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restaurantinsanjuan · 3 years ago

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The Best Things to See, Eat, and Do in San Juan

Why come to Puerto Rico when you could travel in Mexico, or Miami, or even the Dominican Republic nearby? Great inquiry. Come to Puerto Rico to encounter the unusual impression of being in a completely unique nation (gas by the liter, streets by the kilometer, Spanish is spoken) while as yet being in the United States (same dollar, same president, no requirement for a visa). An outing here is a 3-for-1 deal of Caribbean sea shores, tropical rainforests, and wonderful mountainscapes - with the uncommon special reward of not one but rather three bioluminescent sounds. There's sufficient to see and do in Puerto Rico to keep you occupied for quite a long time.

All things considered, at the top of any Puerto Rico agenda ought to be San Juan, the dynamic capital city where most of the island's visitors land. Set up in 1521, this is the most established European-established settlement in the US and the second-most seasoned in the Americas. You don't need to squint too difficult to see that rich history around you: The pastel-hued Spanish frontier structures and thin cobblestone roads of the Old Town are ensured by seventeenth century strongholds and a 15-foot-thick crisscrossing divider. Take a mobile tour around Old San Juan to get the full impact. Additionally of historical import: The piña colada was concocted here.

Be that as it may, San Juan is something beyond enchanting old stuff and tourist shops. It's a mosaic of steadily advancing areas, similar to the cosmopolitan Miami vibes of Condado, or the fashionable person bars and road craft of Santurce. Regardless of whether you're here for the afternoon or remaining for a whole week, here are the best things to do in San Juan.

The Best Things to See on a Trip to Puerto Rico

Tour the history-pressed San Juan, zip line through a tropical rainforest, and hit the sea shore.

Visit the absolute most seasoned fortresses in the Americas

We should move the touristy stuff first, will we? Two tremendous fortresses front San Juan's northern face. To the west, the sixteenth century Castillo San Felipe del Morro (normally known as El Morro) is undoubtedly perhaps the most notable attractions in Puerto Rico. With its essential area ignoring the San Juan Bay, El Morro protected this port city from 1539 to as of late as WWII.

Passage into El Morro costs just $7.00 - save your ticket, since it likewise incorporates section to "that other fortification," Castillo San Cristobal, inside 24 hours of procurement. This is fundamentally El Morro's neglected younger sibling, yet San Cristobal is cool too! It's the biggest European fortress in the Americas and features the notorious Devil's Guerite (Garita del Diablo). Rumors have spread far and wide suggesting that warriors would randomly vanish as they stood watch in this guerite.

It's about a mile stroll from one fortress to the next, and the walk alone is breathtaking, with pastel provincial houses on one side and a capturing blue ocean on the other. A mammoth esplanade fronting El Morro fills in as a public social event spot, and is a great spot to take a break.

Take a look at the lead representative's home

After you visit the fortresses, walk the waterfront down to La Fortaleza, another walled compound where the island's Governor lives. You're not permitted to go in - it's in a real sense the Governor's home and office - yet you'll see it from the entryway. Lately, the First Lady has stepped up and brighten Fortaleza Street paving the way to the fundamental door. Right now, it's adorned with many bright umbrellas drifting over the road.

Snap a selfie at La Puerta de la Bandera

Since 2012, the passage doors of a flimsy structure on San José Street have become a significant image for Puerto Ricans living under the island's present financial emergency. Craftsman Rosenda Álvarez initially painted the doors with the Puerto Rican banner, just to revisit her painting four years after the fact, quiet the red and blue shades of the banner, and paint them dark all things considered. It was an analysis to the questionable monetary oversight board that is currently controlling the island funds. The structure is presently a famous selfie spot among tourists and local people.

Chase for noticeable (dead) local people in the graveyard

Despite the fact that it's found right close to El Morro, this pioneer time graveyard is regularly neglected by tourists. It lies right external the divider, confronting the ocean. The Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery is the last resting spot of a few noticeable Puerto Ricans - among the most acclaimed names discovered here are Pedro Albizu Campos, Jose Celso Barbosa, and José de Diego, among numerous others.

Chill with something fruity

In the event that you see a little kart with "piraguas" composed on it, do not spare a moment! Piraguas are squashed ice cones seasoned with nearby natural product syrups like cherry, enthusiasm organic product, strawberry, tamarind, coconut, and lemon. Sadly they're a withering practice, yet they can in any case be found in Old San Juan, particularly close to El Morro and Paseo la Princesa.

You'll likewise see hand crafted popsicles sold to a great extent at inhabitants' front doors, generally for $1. These are paletas, seasoned with pretty much every natural product on the island. Guava. Coconut. Other stuff. I got one that was an orange-and-cream blend, and I discovered it some way or another gooier than I'd anticipated. It was likewise truly reviving. Which was fundamental around noontime in the late spring, when the city can be, ah, I'll simply say it, abusively hot.

See the rotunda in the Puerto Rican Capitol

The capitol building is a marble structure fronting the Atlantic, not a long way from Fort San Cristobal. Passageway is totally free, Monday through Friday. Look upward at the roof, where the history of Puerto Rico is portrayed in a dazzling, point by point mosaic. Remain in the focal point of the rotunda, and you'll be encircled by glass-encased duplicates of the Puerto Rican and U.S. constitutions. Outside, the Puerto Rican and U.S. banners fly one next to the other.

Visit the most established house of God in Puerto Rico

In the first place, look at the gallery at Casa Blanca, a house worked for the Spanish traveler Ponce de León and his family. De León, who broadly (and uselessly) looked for the wellspring of youth, kicked the bucket on a campaign before he could move in. Walk a couple of squares to the San Juan Bautista basilica where Ponce de Leon moved in, and where he'll remain forever; he's entombed inside.

There's nothing extravagant about the design, however San Juan Bautista is the most established church in Puerto Rico and the second most seasoned in the Americas. Notwithstanding the tomb of de León, it contains the holy place to Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago - the principal Puerto Rican and the main layman in the history of the United States to be beatified.

Dance to the beat of "Despacito" in La Perla

La Perla has gained notoriety for strict hundreds of years. This historic shanty town was initially settled in the nineteenth century to house previous slaves and destitute workers who weren't permitted to live inside the city dividers. Today, the area appreciates newly discovered acclaim as where Luis Fonsi shot his music video for "Despacito." It was hit hard by Hurricane Maria is still amidst remaking. In case you're nearby on a Sunday night, go celebrating at La 39 Bar, a shoddy bar based on the top of a house that was mostly obliterated during the typhoon. Request a Medalla, the most mainstream brew in Puerto Rico.

Go to a well known speakeasy mixed drink bar

Likewise featured in the "Despacito" music vid is the speakeasy El Condal. This spot is so well known among local people, it doesn't require a sign outside. It's found where the well known Hijos de Borinquen bar used to be (you can in any case see the first name inside, painted on the divider), and El Condal holds the calm vibe of the famous unique.

It's tourist-accommodating, however as you advance inside you'll discover more than tourists drinking - and moving - there. Past the covered up indirect access are four more individual spaces, including a wine-bar, dance floor, and basement like bar - each with its own music, vibe, climate, beverages, and food. You may even get spendy and drop $9 on a mixed drink.

Attempt a delectable tripleta

Puerto Rico has no deficiency of delightful road food, particularly since the food-truck fever has assumed control over the island. In any case, Puerto Rico has had its own customary food-truck dish throughout recent decades - it's called tripleta. What's a tripleta? It's a sandwich. Tripleta implies three, so this sandwich has marinated barbecued 3D square steak, ham or pork, and chicken. It is served on a portion of yam bread with chips, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Trust me, it is delightful! Among the most famous tripletas is El Mariachi, found in Caguas and numerous different districts. You can visit best Italian restaurant in San Juan.

Absorb the Miami vibes along Ashford Avenue

Ashford Avenue feels like a Caribbean adaptation of Miami Beach with its Miami-style design, very good quality stores, popular lodgings, and beachfront bistros. Stroll along the road to absorb the climate, chill at the beachfront Ventana del Mar Park, have a dynamic night at the historic La Concha Resort, or tune in to live groups at the Hard Rock Café.

#san juan #restaurant #food

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winemilywin · 7 years ago

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Updates, Grievances, Joys, and Frustrations

About a month ago I promised myself I wouldn’t write. After a spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically tough summer, I felt that a year with no one in my business would be good for me. Well, a few months have passed and I can’t keep away from the keyboard. Those of you that know me and are familiar with my writing are aware that my style is romantic, flowing, rhythmic: I like to tell stories. I will preface this year of blog posts by saying that I will not be as dramatic as I usually am for the sake of time and personal obligations. Mark Thibodeaux, author of Reimagining the Ignatian Examen, wrote an exercise that recognizes a shift in the spirit. After months of assessing, analyzing, reflecting, and contemplating, I can only describe my current disposition as “a shift in my spirit.” I yearn to share with you all the wonderful ups and downs of simple living, community, social justice, and spirituality, but from a more simple lens. I am attempting to spend less time on social medias and more time catching up on personal reading (which I’ll keep you all in the loop on, maybe we can start a book club!) and personal fictional writing. As most of you know, fiction writing is something I enjoy but never get around to. In attempts to shift my priorities in self reflection, I am simplifying this whole blog process. However, I want you all to feel free to write letters to me. I have no problem sharing details on my life in other ways. To put it in the most clear way possible: I don’t want to invest my time in fancy blogging and computer skills when my year of service is focused away from the mainstream. That being said, I love writing and keeping you all informed. So, I suppose this is the compromise.

I live on the Southwest side of Tucson, Arizona with 6 other Jesuit Volunteers: Diana (Washington/Williamstown MA), Anastasia (Houston/San Diego), Ali (San Jose area/San Francisco), Meghan (Cleveland/Cincinnati), Micaela (Albuquerque/Denver), and Rob (Boston/NJ). We’re all pretty different but we all seem to love musical theater and going to costume/themed events so we keep the house bumpin’.

HIGHLIGHTS: Dressing up for and attending the Tucson Mermaid Festival in celebration for monsoon season. We entered the mermaid pageant as “Rob the Mermaid” and “Mermaids on a Budget.” We were crowd favorites. The next weekend Ali, Rob, Meghan, and I attended a full-blown version of Rocky Horror. For those who have been, I’ll spare you the details. For those you haven’t, it’s a great Halloween flick ;) Just last week our whole community attended a not-so-stipend-friendly trivia night to fund raise for the local food bank. The bottom floor of the house registered as team “and in the lead with 1 billion points” and placed last. The top floor of the house registered as the “naked ladies lounge” (that’s what we actually call ourselves) and placed 5th!

Just last weekend we had a pool party to meet the other volunteers around Tucson. We met with the Young Adult Volunteers, Mennonite Volunteers, and Explorers to talk about our experiences and hopefully make new friendships. I’ve been wanting to get involved with more justice-related activities in Tucson, so those conversations were great connections to make. In terms of justice-happenings, my roommate and I attended a protest against the pardoning of former Sheriff Joe Arpaio when Trump was in Phoenix a few weeks ago and I felt very right there. I’m hoping to attend more sociopolitical lectures and protests in the future, seeing as Tucson is pretty left leaning and young and I’m a Jesuit Volunteer ;) In terms of getting involved, I’ve been attending the 5pm Sunday mass at the University of Arizona Newman Center. It’s very different than SLU, but it’s intimate and active. My other roommate, Meghan, and I decided to audition for and join the 5pm mass choir, which is really just 3 instrumentalists and us attempting to sing. I’m hoping to explore other choir options, even outside of mass.

As you can imagine, most of my time is spent at my placement site. I am the Case Manager at Reunion House, a shelter for runaway and homeless teens ages 12-17. When I first saw the job description, I assumed I would be doing mostly paperwork and consultation. While I definitely do my fare share of paperwork, my job consists of nonstop conversations with youth regarding anything from teen parenthood to prison time, ethnicity and birth parents to restraining orders, resume building to school fights, sexuality to makeups and breakups. I spend most of my time transporting teens to schools and appointments, where I get the chance to have one on ones about their lives, to really hear them out. I find that this small piece is truly a large factor in advocating their potential to their teams of guardianship. I’ve found that after one month the key virtue I practice is forgiveness. After a girl ignores me, disrespects me, and call me a bitch, I still need approach her with love and care. After a guy tells me to fuck myself and throws a fit, I still have to consider the big picture of his life and speak positively on his behalf. It’s completely and entirely a worthwhile roller coaster of extreme highs and extreme lows.

This being said, half of the battle of work has been getting there. In the spirit of simple living (and maybe getting in shape?) I decided to bike to work every day. It’s 9 miles across town one way and, on any given day, over 100 degrees in direct sunlight. For the first few weeks, I came home thinking I was going to pass out from heat exhaustion. However, a bit of conditioning, electrolytes, and a new, distance-crafted bike have me (almost) effortlessly biking almost 100 miles a week with a hike or two on the weekends. Just like my actual work, the transportation is worthwhile.

Well, that’s it for now, friends. Thanks for having interests in my endeavors. Hopefully I can make my goals of writing and reading this year while also being attentive in keeping you all updated (I promise it will be shorter next time). Again, please write me letters! Contact me if you’d like my address.

An important aside:

Prayers and constructive conversations about my hometown, St. Louis, are being said here. And an extension of the heart to Texas and Florida as well. I can’t sign off without expressing how distraught I am from the happenings in our country. My promise to JVC was a promise to keep thinking, keep voicing, keep standing up for what is right. Silence is violence. Black lives matter. Keep fighting the just fight St. Louis.

Stay contemplative, stay active, stay always loving.

Emily

PS. Just for fun, here are some personal things I’m up to:

What I’m reading:

The Little Paris Bookshop

Romantic, yet intellectually intriguing. Great for a Sunday afternoon

Following Christ in a Consumer Society

Heavy, dense, makes you feel conflicted in all the best and worst ways

Mrs. Dalloway

Beautiful rhetoric, roundabout--yet detailed-- storytelling, secretively delicious

The Vagina Monologues

Female power and beauty told through poetics of the body

What I’m listening to:

Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, Billy Joel

Musical storytelling; reminds me of my time abroad

Summer, Highland Falls, Billy Joel

Nostalgic and truthful

At the Beginning, Peter and Evynne Hollens

For all the a Capella nerds, it’s a great cover

I Still Have to Go, Tyson Motsenbocker

A melancholy, indie type song about the need to experience something away from everything you love

U, Daichi Miura

It’s completely in Japanese, but it’s pretty catchy. One of my teens is really into KPOP and showed it to me.

#JVC yearofservice justice simpleliving tucson transitions

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adambstingus · 6 years ago

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Frida Kahlo’s neighbourhood: exploring vibrant Coyoacán, Mexico City

Ahead of a major Frida Kahlo show at Londons V&A we visit the artists bohemian district from her house to the cantina where she drank, and from arts venues to fantastic markets and restaurants

Coyoacán was once a hard-to-pronounce place, little known outside of Mexico City. Now it is an almost-obligatory destination for most visitors. Blame it on Frida Kahlo-mania. The artist’s birthplace and final residence, now the Museo Casa Azul, is here on a quiet residential street between similar still-private homes built around the turn of the 20th century. The folk art-filled museum, open as such since 1957, now draws queues that snake around the tree-lined block (advance online purchase of tickets is advisable). But this was not always the case.

Self-portrait with necklace by Frida Kahlo, 1933. Photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images

On my first visit to this vast capital in 1978 as a student of art history, I wanted to visit the then little-known artist’s house. My guidebook didn’t mention it and my hotel concierge didn’t know of it – nor did the several taxi drivers I queried to help me find it. On that occasion I didn’t get there. And when I finally did, several years later, it was dusty and forgotten; I was the only visitor that day.

A short walk from the Casa Azul is the home where Leon Trotsky lived – and was killed with an ice-pick. The house has been preserved in detail: Trotsky’s bathrobe still hangs on the hook where he left it. It’s the area’s other big draw.

Museo Casa Azul, the Frida Kahlo Museum in Coyoacán. Photograph: Alamy

But it’s worth exploring the neighbourhood beyond these famous homes as there is much more to discover. Coyoacán’s main plaza, cobblestoned and plant-filled, is divided in halves, called Jardín Centenario and Jardín Hidalgo. They form a typical colonial Mexican town square, complete with benches for people-watching, gazebos for music and vendors selling balloons, toys and traditional sweets.

At the eastern side sits the church of San Juan Bautista, a highly gilded baroque affair. Across the plaza to the left of the church is the Casa de Cortés, a large yellow edifice, which occupies the site of Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés’s 16th-century country home. Corazón de Maguey is an informal restaurant offering Oaxacan and other regional dishes. In the evenings it becomes more of a bar, with a large selection of mezcals. Outside seating affords a good view of the plaza.

Corazón de Maguey, Mexico

Frida and her husband Diego Rivera liked to knock back a tequila or 10 at Cantina La Guadalupana, which opened its doors in 1932. But unlike the equivalent Hemingway hangouts around the world, La Guadalupana has not become an overpriced tourist trap: it retains its old-fashioned working-class charm, bullfighting decor and good service. Free snacks are offered with drinks and there is a serviceable menu of Mexican dishes. The Mercado de Antojitos down the block, is a well known garage-like space; it’s open late and locals stop here for a rich pozole, the hominy-filled stew or a deep-fried quesadilla of cheese, squash blossom or chorizo.

Cantina La Guadalupana. Photograph: Alamy

Coyoacán’s market, a few blocks north (Calle Malintzin between Aguayo and Allende) is where Frida shopped, although the current structure was built in the 1950s, after her death. It still offers a colourful, folksy experience perfumed by flowers, fruits and bubbling pots of spicy mole sauce. In the middle of the market is the renowned Tostadas Coyoacán, with an abundant display of tostada toppings such as prawns, chicken, crab, and spicy pork, piled high and ready to be heaped on a crispy corn tortilla. Order one of the exotic fresh fruit drinks at the adjacent booth for a perfect Mexican lunch.

Heading west from the main plaza, Avenida Francisco Sosa is lined with spectacular colonial-era homes, such as the Italian Cultural Institute and the Casa de Cultura Jesús Reyes Heroles. Across the street is the leafy Plaza Santa Catarina, one of the loveliest spots in the city.

La Casa de los Tacos, Mexico

For a knockout taco experience, head to La Casa de los Tacos. The owners, Hector Ramos, a photographer who runs an art gallery upstairs, and Alejandro Escalante, author of the renowned Tacopedia, have created a thoroughly bohemian vibe. The tacos prehispánicos feature edible insects and are surprisingly delicious. For the less adventurous, there are grilled chicken, beef and pork tacos.

Mercadaroma, meanwhile, is Coyoacán’s answer to the gourmet street market craze. Dozens of stands offer multi-regional Mexican and international foods – and fusions of both – in a smartly designed three-storey building. Try the seafood tacos from the Pacific state of Sonora at Tetakawi or a torta (Mexico’s version of the sandwich), at La Barraca Valenciana.

Mercadoroma

Plaza de la Conchita, a few blocks east of the main plaza (walking down Higuera), is another peaceful park, whose church is one of the oldest in Mexico, dating to the mid-16th century. This architectural gem is a rare example of tequitqui style, which shows the influence of indigenous Indian craftsmen on Spanish baroque architectural ornament.

In addition to architecture-viewing and great eating, Coyoacán offers several other important cultural institutions. The Cineteca Nacional is Mexico’s central film institute, housed in a soaring modern complex where as many as 30 movies are shown on any given day. The Centro Cultural y Social Veracruzano is home to a theatre, shop and El Tajin one of the area’s best restaurants. Down the same road, at no. 134 is the largest branch of Gandhi, Mexico’s major bookseller.

A stroll around Coyoacán makes for a peaceful – and delicious – day out. And a snapshot of Frida’s Mexico.

More Frida-related attractions in Mexico City, and beyond

Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo House-Studio Museum, San Angel, Mexico City

Photograph: Alamy

Designed by the couple’s friend, the architect and artist Juan O’Gorman, this was Kahlo and Rivera’s first proper marital home. It’s actually two houses joined by a bridge. They lived here from 1934 to 1939 and divorced in that year. Kahlo moved back to the Blue House and when she and Rivera remarried the following year, he moved to join her there, though he kept the San Angel house as his studio. Most interesting for visitors today is the bathroom in Frida’s quarters, which inspired one of her most famous works: What the Water Gave Me – it’s a meditation on her life and her history, as she lay in the tub. • Admission £1.30, under 13s free, estudiodiegorivera.inba.gob.mx

Xochimilco and Museo Dolores Olmedo, Mexico City

Colourful boats at the Floating Gardens in Xochimilco. Photograph: Alamy

The floating gardens of Xochimilco have been Mexico City’s favourite way to spend a Sunday for many decades, as shown by the photographs of Kahlo trailing her hand into the water from her boat. It’s still the best place to soak up the vibrant, colourful and musical culture of the Mexico Kahlo loved. Rent a boat and be ferried through canals awash with mariachi bands, tortilla- and taco-makers, beer and tequila sellers. Afterwards head for the tranquillity of the Museo Dolores Olmedo Patino, a 17th-century mansion once owned by a friend and patron of Rivera’s. As well as many works by him it contains important paintings by Kahlo, although they’re on loan to an exhibition in Milan until the summer. • Admission £3.75, free entry on Tuesdays, museodoloresolmedo.org.mx

Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City

Photograph: Francesca Yorke/Getty Images

Kahlo’s painting The Two Fridas features in the museum’s collection of 20th-century Mexican art. The museum is currently showing more than more than 200 works by British artist Leonora Carrington (until 23 September). Carrington arrived in Mexico City in 1942, and was based there until her death in 2011. She knew Kahlo and was friends with English millionaire Edward James, a patron of surrealist artists and creator of Las Pozas sculpture garden in the jungles of San Luis Potosí. The exhibition includes discoveries such as a colourful 22-piece set of tarot cards, intricate paintings and tapestries never shown before as well as her best-known works including her self-portrait borrowed from the Met, and her 1947 painting The Giantess. • Admission £2.40, free on Sundays, museoartemoderno.com

Cuernavaca

Interior of the Robert Brady Museum. Photograph: Alamy

Soon after their first marriage (in 1929), Kahlo and Rivera went to live in Cuernavaca, around 90km south of Mexico City, borrowing the home of the US ambassador to Mexico where they lived while Rivera was painting murals in the town’s Palacio de Cortés. They depict the atrocities committed against the indigenous people, and the Mexican Revolution, and are a macro take on the world, in contrast to Kahlo’s micro take. The Robert Brady Museum is one of the best artistic highlights of the city and contains work by Kahlo and Rivera. • Admission £1.80, museorobertbrady.com Joanna Moorhead

from All Of Beer http://allofbeer.com/frida-kahlos-neighbourhood-exploring-vibrant-coyoacan-mexico-city/ from All of Beer https://allofbeercom.tumblr.com/post/184238359442

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samanthasroberts · 6 years ago

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Frida Kahlo’s neighbourhood: exploring vibrant Coyoacán, Mexico City

Ahead of a major Frida Kahlo show at Londons V&A we visit the artists bohemian district from her house to the cantina where she drank, and from arts venues to fantastic markets and restaurants

Self-portrait with necklace by Frida Kahlo, 1933. Photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images

Museo Casa Azul, the Frida Kahlo Museum in Coyoacán. Photograph: Alamy

Corazón de Maguey, Mexico

Cantina La Guadalupana. Photograph: Alamy

La Casa de los Tacos, Mexico

Mercadoroma

A stroll around Coyoacán makes for a peaceful – and delicious – day out. And a snapshot of Frida’s Mexico.

More Frida-related attractions in Mexico City, and beyond

Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo House-Studio Museum, San Angel, Mexico City

Photograph: Alamy

Xochimilco and Museo Dolores Olmedo, Mexico City

Colourful boats at the Floating Gardens in Xochimilco. Photograph: Alamy

Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City

Photograph: Francesca Yorke/Getty Images

Cuernavaca

Interior of the Robert Brady Museum. Photograph: Alamy

Source: http://allofbeer.com/frida-kahlos-neighbourhood-exploring-vibrant-coyoacan-mexico-city/

from All of Beer https://allofbeer.wordpress.com/2019/04/17/frida-kahlos-neighbourhood-exploring-vibrant-coyoacan-mexico-city/

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allofbeercom · 6 years ago

Text

Frida Kahlo’s neighbourhood: exploring vibrant Coyoacán, Mexico City

Ahead of a major Frida Kahlo show at Londons V&A we visit the artists bohemian district from her house to the cantina where she drank, and from arts venues to fantastic markets and restaurants

Self-portrait with necklace by Frida Kahlo, 1933. Photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images

Museo Casa Azul, the Frida Kahlo Museum in Coyoacán. Photograph: Alamy

Corazón de Maguey, Mexico

Cantina La Guadalupana. Photograph: Alamy

La Casa de los Tacos, Mexico

Mercadoroma

A stroll around Coyoacán makes for a peaceful – and delicious – day out. And a snapshot of Frida’s Mexico.

More Frida-related attractions in Mexico City, and beyond

Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo House-Studio Museum, San Angel, Mexico City

Photograph: Alamy

Xochimilco and Museo Dolores Olmedo, Mexico City

Colourful boats at the Floating Gardens in Xochimilco. Photograph: Alamy

Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City

Photograph: Francesca Yorke/Getty Images

Cuernavaca

Interior of the Robert Brady Museum. Photograph: Alamy

from All Of Beer http://allofbeer.com/frida-kahlos-neighbourhood-exploring-vibrant-coyoacan-mexico-city/

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betlinedesign · 7 years ago

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Syracuse

About a year ago, I went out to Syracuse for a design conference. To say it was an awesome experience wouldn't do that weekend away justice - it was the first time I had ever taken myself somewhere in New York State by myself, and though I was initially nervous, it turned out to be one of the super positive experiences we all hope to have. I made some new friends, found some amazing places to hang out, and totally broke out of my comfort zone.

This year, I wasn’t able to go to the design conference (deployment sucks) but I was lucky enough to get to show my husband around the city I found I loved last year. We were able to spend one last weekend away together before he’s off for his deployment, and Syracuse did not disappoint!

I’m a Californian, and as a West Coast gal it’s always mind-blowing for me to consider how close together things are out here. In the time it would take (without traffic) to get from San Diego to Los Angeles, we were able to get get in Syracuse and get settled into our hotel room.

We stayed at the Aloft Inner Harbor Syracuse , which is this AMAZING hotel not too far outside of my favorite neighborhood, Armory Square. Our room looked out on the water, the bed was unbelievably comfy, and the modern decor and aesthetic totally brought us back to our Iceland trip from a few weeks ago.

There wasn’t a single picture I took of the hotel that didn’t include an explosion of our stuff, so I’ll just refer you to their photos - I promise, this is exactly what the room looked like, and it was huge. Absolutely huge.

We both had to work while we were in Syracuse, but the positive is we had three whole days to hang out, so we found plenty of time for adventures. While my husband checked in with his local leadership and checked off some last minute things with his team, I happily connected with the hotel for some remote work. Sometimes it can be hard for me to work remotely - my job requires some pretty hefty bandwidth for internet that has (on occasion) overwhelmed my home router, but the hotel internet was a beast and kept pace with me all day, and no matter where I went (by the hotel, down in the lobby, hanging out in our room) I was connected and good to go.

Eating

Truthfully, it can sometimes be a pain to try to find clean eating friendly food while traveling. While the world has become much more open to the idea of alternative eating models, a lot of what we see labelled as “clean eating” or “organic” still doesn't really mesh with the way we eat. This certainly isn’t a judgement or an admonishment to the world for not conforming to how I personally live, but seriously nothing wrecks a vacation like feeling bloated and lethargic because you aren’t eating right.

More often than not, we pack ourselves food that we know meets our standard and dietary restrictions. We’ve rolled up to beach weekends with friends with a massive cooler of goodies, just to be sure that we’ll be set up for the weekend.

That being said, it was surprisingly easy to find restaurants that were clean eating friends all across the broader Syracuse area. I had no idea that grain bowls were becoming such a thing, but I am not complaining - it was fantastic!

One of the places we stopped in most frequently was CoreLife Eatery, which is an awesome restaurant where you can build your own grain bowl. My husband refers to it as the Chipotle for clean eating, and he isn’t wrong.

Not only were the salads, soups, and grain bowls all clean eating with serious vegetarian options, but their fountain drinks were so good! There’s a high chance that they were packed with sugar, which we are supposed to be avoiding, but we just cut it down with half water and decided to indulge.

Our big date night in town involved heading to Pastabilities, which honestly we half chose because of the name. I saw that they made their pasta from scratch, and it seemed like it might be clean eating so, we gave it a shot. It was fantastic!

I studied abroad in Italy, so I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart from really good quality Italian food. We were sitting on the back patio of Pastabilities, and the smell was exactly like so many of the coastal restaurants that I had loved eating at when I first arrived. Plus, it was the first time in years I had access to burrata, AKA the cheese of all cheeses, and I scarfed it down in every possible way. If you’re ever in Syracuse, I would HIGHLY recommend giving Pastabilities a shot. You won’t regret it!

If you know me well, you know that I have coffee issues. I spent 6 years working at Starbucks, and while I can no longer speak to the training process, when I came through, you had to try out all of the coffee types, be able to speak to them with authority, and pair them. Since that was also my first job, that was where and how I got hooked on coffee. Excellent planning on Starbuck’s part - it’s actually difficult for me to drink a normal cup of coffee, because light or medium roast is just too acidic and ends up giving me stomach problems.

For this reason, I can be a little hesitant about trying new coffee out. As I mentioned before, nothing wrecks a relaxing vacation like having an upset stomach. That being said, we found Freedom of Espresso in Franklin Square just down the block from our hotel, and it was really cute. The dark roast actually was a dark roast, and it had great flavor and depth. My only slight critique is that when we were there at 8am on a Friday, there were no snacks. At all. We bought day old bagels that they had out, but I was sorta bummed that we had to go find breakfast somewhere else. It’s also worth noting that when I stumbled into another Freedom of Espresso location in Armory Square, they had plenty of options - I think we just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Our last surprise find was Original Grain. To be honest, I was a little bit skeptical at first. I mean, why are there so many grain bowl spots in one town, and why is this one so fresh and hip but empty?

I can’t really explain the emptiness, especially because I’ve never been more wrong about a place. It was BANGING. Like, seriously, the most amazing glorious thing I’ve had in a while. We found this place the day after we watched Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop, so when my husband dragged me off to the bathroom door to see the Notorious B.I.G. photo, we felt pretty confident that we had made the right choice.

The staff was unbelievably sweet, and let me ask a million questions - and even subbed out ahi tuna for chicken when I mentioned that I was a vegetarian (I just expected them to leave it off and charge us the same price). I ordered the Mexi-Cali bowl (obviously. If it has either ‘Mexi’ or ‘Cali’ in it, I’m 98% more likely to order it) and I’m not sure what my favorite part was - how pink it was, or how fresh. Seriously, I can’t remember the last time I ate food and it tasted like California, but this had it down.

A side bar about New York food. It’s good, and I clearly have chosen to live here. But there’s something about California food - I swear you can taste the sunshine in it. Produce from California just tastes different, and it gets lost when you ship it. The way that produce and veggies taste, smell, feel at home is just different and more vibrant. But I’m biased, don’t trust me ;)

Adventures

While of course we did out fair share of relaxing by the pool at the hotel and lounging in our luxurious room, what’s the point of visiting a new place if you don’t check out some cool sites?

We’re big fans of wandering around, so we headed over to Armory Square one afternoon, which is my favorite neighborhood in Syracuse. There’s a ton of cute little shops, some coffee joints, and yummy restaurants - plus, the Museum of Science and Technology is right smack dab in the middle, so there’s a ton of people watching and fun things to explore without spending too much. This the neighborhood that has Original Grain, Pastabilities, and a Freedom of Espresso location.

Sadly, it isn’t really summer in upstate New York without crazy amounts of rain that drop out of nowhere, so when an unexpected thunderstorm rolled through, we headed over to Destiny, USA. It really isn’t our type of place - it’s one of those megamalls that popped up when we were in high school, but lately we’ve stepped a little bit away from that kind of mentality. There’s not a lot for minimalist yogis with a penchant for organic fair trade cotton to find at a mall, but it was interesting to walk around and check out. If we had kids, this would have been their dream place - there was an indoor adventure spot where kids were strapped into these safety harnesses and climbing all over the place, and a few indoor style amusement parks. While ultimately it wasn’t our jam, I’m glad we stopped in.

When the storm cleared up, we headed out to a little park new Lake Oswego, which was too cute for words. There was a little bit of a beachside main street feel to it, and it’s been developed to have a biking path, a running path, and huge amounts of lawn and outdoor play areas for kids. We spent some time wandering around, and admiring peoples dogs as they came by (we were getting homesick for our little man by this point, clearly).

After another weekend there, I still love Syracuse. It’s a lovely city, and it’s always nice to see some of these older, former industrial cities starting to revitalize and made beautiful again. Have you ever been out to Syracuse? What are your favorite spots? Let me know in the comments below!

#Syracuse #Travel Blog #Upstate New York Travel #Clean Eating and Traveling #Reviews

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