Back home already!

Well, that was quick! As posted earlier, I flew down to Washington DC for the long weekend and am back already.... way to quick!

I had a great time flying down... I love flying! Jaime picked me up from the airport and we just chilled and chatted into the early morning on Friday/Saturday! Visiting with Jaime and eating all her recommended food was the reason for the trip and on Saturday we jumped right in! It was a beautiful morning so we went kayaking on the Potomac for 2 hours. It was awesome: we avoided crashes with rowers (moody) and large yachts and cruised up and doen the river enjoying ourselves. Then we got the hell out of Georgetown (Georgetowners are so moody and annoying!) to have a sandwich at Taylor's. Jaime raved about the Roast Pork with arugala, roasted pappers and mozzarella... and we were both crushed when we found out they had run out! Our second option of roast turkey was taken by someone else, opened and then returned... and that was the last of the turkey! So we settled on a chicken cutlet sandwich which was awful. At least the Risotto balls were great! It was so sad that Taylor's was a bust but we decided to give it another try on Monday before I left.

On Saturday night, we went out for our dinner out. We first went to a bar for the best martini EVER - Passion Fruit Martini with orange rum and passion fruit juice with a ginger-jalapeño infusion! It was delicious! I also had the Magic Mojito -cotton candy deconstruction of the classic mojito... it vanished before my eyes! What a great start to the evening! Then we went to Oya for a fabulous dinner - I had the Spicy Crunchy Shrimp to start, followed by Roasted Chicken with coriander risotto, asparagus and mushroom stew and then a fabulous molten chocolate cake. All that with 2 bottles of great wine and even better company... what a night!

Of course, Sunday morning and into the afternoon was interesting. I woke up and wasn't sure if I was still drunk or just hungover (probably the second!). So to try to work the previous evening out of my system, Jaime and I went paddle-boating by the FDR and Jefferson Memorials. It was great - we were the only ones out on the lake. Then we ventured into the crazy traffic (I mean absolutely insane... couldn't have done it if I was driving!) for gelato which made my morning - it was unbelievably good. We were staying in Sunday night for dinner so we needed to get our favs. Unfortunately somebody was plotting against us. After yesterdays sandwich debacle we didn't want anything else to go wrong. But the bread we wanted at Whole Foods was gone and then our cheese stop was devastating - both cheeses Jaime recommended were gone. The substitutes were great but not what we had planned for our foodie weekend. To make up for our disappointment, we walked to Good Stuff for Jaime's recommended burger... only to find out it was closed pending renewal of the liquor license. Argh! At that point I resigned myself that we would just have to give up on our quest for the best food all weekend. Surprisingly, the burrito we got was good (and it made my stomach feel so much better!).

Our evening meal was amazing: cheese, goose pate (which was so good!), fruit, melon wrapped in prosciutto and balsamic, heirloom salad and of course wine. It was lovely and made my day... well weekend! We do an amazing dinner!

My last day in Washington DC and we started with gelato for breakfast (why not?) and made our way to Taylor's for our second and last attempt at the sandwich. And let me tell you, it was worth the wait. The grease and juices from the pork soaked into the amazing bread and was delicious. It was messy but worth it... I'm surprised I was able to get up. Only a 6 inch sandwich but I struggled with the last bite... but who would leave a bite behind? So, my foodie trip was amazing and disappointing and then redeemed right after - an emotional rollercoaster but worth every moment! Thank you so much Jaime - my foodie and travel soul mate!

So what is next you may ask, well Jaime and I will be reuniting this summer for our holidays to... Montanegro, Croatia, Slovenia and Turkey! This will be awesome... got to start planning!

'Til then, Love Lisa

At long last... another trip!

Well hello everyone!

It has definately been too long since I last posted on my blog about my travels. I have been home since early January and back to the daily grind: work, exercise, responsibility and settling into a "normal" life. Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed being home and settling down a bit. But I have missed travelling tremendously! Last year was so exhilerating and exciting and adventurous I just didn't want it to stop. But it did.

Now I am back at it - back on the road. Yes, it may only be for a weekend but I am getting my backpack (a smaller one), my camera (a new one) and my passport (same old one) and getting out of Edmonton. And where am I heading for 2.5 days of bliss? Washington, DC! You may recall I was there last summer (which kicked off my second big trip). I had such an amazing time and truly enjoyed spending time with Jamie, Farley and Asia that I felt a return trip was needed!

After a bit of stress trying to find my passport (I put it away for safe keeping and it slipped out of my bag when I was rifling through to find it) I have checked in and I leave tomorrow for a half day of travel. No worries, I love every part of travelling... even sitting in airports waiting for connections.

The plan for the weekend: eat at all the fabulous restaurants Jamie has found in the past year since I have been away (you may remember Jamie is my foodie-friend who I love hanging and eating with!), possibly a trip to a lake for some kayaking and just relaxing in beautiful Washington DC! Hopefully the weather will be fabulous... but I have never let it bother me before. Why start now.

I will be sure to keep you all posted of the food I have eaten (I salivate as I write this!). Talk to you from Capital city USA!

Love, Lisa