The Year in Pictures

From top to bottom:
1) Cherry blossoms in North Carolina, April
2) Santorini, June
3) Donkey in Santorini, June
4) Rocky Mountain National Park, September
5) Great Smoky Mountain, November
6) Bodrum, Turkey, June
7) Ephesus, June
8) The Grand Bazaar, Turkey, June
9) Venice Beach, California, May
10) The Blue Mosque, Turkey, June
11) Tulum, March

John G. Shedd Aquarium

I am embarrassed to say that I have lived in Chicago for nearly 25 years, and I have not once visited the Shedd Aquarium until two days ago. It is located practically in my backyard and supposedly the best aquarium in the world. Over this past weekend, we spent a morning there and had such a blast.

Located in Chicago's Museum Campus near the city's beautiful lakefront, this education-oriented attraction holds every conceivable kind of fish and water mammal in approximations of their natural habitat. The highlights for me: the exhibit simulating the banks of the Amazon River during the rainy season and seeing my favorite creatures--penguins, dolphins and seals. What a shame it took me so long to visit this gem.

Greek Shrimp and Asparagus Risotto

Without a doubt, there is nothing as delicious and comforting as a bowl of risotto. This risotto (recipe courtesy of the May 2009 issue of Cooking Light) is no exception. Its ingredients (feta, shrimp, asparagus, dill and sweet onion) result in a flavorful and flawless meal.

While enjoying this Greece-inspired dish, I pretended I was there, a picture-perfect place. Photos from our trip there in June 2009:

New Slippers

I saw the above slippers from Acorn in a catalog, and I immediately knew that I had to have them. Why? Simply because they remind me of the slippers I saw all over Turkey, one of my favorite travel destinations ever.

I ordered them and as soon as I had them on, I knew that they were worth every penny. In addition to their Turkish-inspired, embroidery-embellished appearance, I love how warm and comfortable these slippers keep my feet. They are quite pricey for slippers, but their cushioned insoles, skid-resistant outsole, and boiled wool material make them beyond worthy.

Happy Turkey Day!

Early tomorrow morning, we are leaving to visit family for Thanksgiving weekend. I have been so excited about this trip to North Carolina. I can't wait to see family I have not seen in months and get away from Chicago and its baggage (noise pollution, traffic, dreary weather, etc.) for 4 whole days!

New Mexico

Inspiring desert vistas. Delicious Southwestern cuisine. Spectacular Pueblo architecture. Fascinating history. Rich culture. There is much to love about this great state. I visited about a year and a half ago, and to this day, I often think about how blessed I felt while there. It was my first trip anywhere after recovering from an auto accident, so the dork in me feels quite sentimental about this special place.

Anyway, via one of my favorite blogs, I learned about this darling book, New Mexico: A Guide for the Eyes. In my opinion, it is not just a travel guide, but a coffee table book as well as it offers plenty of amazing photography. The author and photographer, Elisa Parhad, is a cultural anthropologist. So as you would expect, the book is quite informative and interesting. I enjoyed reading about a place I loved so much. I did not have this book during my first visit, but I am planning to go back as soon as possible. This book will surely make my second experience that much richer.

Some of my favorite photos I took from our visit:

Lonely Planet's The Travel Book

This book was a recent impulse buy, and I have no regrets. It is a travel guide on steroids covering every country in the world from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. The photos are inspiring and beautiful.  The better part: it lists entertaining and valuable facts about each country. Did you know Hong Kong consumes more oranges than anywhere else on earth? And that in Japan, it is polite to slurp loudly when eating soup or noodles? And that Honduras is experiencing the most rapid urbanization in Central America?