Alison, I love your blog so much. It just takes you away to your moments and helps the reader to feel all the "feels" you have. My good friend has a good friend whose family owns Nepenthe. I've been there as well and it is just as you describe....magical!
Came here to say almost the same thing! Baking soda is in every supermarket, I think, just never in the same place as baking powder. Because why would you ever put those two things next to each other?? 🙃
Never been to Portugal but hope to get there one day! Sounds like a lovely adventure. I have the Nepenthe book too and loved all the stories and recipes but never got to eat there.
Totally agree with European cities in the rain, that's why I pretty much exclusively travel there in the shoulder/off seasons and avoid summer. For me, my first trip international trip was to Switzerland and Serbia, and that feeling was so intoxicating it kinda ruined my otherwise typical life trajectory haha
Loved this! My favorite line: "Note that it calls for sticks of butter lol."
My feeling unleashed moment - the true one - was looking out the window of my plane and seeing my family waving from the gate (August 1992, eight years before 911). I was on my way to teach at the American School of Madrid - as it turned out, for three years. I was filled with a combination of fear and excitement that was oddly enhanced because Hurricane Andrew was heading toward Miami. In my mind, I just outraced the cyclone like in the thriller disaster movies. In reality, it was a few days away. One of the porters at the airport happened to be from Spain, and he told me, "You are about to move to a European capital from this beachy backwater." LOL, he was so right. I look forward to my return to the continent, this time with "my J."
My feeling-unleashed moment: hitchhiking across the Australian outback. The open landscape and eating green pepper sandwiches on the side of the road with my hitching partner -- because bread and green peppers were the only things that wouldn't melt or go off in our backpacks -- were my longed-for Jack Kerouac adventure at last. Many other adventures in the three years of travel leading up to that moment, but nothing quite like the empty outback to feel totally unleashed.
I didn't feel badass but maybe we were. What I remember was having to keep our wits about us and constantly assessing, judging a situation, and making decisions together through eye signals. We learned to read each other's mind.
Alison, I love your blog so much. It just takes you away to your moments and helps the reader to feel all the "feels" you have. My good friend has a good friend whose family owns Nepenthe. I've been there as well and it is just as you describe....magical!
I found baking soda (bicarbonato de soda) with the salt and spices in Continente, not in the baking aisle! This is an adventure, isn’t it?!
Ooh! Good to know! Thanks 😊
Came here to say almost the same thing! Baking soda is in every supermarket, I think, just never in the same place as baking powder. Because why would you ever put those two things next to each other?? 🙃
lol. And I was taken to the baking powder, which was in a different aisle from the flour.
Thank you for the cafe, the bells, and Gordon! Living vicariously through your incredible adventures. So lovely!
Never been to Portugal but hope to get there one day! Sounds like a lovely adventure. I have the Nepenthe book too and loved all the stories and recipes but never got to eat there.
Totally agree with European cities in the rain, that's why I pretty much exclusively travel there in the shoulder/off seasons and avoid summer. For me, my first trip international trip was to Switzerland and Serbia, and that feeling was so intoxicating it kinda ruined my otherwise typical life trajectory haha
From where I sit your life trajectory looks pretty good. Keep those photos coming!
no complaints here, just had quite the pivot after that first trip. Love following along with your journey over there! :)
I love your spirit of openness amidst all this re-starting!
Climbing rocks at Reid State Park, or in the woods somewhere…anywhere outside!
Where is Reid State Park? And yes to anywhere outside :)
Oh I love this post! So much resonated with me. It IS like being a wobbly toddler learning to walk.
I went to grad school in Monterey, about the same time as you! I loved Nepenthe! Such a beautiful place, that was my happiest, freest time.
Did you go to MIIS???
No, Naval Postgraduate School!
Loving that you're discovering what the Brits call self-rising flour, which always sounded like a resurrection to me!
I'm vicariously reliving the joys of a new country, having moved from England to Holland to New Jersey to Washington. Yes, the last one counts!
Oh, and I love that song. I learned it at university, and I can probably still play it.
I’m so enjoying living vicariously!!
Wonderful piece! So many strands woven together. Thought-provoking . . .
Loved this! My favorite line: "Note that it calls for sticks of butter lol."
My feeling unleashed moment - the true one - was looking out the window of my plane and seeing my family waving from the gate (August 1992, eight years before 911). I was on my way to teach at the American School of Madrid - as it turned out, for three years. I was filled with a combination of fear and excitement that was oddly enhanced because Hurricane Andrew was heading toward Miami. In my mind, I just outraced the cyclone like in the thriller disaster movies. In reality, it was a few days away. One of the porters at the airport happened to be from Spain, and he told me, "You are about to move to a European capital from this beachy backwater." LOL, he was so right. I look forward to my return to the continent, this time with "my J."
I can’t wait to hear about your next chapter!
My feeling-unleashed moment: hitchhiking across the Australian outback. The open landscape and eating green pepper sandwiches on the side of the road with my hitching partner -- because bread and green peppers were the only things that wouldn't melt or go off in our backpacks -- were my longed-for Jack Kerouac adventure at last. Many other adventures in the three years of travel leading up to that moment, but nothing quite like the empty outback to feel totally unleashed.
That’s such an evocative description. I remember hearing stories about your travels and thinking you were (are) such a badass.
I didn't feel badass but maybe we were. What I remember was having to keep our wits about us and constantly assessing, judging a situation, and making decisions together through eye signals. We learned to read each other's mind.