The Farmers market is seconds away from our place and is held once a fortnight on Sunday. I hardly go because I'm not a morning person and we barely make it on time to church as it is By the time the service is finished, everyone has packed up and left. However this time, I was motivated to find courgette flowers. Although I was out of luck this time, a farmer has promised me to bring along a bunch of courgette flowers the next time they're in town. I hope she keeps her promise.
Childrenswear Sale
Monday, 28 June 2010
One of my favorite children's clothing online shop, Squibbly Biskit is having a sale. I hardly ever purchase L's clothes at full retail price so I tend to stock up whenever the opportunity arises. I'm a huge fan of Petit Bateau as I find their clothes very reasonably priced (during sales) and their clothes do not shrink when I tumble dry them. Here are my picks from Squibbly Biskit although L may think different (imagine ruffles, frou frou, pink = GHASTLY)
Petit Bateau Pink Short Sleeved dress with pockets Was £36.99 NOW £18.49
Petit Bateau Navy Pink Striped Dress Was £24.95 NOW £12.45
Petit Bateau Summer Dress Was £30 NOW £15
Joules DollyMix Creme Vintage Skirt Was £17 NOW £8.50
Joules Posy Dress Was £27 NOW £13.50
Picnic
It has been a glorious week with the temperature hitting 25 Celsius. Most of my English friends moaned that "it's absolutely boiling" but hey, I'm not complaining after experiencing the coldest winter in a hundred years. So long as it's not tropical heat with 6 legged beasts flying in all directions, I'm happy as Larry.
Since it was such a beautiful day, I decided to have a simple picnic at our local park. We're blessed with numerous beautiful parks, all within walking distance from our place. Needless to say, L was beyond excited. She got to wear her favorite dress. The Sonia Rykiel for H & M was a big hit with her because 1) it's eye blindingly pink 2) It kinda twirls when she spins 3) it has flowers and ruffles. Furthermore, she's allowed junk food. After taking an hour strapping on all her accessories (talk about an overkill), we managed to leave the front door before sunset.
The park is right behind the mayor's house.
The picnic consisted of carrot sticks, nectarine slices, a chelsea bun we picked up from the market and wotsits (in case you don't know what it is, it's JUNK food). Hence, L declaring it was the BEST picnic ever.
The packet she's holding in her hands? That's wotsits
After a romp at the playground, we decided to stroll along the Itchen
Now that she has a year's intake of sodium, I plied her with ice-cream from the nearby ice-cream van.
We walked past a private boys college which is even older than Eton. Only £30K per year plus expenses.
And pretended we were tourists and gawked at Jane Austin's old home (the yellow house)
The next day we went out and have lunch at our favorite cafe. L was enthralled by these wannabe Nawlins (sorry couldn't resist. I mean New Orleans) band. They're pretty good.
She got to wear her other favorite outfit - pettiskirt by Angel's Face.
The photos were taken with the Panasonic LX3 camera.
Since it was such a beautiful day, I decided to have a simple picnic at our local park. We're blessed with numerous beautiful parks, all within walking distance from our place. Needless to say, L was beyond excited. She got to wear her favorite dress. The Sonia Rykiel for H & M was a big hit with her because 1) it's eye blindingly pink 2) It kinda twirls when she spins 3) it has flowers and ruffles. Furthermore, she's allowed junk food. After taking an hour strapping on all her accessories (talk about an overkill), we managed to leave the front door before sunset.
The park is right behind the mayor's house.
The picnic consisted of carrot sticks, nectarine slices, a chelsea bun we picked up from the market and wotsits (in case you don't know what it is, it's JUNK food). Hence, L declaring it was the BEST picnic ever.
The packet she's holding in her hands? That's wotsits
After a romp at the playground, we decided to stroll along the Itchen
Now that she has a year's intake of sodium, I plied her with ice-cream from the nearby ice-cream van.
We walked past a private boys college which is even older than Eton. Only £30K per year plus expenses.
And pretended we were tourists and gawked at Jane Austin's old home (the yellow house)
The next day we went out and have lunch at our favorite cafe. L was enthralled by these wannabe Nawlins (sorry couldn't resist. I mean New Orleans) band. They're pretty good.
She got to wear her other favorite outfit - pettiskirt by Angel's Face.
The photos were taken with the Panasonic LX3 camera.
Soldiers
Friday, 25 June 2010
A sizeable number of locals lined the sides of the High St in town today to welcome back the troops from Afghanistan. Some of the children including the Principal of our local school came along. I was kicking myself for not bringing along my camera.
I couldn't help feeling a little choked up seeing the British soldiers marching down the street. The troops were made out of men and women of various ethnicity and many are so young. Although I'm not a British citizen, I feel so proud of these courageous individuals who are willing to put their life on the line leaving their loved ones at home, with little pay to protect the country I'm living in. So those of you who are in the army/navy/military, my heartfelt gratitude for your bravery and sacrifice.
On a lighter note, unbeknowst to me, while I was grappling with L, the buttons on my shirtdress came undone. No wonder the a few of soldiers who marched past were giving me odd stares. Free stripshow!
I couldn't help feeling a little choked up seeing the British soldiers marching down the street. The troops were made out of men and women of various ethnicity and many are so young. Although I'm not a British citizen, I feel so proud of these courageous individuals who are willing to put their life on the line leaving their loved ones at home, with little pay to protect the country I'm living in. So those of you who are in the army/navy/military, my heartfelt gratitude for your bravery and sacrifice.
On a lighter note, unbeknowst to me, while I was grappling with L, the buttons on my shirtdress came undone. No wonder the a few of soldiers who marched past were giving me odd stares. Free stripshow!
In search of a compact camera
Thursday, 24 June 2010
I haven't used a compact camera for well over 10 years now. Whilst it's great having a DSLR so that I can ultimately control the kind of shot I want to take, it can be a pain lugging a heavy camera along with its accessories. Most of the time I ended up leaving my DSLR behind especially when I've got L with me. It also means I have to carry a huge handbag just to fit the camera.
Although, I've read tons of reviews over a period of 3 years, they don't often come with photos. I don't want to know the technical ins and outs of a camera. I don't want to know that the camera is practically a robot and can perform magic tricks. I just want a camera which satisfy these 5 requirements a) take sharp photos b) small enough to fit into a handbag 3 ) comes with a rechargeable battery 4) with option to take RAW files 5) doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Each time I came across a blogger with amazing photos, I'd email to find out the type of camera he/she was using. I narrowed my search down to 3 cameras.
Hubby who now has a burgeoning interest in photography wants a Leica. We searched high and low for a Leica D-Lux 4 for months but it was sold out everywhere. Although I am an avid supporter of Canon, the G11 was far too bulky, which left the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3. The Panasonic DMC LX3 is almost identical to the Leica D-Lux 4 in every sense. Since we've purchased the Panasonic, I've noticed that John Lewis and Amazon are now stocking the Leica compact camera again.
Here are 3 photos I've taken with the Panasonic with a little post-editing on the Photoshop. The quality is impressive for a little camera. I've used Aperture Priority and chose the large JPG file option. Although it's not as sharp as my Canon 17-55mm IS lens but it's just as good as my new Canon 18-200mm IS and far cheaper.
Although, I've read tons of reviews over a period of 3 years, they don't often come with photos. I don't want to know the technical ins and outs of a camera. I don't want to know that the camera is practically a robot and can perform magic tricks. I just want a camera which satisfy these 5 requirements a) take sharp photos b) small enough to fit into a handbag 3 ) comes with a rechargeable battery 4) with option to take RAW files 5) doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Each time I came across a blogger with amazing photos, I'd email to find out the type of camera he/she was using. I narrowed my search down to 3 cameras.
Canon Powershot G11 £399 at Amazon
Leica D-Lux 4 £629 at John Lewis
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 £298.40 at Amazon
Hubby who now has a burgeoning interest in photography wants a Leica. We searched high and low for a Leica D-Lux 4 for months but it was sold out everywhere. Although I am an avid supporter of Canon, the G11 was far too bulky, which left the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3. The Panasonic DMC LX3 is almost identical to the Leica D-Lux 4 in every sense. Since we've purchased the Panasonic, I've noticed that John Lewis and Amazon are now stocking the Leica compact camera again.
Here are 3 photos I've taken with the Panasonic with a little post-editing on the Photoshop. The quality is impressive for a little camera. I've used Aperture Priority and chose the large JPG file option. Although it's not as sharp as my Canon 17-55mm IS lens but it's just as good as my new Canon 18-200mm IS and far cheaper.
Bicester Village
Wednesday, 23 June 2010
Steve and I decided to hop on a train to check out the outlet mall at Bicester village last weekend. It was one of those few spontaneous things we've ever done. It's one of his favorite haunts and since it was Father's Day the next day, heck, why not indulge the poor guy. There are many brands, both high end and High St represented there such as Tod's, Dior, Marni, Joseph (which stocks Prada, Giuseppe Zanotti, Zac Posen), Temperley, Jimmy Choo, Petit Bateau, Bonpoint, DvF, Dunhill, Burberry, Zegna, Ferragamo etc.
Hubby managed to stock up on his favorite Dunhill jeans which was reduced to £30 from £120. Much as I love fashion, I hate shopping for anything more than 2 hours. I have the attention span of a 2 year old which is why I love living in the UK. Online shopping! However, I'm like a woman possessed if I'm in the presence of childrenswear or shoes.
My brother called and asked if I could help get his two kids clothes. Children's clothing and footwear are ridiculously priced in New Zealand. The monstrous Baby Factory and Pumpkin Patch literally dominate the market with clothes that fall apart after a few washes and aren't all that cheap either. Oops, and Steve bought Pumpkin Patch shares a few years back so I guess I should wax lyrical about the brand. I went a little crazy in Petit Bateau which had 50% off everything in the store and grabbed every cute dress or cardigan for my little niece. I stocked up a few pieces for L as well. I adore Bonpoint but my practical other self can't see the sense in plonking down hard earned cash for childrenswear that they'll outgrow in 6 months to a year. Ah, the French are so good at making beautiful clothes. I managed to get a much needed polka dot smock top from Bonpoint for myself which was heavily reduced to £29 and a jersey scarf for L (she can't stand woolen scarves).
I felt despondent just looking at racks of beautiful shoes and none in my size. Ever. Instead of getting a Father's Day present for Steve, he bought me a gift. These Tod's sandals came handy when the strap on my Zanotti broke on our way home. There was another 20% reduction on top of the discounted outlet price.
Hubby managed to stock up on his favorite Dunhill jeans which was reduced to £30 from £120. Much as I love fashion, I hate shopping for anything more than 2 hours. I have the attention span of a 2 year old which is why I love living in the UK. Online shopping! However, I'm like a woman possessed if I'm in the presence of childrenswear or shoes.
My brother called and asked if I could help get his two kids clothes. Children's clothing and footwear are ridiculously priced in New Zealand. The monstrous Baby Factory and Pumpkin Patch literally dominate the market with clothes that fall apart after a few washes and aren't all that cheap either. Oops, and Steve bought Pumpkin Patch shares a few years back so I guess I should wax lyrical about the brand. I went a little crazy in Petit Bateau which had 50% off everything in the store and grabbed every cute dress or cardigan for my little niece. I stocked up a few pieces for L as well. I adore Bonpoint but my practical other self can't see the sense in plonking down hard earned cash for childrenswear that they'll outgrow in 6 months to a year. Ah, the French are so good at making beautiful clothes. I managed to get a much needed polka dot smock top from Bonpoint for myself which was heavily reduced to £29 and a jersey scarf for L (she can't stand woolen scarves).
I felt despondent just looking at racks of beautiful shoes and none in my size. Ever. Instead of getting a Father's Day present for Steve, he bought me a gift. These Tod's sandals came handy when the strap on my Zanotti broke on our way home. There was another 20% reduction on top of the discounted outlet price.
What I love about Waitrose
Tuesday, 22 June 2010
For those who live in the UK, you'll know that Waitrose is the Rolls Royce of all supermarkets. They have the most amazing selection of food and fresh produce. No, this is not a paid advert. Just an extremely happy customer because they've exceeded my expectations again and again.
1. Exceptional customer service
On the rare occasion where they've made mistakes, they bent over backwards to make amends. In the event where I was the culprit, THEY bent over backwards to please ME. Here are two amongst many other examples. I didn't know about the drop down box changing the kgs to each so I chose a 3 kg corn fed free range chicken and wrote that I wanted two chickens weighing 1.5kgs each on the little side note. The next day, the driver turned up with one HUGE chicken and when I grumbled, he apologized profusely and arranged for another chicken to be delivered. That evening, Waitrose came knocking again carrying an organic free range chicken (these suckers cost a lot), apologized for overlooking my note and told me it would be free of charge.
Last week, I received 3 vouchers in the post. One voucher for each shopping with incremental discounts. To cut a long story short, I couldn't use them. I called and voila, 3 new voucher codes totaling £30. In addition to getting £30 of free groceries, the driver (a different man each time but ever so courteous and gracious) gave me a bag of shopping on the house. In it was a tray of prawns (L's favorite food), manchego cheese, prosciutto, baguettes, a jar of japalenos (Steve will be so happy), lemon, garlic and a jar of roasted pepper to make Delia Smith's recipe of the week dish. That was more than £15 worth of grocery in that bag. I was informed that next week, I'll be getting a bag of ingredients to make a strawberry pavlova. I can't wait.
2. Free delivery
Some supermarkets are charging up to £5.99 for delivery so I'm grateful that Waitrose is offering the service for free.
3. The freshest and best meat section
A friend of a friend who's a butcher will only buy meat from Waitrose and Marks and Spencer. I read in a newspaper article not too long ago that Waitrose looks after their farmers which means investing in them as well as paying fair prices. As a result, the farmers give them their best selection. I can believe this after spending a lot of time going up and down their meat aisle as well as the other supermarkets'. A lot of farmers inject hormones into their stock and feed them pellets with artificial and/or GM modified ingredients. I'm sorry but I'd rather not feed my family chemicals.
4. Competitiveness
I love that they're now pricing their goods competitively. In fact, another newspaper article I read a few weeks back compared prices between supermarkets and found that Waitrose is priced on par with the likes of Sainsbury's or Tesco.
1. Exceptional customer service
On the rare occasion where they've made mistakes, they bent over backwards to make amends. In the event where I was the culprit, THEY bent over backwards to please ME. Here are two amongst many other examples. I didn't know about the drop down box changing the kgs to each so I chose a 3 kg corn fed free range chicken and wrote that I wanted two chickens weighing 1.5kgs each on the little side note. The next day, the driver turned up with one HUGE chicken and when I grumbled, he apologized profusely and arranged for another chicken to be delivered. That evening, Waitrose came knocking again carrying an organic free range chicken (these suckers cost a lot), apologized for overlooking my note and told me it would be free of charge.
Last week, I received 3 vouchers in the post. One voucher for each shopping with incremental discounts. To cut a long story short, I couldn't use them. I called and voila, 3 new voucher codes totaling £30. In addition to getting £30 of free groceries, the driver (a different man each time but ever so courteous and gracious) gave me a bag of shopping on the house. In it was a tray of prawns (L's favorite food), manchego cheese, prosciutto, baguettes, a jar of japalenos (Steve will be so happy), lemon, garlic and a jar of roasted pepper to make Delia Smith's recipe of the week dish. That was more than £15 worth of grocery in that bag. I was informed that next week, I'll be getting a bag of ingredients to make a strawberry pavlova. I can't wait.
2. Free delivery
Some supermarkets are charging up to £5.99 for delivery so I'm grateful that Waitrose is offering the service for free.
3. The freshest and best meat section
A friend of a friend who's a butcher will only buy meat from Waitrose and Marks and Spencer. I read in a newspaper article not too long ago that Waitrose looks after their farmers which means investing in them as well as paying fair prices. As a result, the farmers give them their best selection. I can believe this after spending a lot of time going up and down their meat aisle as well as the other supermarkets'. A lot of farmers inject hormones into their stock and feed them pellets with artificial and/or GM modified ingredients. I'm sorry but I'd rather not feed my family chemicals.
4. Competitiveness
I love that they're now pricing their goods competitively. In fact, another newspaper article I read a few weeks back compared prices between supermarkets and found that Waitrose is priced on par with the likes of Sainsbury's or Tesco.
Little Coconut and Raspberry Cakes
Monday, 21 June 2010
Ever since I was officially diagnosed with having high blood pressure and asthma at 35 (which a pharmacist never fail to remind me whenever I pick up my prescription that I'm too young to be on medication for life) I've decided to change my diet. I cut out all processed food. Has anyone ever notice the long list of ingredients which read like chemicals used in a science experiment?
I'm constantly on a quest to find simple recipes that do not require me slaving in the kitchen for hours. I prefer lighter meals during the summer months. Instead of instant ramen noodles, make a batch of pesto and boil your preferred pasta shape. As for a side dish, slice some fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, rocket leaves and avocado and drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar and you've got yourself a meal under 10 minutes. For pesto, simply blitz a combination of basil leaves, pinenuts, grated parmigiano reggiano, garlic, a glug of extra virgin olive oil with a sprinkling of sea salt and freshly ground pepper. The paste will keep for days in the fridge. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
Jo Pratt's Little Coconut and Raspberry Cakes
Anyhow, I found this recipe from Jo Pratt's book "In the Mood for Food" for coconut and raspberry cupcakes which take minutes to make and they taste absolutely divine. Throw everything in and mix and voila, you've got yourself some yummy cakes for afternoon tea. I've made some changes to the recipe. The sugar content is way too high so I've reduced it to 175 gram instead of 275 gram. I've made them with blueberries and they're just as yummy.
Makes 12. Takes approximately 15 minutes to bake.
Ingredients:
125g unsalted butter, melted
25g ground almond
75g desiccated coconut
275g icing sugar, sifted (I only used 175g)
75g plain flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
5 large egg whites
100g raspberries
1. Preheat the oven to 180 C/fan 160 C/gas 4.
2. Line a muffin tin with 12 paper muffin cases.
3. This couldn't be easier. Simply mix together everything, apart from the raspberries, until smooth. Spoon into the paper cases and divide the raspberries among the cakes, pressing them lightly on to the surface.
4. Bake for 15 minutes, until the cakes are golden and just springy to touch in the middle.
5. Remove from the oven and cool slightly before removing from the tin. Serve warm or cold. The cakes will keep in an airtight container for a few days and still remain really moist and yummy.
I'm constantly on a quest to find simple recipes that do not require me slaving in the kitchen for hours. I prefer lighter meals during the summer months. Instead of instant ramen noodles, make a batch of pesto and boil your preferred pasta shape. As for a side dish, slice some fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, rocket leaves and avocado and drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar and you've got yourself a meal under 10 minutes. For pesto, simply blitz a combination of basil leaves, pinenuts, grated parmigiano reggiano, garlic, a glug of extra virgin olive oil with a sprinkling of sea salt and freshly ground pepper. The paste will keep for days in the fridge. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
Jo Pratt's Little Coconut and Raspberry Cakes
Anyhow, I found this recipe from Jo Pratt's book "In the Mood for Food" for coconut and raspberry cupcakes which take minutes to make and they taste absolutely divine. Throw everything in and mix and voila, you've got yourself some yummy cakes for afternoon tea. I've made some changes to the recipe. The sugar content is way too high so I've reduced it to 175 gram instead of 275 gram. I've made them with blueberries and they're just as yummy.
Makes 12. Takes approximately 15 minutes to bake.
Ingredients:
125g unsalted butter, melted
25g ground almond
75g desiccated coconut
275g icing sugar, sifted (I only used 175g)
75g plain flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
5 large egg whites
100g raspberries
1. Preheat the oven to 180 C/fan 160 C/gas 4.
2. Line a muffin tin with 12 paper muffin cases.
3. This couldn't be easier. Simply mix together everything, apart from the raspberries, until smooth. Spoon into the paper cases and divide the raspberries among the cakes, pressing them lightly on to the surface.
4. Bake for 15 minutes, until the cakes are golden and just springy to touch in the middle.
5. Remove from the oven and cool slightly before removing from the tin. Serve warm or cold. The cakes will keep in an airtight container for a few days and still remain really moist and yummy.
Korres Citronella & Tea Tree Oil Anti-Mosquito Rescue Patches
Friday, 18 June 2010
Little L is deathly afraid of mosquitoes with good reason. On our previous 2 visits to Borneo, she was a live bait for the local mosquitoes. With no immunity to mozzie bites, her allergic reaction was severe. After numerous visits to pediatricians as well as bottles of medication to bring the swelling down, the sight of a mosquito will cause L to go into a mini hysteria. My cousin bought a natural and organic insect repellent cream for her but unfortunately, it ran out while we were in Crete.
I came across these Korres Tea Tree Oil & Citronella Anti-Mosquito Rescue Patches by accident at a pharmacy in Chania, Crete and they were a godsend. I'm now utterly convinced this is by far, one of the best natural products on the market and believe me when I said I've tried many. The problem with cream is it tends to get greasy and slimy with sweat. My other issue is layering an insect repellent with a high factor sunscreen. Yuck. As for these patches, just stick a couple (I stuck 5 on L as I wasn't taking any chances) on your body or clothes. Neither she nor I were bitten by any sandflies or mosquitoes unlike Steve who didn't care for these and was beaten all over. They release a rather pleasant scent, well to us humans anyway. It comes in a pack of 24 and cost 5.50€ but in the UK, it's a little more. Perfect for little kids as the repellent lasts for up to 8 hours.
Available at Korres.com or bathandunwind.com £6.50
Hermes Sale in London
For those of you who love Hermes, their sale (as advised on Fashion Confidential) starts tomorrow June 18. Address: Music Room 26 South Molton Lane, London. Tube: Bond St. In the past, only Ready to Wear, Shoes, Hats and Homeware were included in the sale at 40-60% off. I don't think it'll be any different this year.
Chania
Thursday, 17 June 2010
We rented an apartment a 5 minute bus ride away from the town centre. Based on the glowing reviews on Tripadvisor, I figured I couldn't go wrong with Lefka Apartments. The lovely Evita and her manager, Anna were so warm and welcoming. The studio was spotless, beautifully decorated and well furnished.
Since neither Steve nor I are sun-bathers (to the bemusement of the owners and fellow travelers), we visited the town everyday. I liken sunbathing to being slowly roasted alive in a wood-fired oven. A close friend of mine knows me well. Whenever we went out to a cafe, she would sit in the sun and ensure that there was a well shaded spot for me or else I would metamorphosed into a whiny brat. Her favorite nickname for me? Vampire. Yes, Penny, I'm talking about you.
In hindsight, we should've stayed in town. I couldn't resist the fish market and produce store. It was a lifetime ago when I saw fish and produce so fresh. The fish literally came from the sea and went straight to the fishmongers. The honeydew melons were sweet, juicy and tasted of honey.
My favorite fruit and veggie shop. When I'm traveling, there's nothing that made me more excited than checking out the food markets, supermarkets and restaurants. I spent 6€ each time and I staggered out of the shop with bags and bags of produce.
Our diet in Chania consisted of fish, vegetables and fruit.
I have this aversion for oranges. I can't bear the smell nor taste of them but I don't have a problem drinking orange juice. I can't stand the sight of peels nor seeds. I guess that came from the days when my relatives happily told me that if I swallowed a seed, they'll grow right out of my mouth. Argh. However, these Cretan oranges blew me away. Anyway, I couldn't believe the sight of these GIANT mandarins. They were unbelievably sweet and juicy. I must've eaten at least 15 kgs of these suckers when I was in Crete.
From this, to this
L and Steve inhaled these tiny fish faster than I could fry them up. They were lightly coated with seasoned flour and deep fried in olive oil and served with lemon wedges.
Incredibly fresh fish! We bought 10€ worth of baby octopus and fish and it took us 3 days to finish everything. Bear in mind, I have two BIG eaters.
I loved wandering aimlessly through the narrow streets behind the old harbor. I adore the Venetian architecture with a hint of Turkish influence.
Aga Tzami, a former Turkish mosque on Daliani St
Ahhhh....memories. My grandmother had one of these and I darn near sew part of my hand onto a piece of cloth when I stepped on the pedal.
Street style photography in the style of Garance Dore and Scott Schuman of the Sartorialist. Just kidding.
Mosque of Kioutsouk Hassan, built in 1645 is the oldest Ottoman building in Crete
Since neither Steve nor I are sun-bathers (to the bemusement of the owners and fellow travelers), we visited the town everyday. I liken sunbathing to being slowly roasted alive in a wood-fired oven. A close friend of mine knows me well. Whenever we went out to a cafe, she would sit in the sun and ensure that there was a well shaded spot for me or else I would metamorphosed into a whiny brat. Her favorite nickname for me? Vampire. Yes, Penny, I'm talking about you.
In hindsight, we should've stayed in town. I couldn't resist the fish market and produce store. It was a lifetime ago when I saw fish and produce so fresh. The fish literally came from the sea and went straight to the fishmongers. The honeydew melons were sweet, juicy and tasted of honey.
My favorite fruit and veggie shop. When I'm traveling, there's nothing that made me more excited than checking out the food markets, supermarkets and restaurants. I spent 6€ each time and I staggered out of the shop with bags and bags of produce.
Our diet in Chania consisted of fish, vegetables and fruit.
I have this aversion for oranges. I can't bear the smell nor taste of them but I don't have a problem drinking orange juice. I can't stand the sight of peels nor seeds. I guess that came from the days when my relatives happily told me that if I swallowed a seed, they'll grow right out of my mouth. Argh. However, these Cretan oranges blew me away. Anyway, I couldn't believe the sight of these GIANT mandarins. They were unbelievably sweet and juicy. I must've eaten at least 15 kgs of these suckers when I was in Crete.
From this, to this
L and Steve inhaled these tiny fish faster than I could fry them up. They were lightly coated with seasoned flour and deep fried in olive oil and served with lemon wedges.
Incredibly fresh fish! We bought 10€ worth of baby octopus and fish and it took us 3 days to finish everything. Bear in mind, I have two BIG eaters.
I loved wandering aimlessly through the narrow streets behind the old harbor. I adore the Venetian architecture with a hint of Turkish influence.
Aga Tzami, a former Turkish mosque on Daliani St
Ahhhh....memories. My grandmother had one of these and I darn near sew part of my hand onto a piece of cloth when I stepped on the pedal.
Street style photography in the style of Garance Dore and Scott Schuman of the Sartorialist. Just kidding.
Mosque of Kioutsouk Hassan, built in 1645 is the oldest Ottoman building in Crete
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