Lucia, the Best Italian Restaurant in Dallas, Texas

Lucia, located in the eclectic Bishop Arts District of Dallas, serves rustic Italian fare. Everything, from the cured meats to the pasta and bread, is made in-house, and everything, on every visit, has truly been a delight.

Our most recent visit began with prossecco and olives.  This was followed by a  shared antipasti of the day’s Salumi misti–on this visit, Chef David Uygur’s selection of house-cured meats included a tasting of Red wine/juniper salame & soppressata, Sujuk, Red Wattle pork terrine, Lonza, creamy Chicken liver mousse, and Lardo.  The tastes and textures were so amazing!

 

My Primi plate was the light, pillowy potato gnocchi with arugula and pistachio pesto–creamy goodness, that all went together so well.

My Secondi plate was very tasty lamb sirloin with a potato and onion tart, arugula, radishes and colatura–a hearty dish that would satisfy almost anyone.

The house bread is one of the most delicious I have ever eaten.  And our accompanying wine, suggested by our waiter, complemented our meals perfectly.

Unable to pass on Dolci, we shared a cannoli with ricotta, preserved lemon, turmeric and Comeback Creek strawberries–so delicious!

Lucia is a small place–very intimate.  The entire staff, including Jennifer Uygur, one of the co-owners and the restaurant’s hostess, is so very friendly and helpful.

Don’t miss a chance to visit this awesome restaurant and partake of its unforgettable delicacies–truly, the best in Dallas.  You won’t be sorry!

 

 

 

 

Madrid and Nearby Day Trips

Madrid is the capital city of Spain.   On a guided city tour, you will want to see the Plaza de Toro, Royal Casa de la Panadaria, Accademia de Belles Artes, Puerta del Sol, Plaza de Espana with its monument to Cervantes, Parliament, Cibeles Fountain, the Palace, the Royal Farmacy, the Royal Armoury, and the Cathedral de la Almudena.

Take time to visit the famed (and extremely crowded) Prado Museum, probably the greatest gallery of classical paintings in the world—you will see the works of well known masters like Goya, El Greco, Velazquez, and Rembrandt, among others.  My favorite art museum is just up the street, the Thyssen-Bornemisza.  A former private collection, the museum displays art from the 13th – 20th centuries.

Mercado de San Miguel, located in Plaza San Miguel, is a great place to sample local foods and beverages.  Here you will find delicacies such as pejota (the best ham), 80 cheeses, including tasty manchego, and 262 varieties of olives!

Spain has some delicious foods and wines.  At Museo del Jamon, you will have leaf thin slices of air cured ham.  Located in old town around Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor; from Puerta del Sol, walk east on San Jeronimo to the corner of Calle Victoria.  Jabugo & Tervel is the most prized and most expensive–eat it with queso manchego–cheese from la Mancha.    Afterwards, walk up Victoria; at the end of the block, turn left, then immediately right onto Nunez de Arce.  On the left is La Casa del Abuelo–concentrate on shellfish and cephalopods, displayed raw and cooked to order–just point at what you want.  This is also a good place to try the national favorite, patatas bravas, roast potato cubes in piquant tomato sauce–pretty yummy!  La Trucha is across the street from La Casa del Abuelo; here, the stars are several types of smoked fish and roe on toast squares, called verbenas, or frito bariado (or variado), airily fried fish.  Turn right out of La Trucha and continue to Plaza de Santa Ana, then turn left.  Along the opposite sides of the busy square are several bars; Vina P has good mussels au gratin.  La Venencia, on Calle Echegaray, near the Plaza de Santa Ana, is a dark, quiet sherry bar; try a before dinner drink, such as amontillado, manzanilla, fino or oloroso–all Spanish jirez, or sherry.  And don’t miss a visit to San Gines, perhaps Spain’s most famous chocolateria; it has been serving delightful hot chocolate and churros since 1894 and is open all night; you can find it down a narrow pedestrian passage near Plaza Mayor.

El Retiro Park is a beautiful, pleasant place to walk or just hang out.  Taberna Laredo, on Calle Menorca, in the Retiro area, is a favorite tapas bar–nothing fancy, just great food.

And be sure to take in a flamenco show while you are in town.

 

Toledo is an easy day trip from Madrid.  It is the ancient Castilian capital and is spectacularly situated on a granite hill surrounded by a loop of the Tagus River.  With its soaring tower and marvelous Gothic architecture, Toledo’s fabulously rich cathedral, built in the 13th century, is one of the most important Christian landmarks in Spain.  The Church of Saint Thomas, with one of El Greco’s most famous paintings, and an early synagogue are well worth visiting.

The only remaining part of the Moorish town walls is the 9th century entrance gate and bridge.

Another interesting daytripping destination is Segovia, a picturesque old city with twisting alleyways and the highest concentration of Romanesque churches in all of Europe.  This noble Castilian city, enclosed by ramparts which stand atop a triangular rock, is bordered by a medieval wall and two rivers.

The Roman aqueduct, probably built in AD 50, is remarkably well preserved.  It is the foremost symbol of Segovia.  This aqueduct has been used almost without interruption from Roman times to now.

The beautiful Alcazar is said to be Walt Disney’s inspiration for Cinderella’s castle.

Nearby, Avila is known as the city of stones and the city of saints, the most famous of which is Saint Teresa.

Avila stands within magnificently preserved 12th century walls.  It is Spain’s highest provincial capital, situated on the plateau of Meseta.

Aranjuez appears like an oasis in the center of the harsh Castilian plain, particularly if you approach it from the south.  The Palacio Real warrants a visit.

 

The Three Hills of Granada

Granada was a Moorish kingdom in Spain from the 700s until 1492.  Granada sits on 3 hills. The pink-gold Alhambra Palace is perched atop one of the hills.

The Nasrid Palaces at the Alhambra are really beautiful.

The Albaicin, or Arabic Quarter, sits on another hill.  It is steep and cobblestoned.

 In the 1400s, it was the wealthiest and most densely populated area of Granada, boasting 30 mosques.  1980 – 1990 saw the largest increase in converts to Islam since the 1492 Catholic Reconquest, and a new mosque was opened in 2004.

 This area of the city is characterized by carmenes, typical Arab houses with enclosed gardens and containing fruit trees and fountains.

Try one of the Moroccan restaurants along the narrow streets of the Albaicin, such as Arrayanes — lavish Arabian decor with delicately spiced tagines, a stew served with couscous.  Or try bastela–golden pastry pie stuffed with shredded chicken, ground almonds and spices.  No alcohol is served but house made lemonade with mint is a refreshing substitute.  For afternoon tea, take a low table at La Teteria del Bunelo, by the Arab baths.

The last hill is Sacromonte, the Cave Quarter.  Gypsies arrived here in the late 15th century.  Marginalized from society, they made their homes outside the old city walls in the hill’s caves.

The Sacromonte Interpretative Center recreates cave life and offers some cultural performances.

Currently, 80% of the inhabitants still live in caves but homes can be, surprisingly, luxurious.  Las Cuevas El Abanico is a cave hotel, of sorts.

The majority of flamenco stars are Gypsies, so the area has capitalized on it.  For the real thing, join the locals at the smoky Eshavira Club, just off Calle Azacayas, or watch the informal flamenco jams — known as flipping –at Bar Los Faroles; there are also informal shows  at La Pena Plateria on Plaza de Toqueros.

If you are an adventurous diner, try Tortilla Sacromonte — an omelette with brains and sweetbreads!

Granada is, arguably, the single most worthwhile city in Spain for visitors.  Don’t miss it!

Cordoba, Spain

During the 10th century, Cordoba was the greatest capital city in Europe, surpassing Paris & Rome in its academic, architectural and artistic achievements.

The Roman Bridge of Cordoba, in the historic center of the city, was originally built in the early 1st Century BC.  Later, a Moorish bridge was built on the foundations of the Roman bridge.  It is a 16 arched bridge that spans the Guadalquivir River.

There are three major faiths represented in Cordoba.

La Mezquita, the UNESCO-listed mosque, is one of the most striking monuments of Moorish Spain.  It was built in the 8th century for the Caliphate of Cordoba.  It is an ornate, Moorish style place of Islamic worship with  a hall of 856 columns and awe-inspiring arched red and white pillars.

In 1523, it was converted to a Catholic cathedral; the sanctuary was dropped right into the mosque’s center, while maintaining the basic framework of the Islamic architecture.  It is truly fascinating!

The barrios to the east of the Mezquita contain many houses of bullfighters.

The Juderia–old Jewish Quarter–is a charming labyrinth of narrow, winding streets,

 

quiet squares

 

 

and colorful, flower-adorned windows and patios.

 

The Calleja de las Flores–Alley of Flowers– is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the Quarter.

 

 

The Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos, also known as the Alcazar of Cordoba, is a medieval palace in the historic center of Cordoba.  The fortress served as the primary residence  of Isabella I of Castille and Ferdinand II of Aragon.

Cordoba is a really historic city that is well worth a visit!

Seville

Seville is one of Andalusia’s historic capitals, located about 340 miles southwest of Madrid.  The historic center, anchored by the medieval Barrio de Santa Cruz — the old Jewish quarter — is easily walkable.

The one city landmark that is impossible to miss is the Cathedral, which was started in 1402 on the site of a Moorish mosque.  It grew to be one of the largest Gothic buildings in the world and one of the tallest cathedrals in Spain.

Climb the stone ramps of the cathedral’s Giralda tower, once the former mosque’s minaret.  From the top, you can see out over the lush gardens of the Alcazar Palace and the maze of narrow Santa Cruz streets.

Le Sacre Coeur

 

Paris has so many great sites to see and things to do!  Le Sacre Coeur—or The Sacred Heart–is one of my favorites.  Others agree, for it is the second most visited church behind Notre Dame.

The Basilica of the Sacre Coeur de Montmartre is located on the north side of the city, in Montmartre.

A nearby church was built before the arrival of the Roman Empire.  The current basilica was built in 1872.  People were worried about the conservative government so there was a 4 month uprising–a revolution.  It culminated with The Paris Commune, a very bloody week.  In celebration, a church was built where the fighting began.  Though not as ancient or impressive as Notre Dame, it is beautiful, with mosaics on the ceiling.  It has the largest bell in France, a gift from La Savoie, in the Alps, in 1880.

White towers dominate the lower houses and look down on the River Seine.  From the steps, you have a nice view of the Eiffel Tower and the entire city.

You can either walk the steps up to the basilica or take a funicular, which has 2 million passengers per year.

The area around the basilica is lovely–gardens, hidden stairways, old houses, musicians, flowers and cafes abound, even a vineyard.  Montmartre used to be a small village for impoverished artists; it is pricey now and very well known.  “La Boheme” is about Montmartre.    Picasso and other artists hung out at Le Chat Noir.  The restaurant Le Moulin de la Galette is depicted in many paintings.

A massively touristic attraction in an iconic neighborhood with a terrific view and lots of history, Le Sacre Coeur–the church on the hill–is a must see when you are in Paris!

A Day in Fabulous Las Vegas

Las Vegas is a terrific destination for a day trip.  We flew out early in the morning and returned to Dallas that same evening.  Although we weren’t able to see a show, we walked the length of the Las Vegas Strip on both sides of the street, enjoying sightseeing, shopping, gambling in several of the casinos and had a wonderful lunch.

The Paris Hotel and Casino features the Eiffel Tower Restaurant–looks just like the real monument!

At the Venetian, you can take a gondola ride and see a life-like replica tower of St. Mark’s Campanile in Venice, Italy.

The New York New York Hotel has a full scale replica of the Statue of Liberty, complete with the New York skyline behind it.

The display over the entry to Harrah’s is a sight to behold!

 

Caesars Palace contains a shopping mall known as “The Forum”.  It contains many replicas of Italy’s famous fountains as well as a number of Roman statues imported from Florence, including Julius Caesar, Augustus and Nero.  The ceiling is painted blue with white clouds.  We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill, featuring southwestern cuisine–the chef’s first restaurant outside of New York

 

 

 

Bellagio’s fountain-fronted property is reminiscent of an elegant European resort.  The hotel’s Conservatory and Botanical Gardens switch out its gorgeous flower-filled displays five times per year.  Because we were visiting in December, we saw its exquisite Christmas display.

 

 

 

 

At the southern end of the Strip, you will find the Luxor, named after the city of the same name in Egypt.  One of the hotel’s most distinguishing elements is the replica of the Great Sphinx of Giza, flanked by two pyramids.  This Sphinx is two stories taller than the original.

 

 

The iconic “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign was erected around 1959-60.  The sign is located in the median of Las Vegas Boulevard South–most consider it the official southern end of the Las Vegas Strip (actually sits in the town of Paradise).  Because so many people make the pilgrimage to view the sign, there is a parking lot with free parking at the site. However, it is easy  to reach on foot if you are walking the Strip.  An unofficial line forms for folks to snap pics of themselves with the sign.  Though the line can be quite long, everyone patiently awaits his turn.  There are even a couple of unofficial photographers who will photograph you with your camera, for a fee, if you are shy about asking the person in line next to you to do it.

San Antonio

San Antonio is known as “The Alamo City”.  No first trip to San Antonio is complete without seeing this piece of history.  Remember, though, that the Alamo is one of five missions.  You can drive the Mission Trail Parkway that connects these historic structures, which include Mission Concepcion, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada–or rent bikes to ride the route.  Admission for all five is free.

 

 

 

San Antonio is also known as “The River City”.  Strolling the River Walk (aka Paseo del Rio) is a must do adventure every trip.  The River Walk is a series of walkways along the banks of the San Antonio River, one story beneath the streets of the city.  Lined by bars, shops, restaurants, historic neighborhoods, nature and public art, the River Walk has been described as “The American Venice”, and it’s easy to see why.  If you can conceive of a place where the sights, sounds, and flavors of Native America, Old Mexico and the Wild West blend with the bustle of a modern city, it might look a lot like the San Antonio River Walk.  River boats and river taxis glide along the water, passing colorful umbrellas on patios along the way.  Stop in at Boudro’s or Casa Rio for great dining!

Through the years, the River Walk has been expanded from its original form to include the Museum Reach and the Mission Reach.  The Mission Reach includes biking and paddling trails–bikes and kayaks can be rented.  The Museum Reach features the San Antonio Museum of Art and the renovated Pearl Brewery–stop by the Hotel Emma’s restaurant for tasty snapper throats.

The River Walk was recently connected with another urban walkway, the San Pedro Creek Greenway.

Head up to the street level and visit Paris Hatters.  Although hats will cost you a good bit of money, browsing is free and fun.  Since 1917, this shop has covered the heads of Pope John Paul II, Prince Charles, and B. B. King, among a host of other well known folks.  Have breakfast at Schilo’s German Deli.

 

Near downtown, the historic Market Square is a pedestrian area encompassing three city blocks, bounded by Dolorosa, Santa Rosa, and West Commerce Streets.  El Mercado is patterned after an authentic Mexican market, with stalls offering all kinds of items–described as the largest Mexican market outside of Mexico.  Mi Tierra and La Margarita serve delicious Tex Mex cuisine.

San Antonio has several terrific museums.  My favorites include the following.  The fabulous Institute of Texan Cultures showcases the history of the area, which includes Mexican, Spanish, German, Irish, and other diverse cultural backgrounds.  The McNay has one of the most impressive collections of art around.  The Witte features features science and natural history as well as the best early Texas art collection in the state.  The Briscoe Western Art Museum is also wonderful.  The Blue Star Contemporary hosts over 20 exhibitions each year.

San Antonio is such an awesome city and well worth a visit.

My Favorite Greek Isle

Mykonos may be one of the smallest of the Greek isles but its legends are larger than life.  According to Greek mythology, it was here that Hercules slew the giants.

Mykonos is my favorite Greek Island.  It is a cosmopolitan island with magnificent beaches, which draw masses of tourists each year to its clear blue waters and seaside tavernas.  Chic and stylish beaches include Agios Ioannis and Ornos, located in the southwest corner of the island.

The island village of Ano Mera houses the 16th century Panagia Tourliani Monastery.  The ornate monastery has post-Byzantine icons and an impressive marble tower.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The peaceful town square is the perfect spot for a Greek appetizer and a glass of ouzo, the anise-flavored apertif.

Mykonos Town has winding alleys and whitewashed houses.  It’s a terrific place to just get lost, traversing those alleys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The patio of Familia Taverna is a pretty and tasty location for lunch.

Little Venice has houses literally suspended over the sea.

The Sun Set is a wonderful place to have mussels swimming in tomato sauce, along with a Greek beer; the island is known for its delicious tomatoes.

A series of snow-white windmills remind me of The Man of La Mancha.  Only one works these days but they look cool!

This island is not to be missed!

A French Wonder

Mont-Saint-Michel, one of France’s most recognizable landmarks, is visited by more than 3 million people each year.  The giant rock standing strong in the middle of the Mont-Saint-Michel Bay is a sight to behold!

 

It’s not just a church on a rock; it’s a whole medieval city between the ramparts, with steep, cobblestone streets.  It used to be a center of pilgrimage for medieval travelers.  It was also a great fortress during the Middle Ages and once served as a prison.  It was even a battlefield during the Hundred Years War.  The Monks were expelled during the French Revolution and didn’t return until the 19th Century.  It was one of the first monuments to be classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This remarkable medieval walled city, crowned by its great Gothic abbey, is surrounded by sand and sea.  At low tide, it’s a tidal island, surrounded by sand.  As the high tide slowly rolls in, it becomes an island.  The tides can vary greatly, sometimes 46 feet between high and low water marks, making it quite dangerous to walk the flats.  You can, however, take a tour, with an officially trained guide, on foot or on horseback.

The salt marsh meadows that have resulted from flooding are ideal for raising sheep, and you will see many grazing the area.

There is now a bridge, linking Mont-Saint-Michel to the mainland.  You can either take a short walk or ride an official bus to reach it.

Mont-Saint-Michel is a great place to visit–don’t miss it!