride a bike back with. Barely two minutes into our commute, the sky opened and down poured on us. We pedaled fast in the crazy storm through winding Parisian streets almost knocking down irritated locals and laughing the whole way. You can be totally selfish Imagine waking up in the morning and the entire day is yours from start to finish. You can walk to the museums, have some jamon e queso, read a book in the park, have a picnic or ride your bike through the city. Flirt with a stranger in a cafe, hike a gorgeous trail, sit with your feet up staring into nature and write that book you’ve always wanted to. Did I mention the beauty of solitude and just taking a time out from your hectic life? It’s the chance to choose anything and everything that YOU want to experience. I LOVE history. But I know if I was with anyone but myself, I would not have been able to spend 3 hours in Westminster Abby, standing in awe in front of Chaucer’s grave, or take 20 minutes to stare at a hand written page of lyrics by John Lennon at the British Library. These things mean so much to me and I don’t want them to be rushed by people who aren’t interested. Find your inner warrior I am the 5th out of 6 children so I always sat in the backseat, literally and metaphorically. I had two parents and four older siblings so everything was always taken care of whether it be directions or logistics of a trip. Traveling alone at 21 and having to figure out how to get everywhere in a country where I didn’t speak the language made me realize how smart and capable I actually was. Wow! Look at that, I don’t need my big sis to tell me which train to take, I have to actually read the signs and I get it! On one of my not meant to be solo journeys, I had bags in hand at “arrivals” in an international airport, and was completely stood up by the person I was supposed to meet for the week long trip. That’s another long story. I gathered myself mentally and physically, took a 3 hour trek to my airbnb in the rain and could have lost my mind. But instead, I booked tours all over the country and it ended up being one of the most life changing experiences and best trips of my life! So far I’ve traveled solo to Italy, Ireland, England, France, Montreal and California and I still plan on having many more adventures. There is something about going to a new place, soaking it in and experiencing it on your terms that makes you more independent, more enriched and just plain happy. There’s so much room for self-discovery and understanding what truly makes YOU happy when you strip everything away and focus on your wants and needs. People ask me if I ever get bored spending time alone on my trips. There’s no way you can become bored when you have the world to explore. I savor every painting, every book every bite. You are brave enough!! Now, where would you go? Let me know in the comments!
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This is not an #ad. So let’s get that out of the way. I was just so inspired to write about my experience at Zizi Limona tonight. Having an exceptional meal with great friends on a sidewalk in Brooklyn is exactly what you get at this Middle Eastern/Mediterranean cafe. I was blown away by each and every dish from appetizer to dessert that Israeli Chef Liran sent out. Appetizers Black Cumin Cauliflower Roasted cauliflower with tahini, tomato salsa, and black cumin was beautifully presented and so delicious. Gluten free and vegan! Mini Burrata Creamy burrata with sun-dried tomatoes, za’atar, balsamic reduction, basil oil, crispy garlic. This one made me want to drop to my knees and thank the Lord for something bursting with so much flavor. And I have to say, and this is a bold statement, this was I think one of the best burratas I have ever had. The flavors were explosive but what I really loved was the texture and temperature. I hate when burratas are too chilled inside. This managed to be warm and perfectly runny without being watery. I slathered it on the za’ atar, covered it in more basil oil and entered a state of bliss with every bite. Entree Chicken Shawarma Talk about portion size, this thing was HUGE. I was STARVING when I got there so I was delighted when this delicious monstrosity hit the table. (Also gluten free) PAAAAAARTAYYYYY! Dessert Rosewater Malabi For dessert it was between this and a warm chocolate cake. But when there’s an incredible Israeli chef in the kitchen, you ORDER THE MALABI. It was a creamy custard infused with the PERFECT amount of rosewater (so it doesn’t taste like soap), and the bruleed top was warm and toasted and cracked off to accompany every bite of the cool custard. I could not stop eating this!!!! I had such a great experience here. The vibe is laid back, the wine and cocktail list has great options, and most importantly the food was fantastic. Zizi Limona, you are worth that pain in the a** trekk into Brooklyn. Thank you!
Praiano is a beautiful fishing village on the Amalfi coast, situated between the towns of Positano and Amalfi. I stayed here for about a week and I absolutely loved it. It’s a picturesque oasis that offers everything the other more popular towns do, but is less crowded and a bit more laid back. My family and I rented a beautiful villa on the highest point of the coast, and woke up every morning to stunning views, were able to get reservations very easily and didn’t have to fight for a spot on the beach. Here are some tips and recommendations! Hit the gorgeous beaches I look forward to swimming in the sparkling blue waters of the mediterranean every year. The way the water feels on your skin, like silk, is enough to take years of stress off your life. One of the highlights was when I was taking a dip, saw a restaurant in the distance and swam about 15 minutes to get to it. I climbed the ladder, walked up the pathway and as I stood there soaking wet in my bathing suit, I made a reservation with the 4 foot 8 inch Italian owner named Pasqualina! Only in Europe! The beach I went to every day was called Marina di Praia. The cost of an umbrella and 2 lounge chairs is about $25 euro and it’s best to get there by 10/10:30 to secure a good spot. The beaches are rocky (there’s no sand) and the sun is very strong so pack that sunblock! Take day/night trips The best part of staying in Praiano is that the other more bustling towns (Positano and Amalfi) are only about a 15 minute bus ride away. (Sorrento is closer to 50 mins) You can get your fix of the more lively, loud and upbeat areas, and then head back into the peaceful village of Praiano to turn in for the night and get away from the overly saturated tourist spots. Bus tickets to Positano and Amalfi are less than 2 euro a person each way and you can buy them at the tabaccherie “cigar shops”, coffee shops or newspaper stands. Sometimes the buses are crowded and a cab ride costs about 30 euro. I drove to Sorrento and it was worth it. The markets on the winding narrow streets are beautiful! You can also take a private boat to Capri from Praiano for 80 euro a person. The boat takes you to Capri, tours the grottos and stops in the glorious blue grotto where you can jump in. It’s a full day event from about 8am until the boat drops you back off in Praiano at 5pm. Tickets available at Marina di Praia Eat your heart out until it turns into a ball of spaghetti! I say this with such conviction: The food you will eat on the coast of Italy will be some of the best in your LIFE. The simplicity of dishes like spaghetti con pomodoro e basilico (tomatoes and basil) taste like a masterpiece as the ripe and vibrant red tomatoes burst in your mouth, accompanied by the perfect bite of al dente pasta topped with the aromatic touch of basil. I ate pasta every day for 6 days and the pasta was ALWAYS cooked perfectly. And the seafood? I implore you to get it in any way you like: Clams and mussels atop fresh housemade pasta doused in olive oil, garlic and fresh parsley, or as a filet in “acqua pazza" (white fish cooked in a tomato broth). Or perhaps a cold polpo salad (octopus). Imagine eating this impeccable food while enjoying a glass of wine and looking out onto the blue mediterranean stretching for miles and miles. You have to pause, take it in and savor it. These are the moments I truly live for. Restaurant recommendations in Praiano Kasai One of the most beautiful views you could ask while dining for lunch or dinner. The spaghetti con pomodoro is superb! La Dolce Vista Come for dinner, and enjoy the ambiance of the white terrace with an evening view of the nearby towns all lit up. The staff was incredibly attentive and so so sweet! And the creamy chocolate gelato with pieces of chocolate inside made me want to kiss the waiter! Scusami! Trattoria San Gennaro This place is a gem! Casual outdoor seating with a gorgeous view of the San Gennaro church. The portions are HUGE (unlike the usual Italian serving) but the food does not suffer. All the pasta I tried was delicious and my branzino was so fresh. The bruschetta will knock your socks off and the prices are ridiculously low for such wonderful food. If you like anchovies they have an anchovy pie that was so good, my body builder brother who’s always dieting ate TWO of them. Il Pirata (On Marina di Praia beach) This is the restaurant I swam up to to make reservations. Work up an appetite with a swim and make your way over to this charming seaside restaurant. You cannot beat the view of the glistening blue water as you dine on fresh octopus and calamari dishes. Enjoy an aperol spritz as you wait for your entree and know that life in that moment is perfect! Che Bonta Very casual pizza spot that I recommend for take out. The pizza is great and the arancini (rice balls) are crunchy and chock full of mozzerella! Everything on the menu including the gnocchi is worth it if you’re dining in. Bar del sole For café and GELATO! Positano Restaurants I dined in Positano for two nights and would recommend both these restaurants right by Positano’s main beach. Tre Sorelle Many tourists but the food is phenomenal. The fried zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta, mozzerella and ham was enough to make want to go back. L’incanto Every seafood dish here was outstanding. When dining here or at Tre Sorelle, local musicians come around playing fun music adding to the ambiance. Don’t forget to tip them! Enjoy!
There are so many reasons to love this city. It’s like a little slice of Europe with its beautiful cobble stone streets and French speaking locals. It’s clean and very safe making it ones of my top cities for solo travel. It’s also perfect for a weekend getaway because it’s small enough where you aren’t overwhelmed by things to do, but has many neighborhoods to explore. Interested? Well read on eh?! Party on! No matter what time of year, Montreal seems to have some sort of festival going on. These Canadians know how to enjoy life. They have their famous Jazz festival, the Grand Prix, Osheaga (3 day outdoor concert), Sugar shack (where you eat all things drowning in pure maple syrup, listen to folk music and sleigh ride) and endless food festivals! As serendipity would have it, my last trip coincided with a POUTINE FESTIVAL. Poutine with lobster, truffle mac and cheese, wagyu beef, hundreds of different variations! (And it was free entry!) I also had an absolute ball at Osheaga. Dancing to my favorite artist while sipping from a coconut filled with rum and being sprayed by a fountain on a 98 degree day? What more could I seriously ask for!? Bike ride everywhere This is one of the most biker friendly cities I’ve been too. There are bike lanes almost everywhere you want to go and drivers are very respectful. I always take advantage of traveling the city by bike where I can get a workout in and let the breeze whip through my hair as I take in all the sights. It’s incredibly peaceful for me and just really fun. You can rent a bixi bike (like citi bike) for $5.00 a day and there are stations all over for you to return it. Visit the old port This is the gorgeous part of Montreal by the water with winding cobble stone streets. There are amazing restaurants, food trucks and ice cream spots, plenty of shopping to do, fireworks certain times of the year, food festivals, zip lines, a fun maze game to go through and water paddling, where you sit and peddle around. It does have a lot of tourists but locals also go there to enjoy everything the old port has to offer. Eat everything The food here is exquisite! Throw your calorie calculator out the window and enjoy yourself! EATS!Poutine La BanquiseBeaver Tails Queues de Castor Fresh Bagels St. Viateur Smoked Meat Schwartz Biftek Pure Maple Syrup (For purchase anywhere!) GREATEST PANINIS EVER Olive and Gourmando Some fabulous restaurants:Taverne F Bouillon Bilk Aux Vivres -Great vegan Chez Ma Grosse Truie Cherie Ikanos Aloha Espresso bar Visit the bustling Marché Jean-Talon I have never seen such a perfectly crafted farmer’s market. The vendors line up their fresh multi colored produce and you can sample a juicy peach or piece of cheese as you shop. Who doesn’t love free samples? Also be sure to visit the delectable chocolatier next door, Chocolats Privilége! Enjoy the beautiful public parks Whether you’re riding your bike, reading or just relaxing with your thoughts, these lush green parks are perfect for taking a time out. I loved Maisonneuve park. Explore the churches Check out the stunning Notre Dame basilica for its gorgeous Gothic architecture or climb the top of St. Joseph’s Oratory for a beautiful view of the city. Thanks for hanging with this Starving Actress!
Pizza Barn, Yonkers Home of the super slice. Weighs about 5-6 pounds, I would say there are 7 slices in there. And ladies and gentleman THIS IS NOT A GIMMICK. This is actually grade A delicious pizza and there’s a TON of it! When you’re slinging out the famous SUPER slice and going through 30 bags of flour a week, everything is SUPER fresh. Plus owner Angelo’s dad opened shop in 1975, so this family know hows to make pizza. I got half plain, half supreme (onions, peppers, mushrooms, pepperoni and sausage) Magnificent. That was the first stop of the day, and I can confidently say if I didn’t have to leave room for 4 more pizza places, I might have been able to finish it on my own. I may even go back soon to give it a shot...
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