Starr Trek

Travel, food, culture info, stories, reviews

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Day Tripping in Paris

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Barge in Burgundy: French cuisine, wine, scenery and history

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Barge in Burgundy: French cuisine, wine, scenery and history

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Safari Special Memories: Elephants

A three and a half week eight country Abercrombie and Kent luxury African trip and safari was my first “trip of a lifetime” in 2008. The highlights, for me, were the animal safaris and local tribes or organized groups who performed songs and dances in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mali (including Timbuktu), and Morocco. I had previously been to Kenya and Tunisia, so this…

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Orient Express: Annual Istanbul to Paris

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Photo Memories of San Francisco

Photo Memories of San Francisco

Golden Gate Bridge: painted annually Riding the historic Powell-Hyde cable car (trolley), Alcatraz in background, San Francisco, CA Went to Carmen in San Francisco opera the day after Thanksgiving with my sons: had an opera box. (I hate shopping so avoided this huge shopping day.) Delicious garlic crab from Crustracean Vietnamese restaurant #sanfrancisco #sanfranciscoopera #Goldengatebridge…

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Lazing Leopard

Due to the inability to travel currently, I will post some photos and memories of some of my prior travels. Leopard relaxing in Tanzania. Local author of a book on leopards told us you can spot leopards by their legs hanging from tree branches, when they otherwise are camouflaged by the tree. (This photo is not mine.) #leopards #tanzania #africantravel #abercrombieandfitch

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Thanksgiving Reminisces

Not long after I moved to Spain six years ago, a Norwegian friend expressed interest in trying an American Thanksgiving. I was happy to do it, and invited a group of friends, not anticipating some of the challenges to come. While this year does not allow for Thanksgiving and other holiday get-togethers, I am reminiscing and laughing about a couple of past Thanksgiving celebrations.

It took…

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THE BEST SECRET VENICE OSTERIA The handsome, perspiring gondolier cheerfully explained the day’s primi (appetizer) and secondi (main course) before taking our order.

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My Experience with Insidious Misogyny and its Relationship to Current Politics

My Experience with Insidious Misogyny and its Relationship to Current Politics

I have reflecting on and been disappointed by Trump’s misogynistic attitudes towards females, especially women and other people of color, and also in his cohorts i.e., complicit cronies, (sorry can’t pass up and obvious opportunity for alliteration.) And I realized I have experienced similar treatment in my professional, which resulted in my eventually resigning and moving to Spain. (Photos are a…

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BLACK IN BELIZE

Beach on Ambergris Caye Credit: Wikipedia

“I am a strong black woman,” declared Vanessa, as I will call her lest someone in her hometown of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, Belize should read this. While I was relaxing on the beach in the warm, tropical sun, a beautiful local woman watched as her two young children played in the ocean. The girl, who I learned was six years old, frolicked joyfully in…

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Yet More International Food Porn

Yet More International Food Porn

Best quiche ever: La Maja, Altea (nice view of Mediterranean Sea)

  Artichoke confit with Spanish jamon serrano: Restaurante Mi Casa, Albir

Beef Pho (Vietnamese soup: Be Katsu, Albir

Burrata Salad: L’Etiquette, Altea

Seafood and avocado arepas (Venezuelan cornmeal used as sandwiches): You Lounge, Albir

  Goat cheese salad with sesame seed croutons: La Maja, Altea

booefpho

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More food porn with international dishes from the Costa Blanca

More food porn with international dishes from the Costa Blanca

These are some of my favorite food finds in the Costa Blanca area of Spain, including a couple of my own:

Jon Dragon Roll: Be Katsu. Albir; and other Vietnamese and Japanese food offerings (which I don’t remember the name of) 

                                      Scallops with leeks: Ma Maison, Altea

Bouillabaisse: Sabor, Altea

Asparagus tortilla: Ceverceria Ca Pepi, Alfaz

  Chopitos (baby…

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5 Year Spanish Residential (Non-Lucrative) Visa

Hooray! I have just successfully completed the requirements for my Spanish residential/non-lucrative visa, which, as a U.S. citizen allows me to live in Spain full-time for the next five years.  This is my fourth renewal visa renewal, although many more trips were required to the various locales needed to fulfill all the necessary requirements.

This current visa renewal is for a period of five…

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Nature and Iconic Buildings In SLO (San Luis Obispo) County

Nature and Iconic Buildings In SLO (San Luis Obispo) County

San Luis Obispo California has been named by Oprah Winfrey as “the happiest place in America.”  New York Times best-selling author and explorer, Dan Buettner, called San Luis Obispo the top spot for the happiest places in the United States in his book Thrive.  San Luis Obispo was also one of ten recommended best places to see by the L.A. Times. I was fortunate to live there for nearly 30 years…

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San Francisco Pictorial

Reminiscing on some of my favorite travel spots. This one is about my last trip to San Francisco, and some of the interesting sights we experienced.

Top of the Mark (Mark Hopkins Hotel with panoramic view of the city) where I enjoyed swing dancing to Stompy Jones

Crazy candy store with gigantic treats and other entertaining items

One of the outdoor food stands, obviously this is the creme brulee…

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More Altea Food Porn (aka Food for those who are offended)

More Altea Food Porn (aka Food for those who are offended)

Best roast lamb ever: Blau Bellagarda, Altea Paella: Racó de Toni, Altea

Shrimp with shredded puff pastry: Fronton Playa, Altea

Paella with lobster: Juan Abril, Altea

Bacalao: El Mercadito, Altea

  Cola de rape (monkfish): La Paraeta, Altea

    Mixed seafood: Calle Segovia, Sevilla

Entremeses (Spanish sausages, ham and manchego cheese): La Paraeta, Altea

Barbecue: Sant Pere festival, Altea

Paell…

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