Then one day, while with friends, I tried one.  I played  Angry Birds; I checked my email; updated my Facebook status and from that point on, I knew I had to have one.  As I did the research I learned that a new model was predicted to come out 1st Qtr 2011.  So I waited. Sure enough the predictions came true and I was in line on March 11th enthusiastically anticipating how great I was going feel once I had that gadget in my hands.  This new toy was going to be my new travel companion.  No more carrying my heavier MacBook, or having to take it out at the airport for additional TSA screening.  I could carry it everywhere.

I decided to put my “iPad only” experiment to the test on a 4-week vacation starting from San Diego to Las Vegas to San Diego to Seattle to Santa Rosa to Hawaii to San Diego to Las Vegas.

There are so many features that I love about the iPad; all the different apps, FaceTime, it’s lightweight, and it’s cute.  But cute doesn’t cut it if you want to get any real work done.  The touchscreen keyboard is not conducive to quick typing, and I thought I would just scream each time the screen flipped one way when I needed it to be in another direction.

I am old school, in that I like to hold my books, so reading books on the iPad book reader is a new experience and one I did not like too much. I found the glare and back lighting to be a distraction

I purchased my laptop because of its portability.   I also purchased the iPad for the very same reason, but not only is the iPad not just a smaller computer but it I had less functionality, less efficiency, and the one window at a time set up is not really good for longer term, regular daily usage.

Do I regret that I purchased it?  Absolutely not.  I’ve actually found it to be a more useful tool while at home.  On numerous occasions I’ve needed to look something up and I was not in my office, but my iPad was right there.  And, If I’m going away for a few days or an extended weekend vacation, the iPad is a great carry along.   However, if I plan to be anywhere more than 5 days, I need my notebook.

I did my research before I left home and knew which coffeeshops I wanted to hit up.  Along with the couple of new one’s I wanted to check out, I went by two old favoirties.  Here’s what I found:

Barney’s Coffeeshop: I like Barney’s.  Their selection contained award winning varieties and the employees were knowledgeable. They made a few excellent recommendations.  The atmosphere is clean (including the restrooms), with a nice decor, and modern wood paneled walls.  The seating was several bar type tables up against the wall, each with 4 bar stools, and a television in the wall next to the bar.  The music is slamming through the speakers.  Food isn’t served in the coffeeshop, just beverages.  My drink of choice is always a double espresso, which they promptly served up.  However, if you want to eat, Barney’s has a restaurant across the street from the Coffeeshop that serves up both food, and alcohol.  With the exception of cigars and cigarettes, smoking is allowed in the restaurant.  Barney’s is now my favorite coffeeshop in Amsterdam.

Baba’s: Located on Warmoesstraat in the Red-light district, Baba’s was at one time, my go to spot (until I discovered Barney’s).  The staff is friendly, the selection good, and the Indian inspired decor creates a relaxed chilled vibe.  My only complaint is that this place gets packed, and the seating arrangements can make it feel cramped.  The upshot is that they’re located on the outskirts of the Red-Light district and is a quick easy walk from Centraal Station should you be in Amsterdam on an extended layover.

Sheeba’s: This was the first coffeeshop I visited when I first came to Amsterdam in 2001.  During that trip it became my go to spot.  I went back to Sheeba’s for the first time during this trip. Wow.  What a difference 9 years make.  Same name, different owners maybe?  I don’t know but before it was set up like a nice chill coffee lounge, and now it has the appearance of a low end dive bar, that’s dark, with hard wooden black painted planks as benches.  The selection wasn’t bad.  But, with coffeshops in abundance, a lot of time it’s about the vibe a place has, and I wasn’t feeling the vibe at Sheeba’s.   This was a disappointment and it has been knocked off my go to list.

The Greenhouse: The Greenhouse is one of the most popular coffeeshops in Amsterdam.  Besides the fact that they’ve won numerous Cannibis Cup awards, they’ve had the celebrity clientele, and the photos are on the wall to prove it, with Snoop Dogg’s photo almost front and center.  It goes without saying that the product is top quality.  The biggest drawback for me was that it’s located in the heart of the red light district.  The red light district attracts the bachelor party, college backpackers, and weekend party crowd.   Unless you want to be around that kind of energy, I would avoid this place in the evening hours, especially in the summer.

So…that’s my take on my Coffeeshop Tour.  There were two other coffeeshops I wanted to check out but I was busy  and just didn’t get around to it.  Amsterdam is more than just the coffeeshops  Until next time…..

Safe Travels!!

Hotel Pulitzer Aerial View

hotel and the idea of staying in a hotel comprised of 25 restored 17th and 18th century historical canal houses appealed to me.  I mean really, in Amsterdam, you have to stay in a canal house at least once.  Right?

Located  between the Prinsengraat and Keizergraat canals, in what is a residential neighborhood, we made the Hotel Pulitzer our home for three days in late August.  It’s away from the hubbub of the stag parties, the young “get high party crowd”, yet close enough to walk to most of the sites and attractions that Amsterdam has to offer.  For those who aren’t up to the walking there are four tram routes near the hotel that will take you towards Centraal Station and Dam Square; the famous Centrum area.

Front Entrance on Prinsengraat (Click to Enlarge)

We arrived at the hotel at 8:00AM, after a 6.5 hour flight.  We knew there was an extra charge (50 Euro) to check in early (before 9:00AM), so our plan was to check in, check our luggage with the bellhop, and then go enjoy a cup of coffee and fresh orange juice at Barney’s Coffeeshop.  We figured by the time we got back our room would be ready.  So, you can imagine we were pleasantly surprised when not only was our room ready, but they also waived the fee. Since they let us check in early, and our room came with breakfast, they invited us to go to the restaurant that, “breakfast was being served”.  Oh yea, things were starting out pretty good.

The breakfast was satisfying and pancakes were the best I’ve ever tasted.  I paired them up with fresh berries, and a double espresso.  That became a staple for our three day stay.  As much as I enjoyed my stay at the Pulitzer, if the breakfast wasn’t included in the room rate, then I would have eaten elsewhere.  It’s not worth the 30 Euro per person that they charge for it.

We stayed in a Junior Suite which occupied the entire top floor of one of the canal houses.  Getting to our room was like

Our Room - Junior Suite

going through a maze. Up six stairs, then down three stairs, then get on the elevator, then go up six more stairs; that’s when we reached our room.  This may seem cumbersome, but it’s wasn’t.  Our room overlooked the courtyard and had an entrance hall, a kitchenette, dining area, living area, a modern and nice sized bathroom, and the most comfortable bed I have ever slept on in a hotel.  Sleeping in this bed was like being enveloped in soft cotton and feathers, and gently rocked to sleep.  We both slept like babies.  Because our room was on the top floor, the ceiling was low and the beams exposed, which added a feeling of authenticity to our experience. In the past the rooms on the higher floors and those facing the courtyard served as bedrooms and kitchens.  The lower ceilings kept these rooms warm in the winter.

Needless to say, I loved my stay at the Hotel Pulitzer and would consider staying there again when I return to Amsterdam.

contemporary feel, and was decorated with warm rich colors. There were two huge floor-to-ceiling windows which opened, a deep tube in the bathroom, the bed was comfortable and best of all the room came with complimentary Wi-Fi.

Our stay was enjoyable.  Since it was such a short stay, we didn’t use any of the hotels facilities, however, I did order room service.  Room service delivered in a timely manner and the burger I ordered was delicious.  The front desk staff was helpful in directing us towards the sights and answering our questions.  Check out was effortless, and they had our taxi waiting upon exiting the building.

I’d definitely stay here again and recommend it to my friends.

The menu is rife with delectable choices ranging from the national dish of “Ackee and Saltfish” to the vegetarian “Ital Stew”. Of course, there is the requisite Jamaican staple “Jerk Chicken”; “jerk” referring to the spicy flavor of the dish.  However, I decided to try something different, so I ordered the Fried Red Snapper which was smothered in a thyme-scented vegetable sauce, served with red beans and rice, cole slaw and potato salad.

Roland ordered the Ital Stew, “The Rastaman food”, a vegetarian stew made with seasonal vegetables in a base of coconut milk, seasoned with thyme, allspice, onion, garlic, scotch bonnet pepper.

Though it took a little while (about 30 minutes) to get our food, once it arrived it was delicious, and well worth the wait.  The bar is just so-so, as they lack an experienced bartender.  However, who needs a bartender when you can just do as it’s done in Jamaica, order a Red Stripe beer, and call it a day.

Back A Yard, Katarina / Sofia, Folkungagatan 128, 116 30 Stockholm  +46-08-644 94 94

We made this hotel our home for our 6 night stay in Stockholm.  Our room was a King room (2 twin beds placed directly beside each other) with a balcony, and a marble tiled bathroom with an extra deep tub.  The espresso colored furniture was modern and attractive.  There was a comfortable chaise lounge that also turned into a sleeper.  The service throughout our stay was without complaint.  Breakfast, which is included in the room rate, had a few organic items, along with fresh squeezed orange juice, and was plentiful. Early into our stay I ran out of battery power  for my computer and had not yet purchased an adapter.  After a few failed attempts in locating one,  we went to the front desk clerk again for help.  And, after finding out that I had a Mac, front desk clerk stated he had a Mac as well, and that I could use his cord to charge my battery.  This was above and beyond the call of duty.  But, this is the level of service I found throughout my entire stay.  Our room was cleaned everyday.  It seemed as soon as we left, when we got back it was clean, even if we had only left for an hour or two.  The bar (Bar101) is a local hangout, which is nice for a change.  Typically you only find fellow travelers in the hotel bar.

The only complaint I have about this hotel is the noise level.  The hotel is located in an area noisy from traffic and nightlife.  At times it feels as if there isn’t any insulation whatsoever, as the noise feels like it’s right outside your window.  The wood flooring is attractive, however, again, the noise level from the floor above can be distracting, and the thin walls allowed me to hear my upstairs neighbors and their sexcapades.  Other than this….I loved this hotel.  And, I would consider staying here again upon my next visit to Stockholm.

I went on a great little walking tour from the hotel.  You can follow my steps here:  Stockholm Walking Tour 1

Mama Testa

Put Some Mexican In You!!

You can always tell how close you are to authentic Mexican food when you check out the Salsa bar and the most importantly the Guacamole.  When dining at  Americanized Mexican food restaurants…they seem to have a love of sour cream.  Huh?  What is that about?  If that Guacamole isn’t lumpy from fresh avocados, and it is creamy in any way….that’s a sign…you’re getting Americanized Mexican.  They’ve added sour cream.   There are “only” six ingredients that go into prime guacamole: avocado, cilantro, lime, onion, tomatoes, and salt.  And, maybe…maybe a jalapeno or two.  But that’s it.  Well…we were off to a good start because the guacamole was “off the chain”.

My mother ordered the Chicken a L’Suya (2 corn tortillas filled with chicken in green mole sauce); I ordered the Guaca Tacos (3 corn tortillas tacos deep fried and filled with fresh avocado).  They were both served up with refried beans and rice.  We also decided to order up the De Bandera Moreno (5 rolled tacos with shredded beef) as an appetizer.  This was a must try since I love me some rolled tacos.

As the food arrived I realized that I had made a mistake and accidentally had ordered the avocado stuffed tacos by mistake. Enter destiny.  I decided to eat them anyway.  Wow…what a pleasant surprise a mistake can make. They were delicious. In fact everything was delicious.  I had to succumb and admit that Cesar Gonzalez had not embellished his product on TV.   And, those rolled tacos  were simply the best that I have ever had. Ever!

This was the first introduction to what became an 2 week love affair for the remainder of my stay in San Diego. I felt as if I was caught in a hot romance with a Latin lover that I just had to see every day… and I did.  Seriously…I have the extra pounds to prove it.

When you visit Mama Testa you will enjoy authentic, traditional Mexican food.

If you’re ever in San Diego…get your butt up to Hillcrest and Put Some Mexican In You.

Guaca Tacos - Before

Guaca Tacos - After

Mama Testa Taqueria,

1417a University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103

619-298-TACO

www.mamatestataqueria.com

Best of Europe Cities Cruise

Cruise Line:  Royal Caribbean

Ship:  Voyager of the Seas

Dates: May 13, 2009 – May 24, 2009

Ratings:

After 4 wonderful days in London, our group embarked in Southampton for an 11 night, Best of Europe Cities cruise with RC.  This was our 2nd cruise with RC.  We were so happy with our 1st experience (11 night Southern Caribbean cruise on Empress of the Seas) with RC in December 2007, that we had to do another cruise, and this time my mother and her friend joined us.  I was somewhat disappointed with this cruise and could tell in the 1.5 years since my last cruise that the quality of the food has plummeted.  It was bland, and tasteless.  The same food that is served in the Windjammer, was served in the dining room, was served for room service.  The steak was tough (how hard is it to grill a steak medium well?).  When I asked for the steak to be cooked medium…it came out medium well, and was still tough and dry.  The Windjammer is now offering what appears to be less options.  Also, while in port, at times, there wasn’t anywhere to get any food except through room service, and their menu is sparse to say the least, and what you get is not that great. But, the interesting thing was, you could get a drink around the clock.  No food, but I can buy alcohol; such BS!!   It’s obvious we were HIGHLY disappointed in the food.  I kept telling my mom and her friend how much different it was on our last cruise (almost apologetically).

In the Dining Room, our waiter and the assistant waiter (Eduardo and Andres) were nice, friendly, and provided excellent service.  However, our head waiter, she came to our table only twice during an 11 day cruise!!  And, the 1st time wasn’t until the 3rd night.  On our last cruise we saw our head waiter every single evening we ate in the Dining Room.  Needless to say…we didn’t tip her.  In fact, we took what we would have tipped her, and added in to the tip we gave the Waiter and assistant waiter.  I rate the food, during dinner, in the dining room 3.75 stars.  Max!!  The only real vegetarian options (my husband is vegetarian) they had was always Indian food; as if the Indians have cornered the market on Vegetarian Food.  As I mentioned before…the quality of the food, and the selection has plummeted since my last cruise with RC.

I didn’t see any of the shows, even though I heard the Ice Show was excellent.

I did hear complaints about the pool being closed and repair work going on while people were trying to lay out.  The running track was being repainted, so you had limited access to that.  All things that were being done on our dime/time.  I think this is unacceptable.  Don’t use the pool as a selling point (which they do) if it’s not available for use!!

Our favorite bartender (Christian Ferrari) was in the Aquarium Bar.  He seemed to be the only bartender on the ship who knew how to consistently make a good Grey Goose Cosmopolitan.  LOL.  Oh Yea…there was a bartender in the Schooner bar who wasn’t bad as well.  But, the others, it was hit and miss.  Even with my Fav bartender being in the Aquarium Bar…the best place on ship is the High Note bar on deck 14.

We ate at Portofino’s one night.  The food was good, and the service was impeccable.  I would highly recommend spending the extra money for this experience.

Oh Yea!!  I did use the Spa and got a $65 pedicure!!!!!  $65 for a freakin’ pedicure!!!  But, you know what?  It was one of the best pedicures I’ve had in a long time, that girl worked my feet over, and afterwards I felt it was totally worth it.

The ports on this cruise were wonderful (the main reason we chose this cruise).  We stopped in Vigo, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Gibraltar, UK; Cagliari, Sardinia; Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy; Livorno (Pisa/Florence), Italy; Villefranche, France.  Both Vigo and Cagliari were a welcome surprise, as was Gibraltar.  I HIGHLY recommend NOT using the ships cruise tour in Rome and Florence, and going with a company called Limo in Rome (limoinrome.com).  We used this company in both ports and we were extremely pleased with the personalized service and the experience.  These tours are private (meaning just your group is on it), the small vans they use are roomy and get you right up to the sights you want to see, without having to walk great distances, and you’re on your time (you see what you want, for the time you have).  Our driver in Livorno even arranged for a private tour of a vineyard in Chianti.  In both Rome and Florence we were taken to restaurants that were both reasonably priced, and were where the locals ate.  We LOVED it!!  And, the best part of all of this (as if it could have gotten any better) was that it is actually cheaper than what the ship charges for the similar tour, and with the ship excursion, you’re on a big tour bus, which has limited access on the small narrow streets you find in Rome and Florence, with a bunch of other people.  Compare $345 per person for the ships excursion to the 500 Euro for all 4 of us on our private tour. It’s a guarantee ours was a better bargain and a better experience.

While Rome, our drive through the Tuscan countryside (via our private vineyard tour) on our way to Florence, and Florence, were the highlight of our trip; I wouldn’t do this trip justice if I didn’t mention Cannes!!  We LOVED it!!   During our stop in Villafranche, we rented a car and drove to Cannes.  Why?  Because the 62nd Annual Cannes Film Festival was in full swing.  The energy was palpable, and, the drive along the French Riviera was awesome.  It was easy to rent the car;  109 Euro (with tax, insurance, etc. included) and we were on our way.  On our way to Cannes we stopped and strolled along the beach in Nice, oogled yachts that screamed “I’m a weathly _____ (fill in whatever you like)”, and enjoyed views of the Mediterranean that were just breath taking.

My overall rating for this cruise 4.5 stars.  The ports of call receive 5 out of 5 stars and the food 3.5 stars.  Royal Caribbean really should do something about the food.  Seriously!!!  It was tasteless and cheap.  If you’re a fast food eater (and I’m not)…you may enjoy it…but, if you have any idea what quality taste like…you WILL be disappointed.

We enjoy the cruise experience.  But, now, RC has given me compelling reasons to try another cruise line.  Next time…maybe Princess Cruises?