CHARLIE VERGOS RENDEZVOUS - MEMPHIS

CHARLIE VERGOS - RENDEZVOUS

MEMPHIS, TN

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A visit to Memphis would not be complete without trying the ribs at Charlie Vergos Renezvous. Started in 1948 when Charlie discovered a coal chute in his basement, the place is now a bbq legend and destination restaurant. Located down an alley in downtown Memphis in a part of town that you may not want to walk alone at night, but very friendly when you get in the door. I was amazed when I hit the front door and walked down the stairs to the hostess. The place is huge with cubby holes full of tables going in all directions. There is also a long bar down the middle of the space with plenty of seats to drink and eat. The bartenders are friendly and fast. The pitchers of beer flow like water here. I tried the half rack and brisket combo. This is a huge portion that I could not even finish half. This plate will serve 2-3 people in my mind. The price was about $17. The ribs and brisket are served with warm rolls, cole slaw and baked beans. The ribs are slow cooked and covered quite liberally with a dry rub. The rub has a distinctive flavor and has some heat. I found the ribs to be a little dry. I added the hot bbq sauce and "wow" and big bold hit of flavor and heat to wake up the senses. I loved the hot bbq sauce. The brisket was moist and served over a large piece of bread. You can really taste the smoke bbq flavor in the brisket. Add the hot sauce and boom. Great taste. The cole slaw is tangy and a little too vinegary. I liked the baked beans. The staff at Rendezvous was great from the front desk to bartender and waiters. The place is electric with hungry patrons diving into ribs and cold beer.

KELI'S 9TH BIRTHDAY DINNER

The greatest day of my life was April 26, 2001. My best friend and daughter Keli came into this world and changed my life forever. 9 fast years later we enjoyed a weekend birthday celebration that included a Friday night sleepover with Keli's friends and then a day at California Pizza Kitchen, the Ice Palace and Menchies frozen yogurt. The girls ice skated for hours and then enjoyed frozen yogurt with all the toppings. After the weekend for girls, we enjoyed Keli's actual birthday at home on Monday night. Keli selected the menu of fresh greens with bell pepper and parmesian cheese, rack of lamb, soy beans and left over birthday cake from the weekend. What a great dinner with the best gift in the world. Keli actually cooked the rack of lamb and served the family plus did the prayer. We are so blessed to have our little monkey. She is a gift from God.

KELI'S 9TH BIRTHDAY DINNER

APRIL 26, 2010

BEAUTIFUL HILO

BEAUTIFUL HILO

IMAGES ALONG THE COAST

Just a few shots of the beautiful scenery along the drive from Hilo to Kona.

DANIEL THIEBAUT RESTAURANT - WAIMEA, HAWAII

DANIEL THIEBAUT

WAIMEA, HAWAII

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Daniel Thiebaut in Waimea on the Big Island is a great place to stop for lunch or dinner. As soon as you enter the large restaurant you are taken back in time to a plantation style home set amidst the backdrop of Hawaii's Paniolo (Cowboys) and cattle country. Waimea is absolutely beautiful with its green pastures, rolling meadows and country charm. We stopped in Daniel Thiebaut's because it consistently gets rave reviews on the Big Island. I have wanted to go here for years and now had the chance as we were driving from Hilo to Kona. We hit the place during Administrative Professionals Week (Secretary's Day in English). There was a Prix Fixe Menu in addition to the standard menu. The Prix Fixe was $14.95 and included your choice of Asian Chicken Papaya - Hilo Papaya filled with Curried Chicken Salad, Grass Fed Beef Sliders with Lilikoi BBQ Sauce and sauted jojos, Kekela Farm Baby Romaine Salad with your choice of Grilled Herb Chicken or Fresh Catch of the Day and a Fresh Catch Provencale with garlic, olive, fennel and tomato served with Jasmine rice. Each entree came with Waimea Strawberry Millefeuille which is light puff pastry layered with strawberries, whipped creme and vanilla sauce. The meal even came with coffee or ice tea. I enjoyed the fresh catch which was Ono served on a Caesar Salad. The fish was fresh and delicious. The salad was large with a nice dressing. My friend enjoyed a burger that looked and tasted great. The Fish Provencale was beautiful and again was a big hit. Our fourth guest enjoyed soup and the fresh catch sandwich.

All good and filling. I really like this restaurant and would recommend it to anyone traveling through the beautiful town of Waimea on the Big Island.

WHATS SHAKIN SMOOTHIES - HILO, HI

WHATS SHAKIN SMOOTHIES

HILO, HAWAII

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When you drive out of Hilo heading towards Kona there is a Scenic Route that winds along the ocean for about 4 miles. This detour is worth the extra time. We found beautiful coastlines, waterfalls and a great place for a Smoothie or lunch in the middle of nowhere. Whats Shakin Smoothies is about at the end of the route as you head back to the main highway. The place has been in business of 17 years and serves great sandwiches and fresh fruit smoothies. The owner is nice and takes time to talk about the business and other things about Hilo. This is a little out of the way gem that takes you back in time. While we only tried the smoothies, the owner said that they enjoy a great lunch crowd because their sandwiches are fresh and delicious.

SAIGON VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT

RESTAURANT SAIGON VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT

HONOLULU, HI

I love the Vietnamese soup called Pho. We eat it sometimes weekly and have tried dozens of different restaurants who serve this local favorite. About a year ago, I concluded that Restaurant Saigon has the best Pho in Honolulu. My friends agree and so we visit the place all the time. I do not even have to order when I enter this restaurant. The owner knows exactly what I want and how to serve it. After we sit down, in a matter of minutes an order of Spring Rolls comes to the table. Served with crisp Lettuce, picked vegetables, cucumber and noodles. You put everything inside the lettuce pour on some hot sauce and eat them like a burrito. Pure pleasure. The soup is all about the broth. Every broth is different. I like this place because the broth has flavor. I order the rare steak and brisket. The meat is cooked in the broth and covered with noodles, bean sprouts, basil and onions. The owner knows that I do not like a lot of noodles so she places just enough in my bowl every time. This is great service. Pho is served with condiments and various hot sauces to really kick up the taste. The price? I really have not looked at them in ages. Probably around $8 for a huge bowl of Pho and $7 for the Spring Rolls. This is a great lunch downtown Honolulu in Chinatown. Taste of Hawaii Favorite.

EASTER DINNER

EASTER DINNER

HOME

Enjoyed a great dinner at home after a very relaxing Easter Sunday. We cooked up a 8.5 lb bone in Prime Rib. The rib was stuffed with garlic cloves and crusted in herbs and seasoning. Had a nice spinach salad with roasted beets, egg, bacon, red onion, cheese and a red wine vinegar dressing. The potatoes were cooked with roasted garlic, butter, bacon and even some hard boiled eggs. Fresh asparagus served grilled with lemon juice. I was stuffed after just looking at my plate. The food was great but I realize how blessed I am to have my two girls. I am so lucky and thankful for them.

SAM SNEADS TAVERN - HONOLULU, HAWAII

SAM SNEADS TAVERN

HONOLULU, HI

Located at the Navy/Marine golf course just minutes from the Honolulu airport is a little hidden gem call Sam Snead's Tavern.

I have been there a few times for lunch. During my recent visit the place was packed to capacity at lunch and we still had great service and a great fast meal. The dining room was filled with a large party so the host suggested we eat at the bar area. No problem, we got a nice booth and were greeted quickly by the waitress. The Menu at Sam Snead's includes burgers, meat loaf, salads, onion soup, chili, ribs, chicken, great sandwiches and more. Prices range from around $5 to $10 for a meal. I ordered the Patty Melt. A huge burger on rye bread with sauteed onions and american cheese. Served with fries for $9.75. The sandwich was delicious. I could only knock out half of it. You will be amazed at the amount of golf memorabilia inside the restaurant. Photos, clubs and autographed golf balls tell the story of Sam Snead's life and golf accomplishments. It is really neat stuff. Sam Snead's is open to the public but the golf course is not.

BURGERS ON THE EDGE - HONOLULU, HAWAII

BURGERS ON THE EDGE

HONOLULU, HI

I have avoided eating at Burgers on the Edge due to my on and off again dieting. For over a year, I have drove by the place thinking about those big juicy burgers. When my daughter said she wanted a burger for lunch, I gave in and finally tried this place. When you enter you are given a menu and a pencil. The menu allows you to mark off what you want on your burger. You can choose from a 1/3 or 1/2 pound Wagyu Kobe Style or 100% Premium Ground Chuck burger. The you choose the cheese; cheddar, provolone, Danish Havarti, Parmesan, Pepper Jack, Swiss, Mozzarella or Bleu Cheese. Then you pick a sauce from a list of about 12. The sauces include Jalapeno Ketchup, BBQ, Marinara, Teriyaki, Roasted Garlic, Cajun, Ranch and Basil Pesto. Then you choose the toppings (4 included with burger). There are the regular lettuce, tomato, onion and more like a fried egg, grilled ham, roasted peppers, bacon, mushrooms, caramelized apples and grilled pineapple to name a few. Choose a bun from white or whole wheat and you have your customized Burger on the Edge. We went with a 1/3 pound Wagyu Beef Burger ($7.99) with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato and red onion with jalapeno ketchup. My daughter took one bite and said "delicious". I took a bite and agreed. This was a very good burger. We tried the Sweet Potato Fries ($4.89). These are fried Sweet Potato gut thin and crunchy. They are good but expensive. My daughter ate the entire burger. Not a thread of evidence left on her plate. I finished too and was very full. The burgers here are good but a bit expensive. Lunch for two with drinks was $25. UPDATE 2012 - OUT OF BUSINESS.

 

BURGERS ON THE EDGE

ISLANDER ON THE BEACH - KAUAI BEACH SHACK

THE VIEW FROM CONDO LANAI AT ISLANDER ON THE BEACH

KAUAI BEACH SHACK

KAPAA, KAUAI

Waking up to a Hawaiian sunrise at our Beach Shack on Kauai. While the place has not been a good investment, it is pure heaven to stay here and just relax. This is the view from our lanai.

FUNDRAISER DINNER FOR CHARLES DJOU

FUNDRAISER DINNER FOR CHARLES DJOU

DREW, SHIRLEY AND KELI'S HOUSE

We were happy to host a fundraiser dinner for City Councilman and Congressional Candidate Charles Djou at our home last week. The candidate and his wife Stacy joined our family and forty friends for a great dinner catered by Kahai Street Kitchen. Shirley did an incredible job hosting the party and also made some great appetizers. Shirley made home made Crab Cakes, Shrimp Cocktail, Pasta Salad and a Ham and Cheese in puff pastry. In addition, we served several different fresh poke dishes and a variety of cheeses. For the main courses, Kahai Street Kitchen prepared Sauteed Opakapaka with a Miso Creme Sauce and Rayu Drizzle with Tobiko Caviar Garnish, Bake Boneless Chicken with Boursin Cheese Creme Sauce, Braised Boneless Short Ribs w/Vegetable Demi Glaze and a Kalua Pork and Okinawan Sweet Potato Mini Cake with Lomi Tomato Salsa and Hoisin Aioli. Kahai Street did a great job and everyone said they loved the food. To compliment the great food, we served a Wild Horse Merlot, Rock n' Vine Cabernet and a Four Vines Naked Chardonnay. For dessert, we went all out and served the famous Pyramid Cakes from JJ's Bistro. This was quite the night and the largest party we have ever hosted at our house. My thanks to Shirley and everyone who came out to support Charles.

THE FISH HOPPER - KAILUA KONA

THE FISH HOPPER

KAILUA KONA, HI

Boy am I glad my friend Doug suggested we meet at the Fish Hopper for lunch this week. With only one day in Kona on business, it was nice to have a great lunch before leaving the Big Island. The Fish Hopper is located right on the main drag in Kailua Kona just across from the ocean. The restaurant is all open air and staffed by a very courteous group of servers. We enjoyed a cup of Clam Chowder ($4.95) that was actually really good. It was a thick base filled with nice pieces of clams. Better than expected. I was blown away with my fish dish. Fresh Walu with Scallops ($16.95). While a bit expensive for lunch, the dish was prepared perfectly. The fish was fantastic and the scallops were cooked to perfection. They cut like butter. I really enjoyed the purple sweet potatoes with fresh corn and onion. This really complimented the dish and put it over the top. My friend enjoyed the Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi ($14.95). Large pieces of fresh Mahi Mahi with a Mango/Papaya Relish. He said it was delicious. I really liked the Fish Hopper and cannot wait to return with a big appetite.

SHABU SHABU HOUSE - HONOLULU, HAWAII

SHABU SHABU HOUSE

HONOLULU, HI

One of my Pal's is addicted to the Shabu Shabu House on Kapiolani. He invited me to lunch and offered to pay so I went. The restaurant is clean and the waitress was efficient and nice. We ordered a mixed plate of thinly sliced beef, shrimp, tofu, noodles and vegetables. The meal came with a bowl of rice and lots of fresh cut green onions on the side. Each seat at the counter has its own bowl of boiling water. You place the food into the hot water and it cooks. The problem for me that the hot water has no flavor and the food comes out bland. There are three types of sauces on the table to help kick up the flavor. None really hit the button with me. The portion of beef and shrimp was big for lunch but so was the price. At $19.99 it is a bit too expensive for lunch and too much food for me. I piled on the sauces and still couldn't find that flavor that my friend so loved. I then piled on some salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Got a little better, but still did not hit it on taste.

BRICK OVEN PIZZA - WAILUA, KAUAI

BRICK OVEN PIZZA

WAILUA, KAUAI

Just down the road from the beach shack is a pizza joint that I have always wanted to try. The original Brick Oven Pizza is in Kalaheo, Kauai. I have customers on Kauai that eat there and say they make a good pizza. When Keli said she wanted pizza for lunch I put the car in gear and headed for Brick Oven Pizza in Wailua. The menu states that the pizza's are hearth baked with a homemade touch. I couldn't see a hearth but the pizza oven in the kitchen looked like the ones you see in most pizza parlors. They serve three sizes of pizza here. 10", 12" and 15". Prices range from $11.50 for a small to $35.00 for a large. Toppings are pretty much standard.

We tried a medium UltiMeat ($23.65). The pizza is a thin crust which we really liked. They brush the crust with garlic butter which adds a little flavor and lots of fat. The UltiMeat includes homemade sauce which was good, sausage, pepperoni, lean beef, portuguese sausage, smoked ham, salami, pepperoni and bacon. We actually messed up and ordered the wrong pizza. We really wanted the Brick Oven Super that has all of the above plus veggies. Both the pizza and service were good. A bit expensive, but you are on Kauai. We will visit Brick Oven again and again.

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KAUAI PASTA COMPANY - KAPAA, KAUAI

KAUAI PASTA COMPANY

KAPAA, KAUAI

We love spending time at our beach shack on Kauai. The condo is located in Kapaa on the East Shore of the Island. Kapaa is a laid back down where shorts, slippers and a t-shirt often makes you over dressed. There are a lot of restaurants in town and we try to visit them all during our visits. Kauai Pasta was recommended by several locals. We drove by a few times and saw that it was a very bland looking space that looked unimpressive. I read quite a bit on Kauai restaurants and could not find any mention of this place in local tourist magazines or restaurant guides. To my surprise I found that they advertise very little if at all. With nowhere else to go on my Birthday we ventured into Kauai Pasta just looking for a good meal. We showed up around 6:30 p.m. on a Saturday night and were quickly greeted with two extra large smiles. The hostess welcomed us and then promptly sat us at a table in the newly enlarged space in the back of the restaurant. We loved the feel of the place and paintings of Italy that really lit up the walls. We were told that the Chef came from Roy's restaurant and was amazing. With that in mind, we began to order Family Style so that we could try different dishes. First order was the Garlic Herb Grilled Portabella Mushroom Salad ($9.95). This is a big salad that easily feeds two people. Local greens with fresh mozzarella cheese, vine ripened tomatoes, fire roasted peppers and a balsamic vinaigrette. This was yummy. The tomatoes were fresh and there was just enough mozzarella. The mushrooms were delicious but not enough to take over the dish. We shared a Margharita Pizza ($12.95). It was a bit bland and had way too much cheese. There was no sauce so the pie was a little dry and lacked flavor. For our main entree, we chose the Fresh Clam Linguini ($21.95). At this price I was expecting large fresh clams. Wow...how wrong was I. The clams were the smallest I had ever seen. Half the shells were empty and they had no taste. Furthermore, the menu described the dish as being fresh clams sauteed with garlic, basil, white wine, tomatoes and white sauce. I didn't think the white sauce would be heavy creme but it was. The dish was all creme and no clams. What a waste for $21.95. We ended the meal with an Apple Crusty with vanilla ice creme. This was a good dish but nothing to get excited about. The service was good and we enjoyed the place. Will return to give some of the other dishes a try. Maybe the homemade Lasagna or Veal Marsala. The wine was good at $8.00 per glass.

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CALIENTE DEL SOL MEXICAN CUISINE - HONOLULU, HAWAII

CALIENTE DEL SOL

INSPIRED MEXICAN CUISINE

HONOLULU, HAWAII

I visited Caliente Del Sol when it first opened in the Safeway Center on Kapahulu. After the first visit I vowed not to return. A year later we decided to give it another try during our shopping day at Safeway. The service was the same as I remember. A bit disorganized and confused. You order at a counter and then wait for them to call your name. The menu is very limited. There are tacos, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas and a taco salad. That is it. Makes it easy to order. I tried a shredded beef taco and shredded chicken taco with black beans and rice. First off the beans were not fully cooked and so bland that I could not eat them. The rice was undercooked too and had no taste. On to the tacos. The beef and chicken were actually pretty good. I had them with hard shells. The meats had good flavor. Ask for the red salsa they put on the burritos and throw this on the tacos. Adds some flavor. I took a few bites of a beef burrito. The burrito is stuffed with the same meat as the tacos and then filled with the tasteless and undercooked rice and beans. I would go back for the tacos only. Hard to believe this place has stayed in business.

UPDATE: 3/10 - This place went out of business. Look what I wrote above.

SONIC BURGER

SONIC BURGER

ORLANDO, FLORIDA

My only memory of eating at a Sonic Burger was at 2:00 am in the middle of nowhere in Alabama after enjoying a few beers with good friends. At the time, I thought that this was the best meal of my life. I was in heaven absorbing the cheeseburger and chili dog. While taking a cab in Orlando, we saw a Sonic Burger and decided to grab a quick lunch. The cab ride to Sonic was about $30. The meal for two was $16. The Sonic we visited was a drive up only with car hops delivering your food. To eat in, you go to the menu and order under a canopy. The menu board has a credit card slot and you pay right there. It is quick and easy. No cash exchanges hands. When your food is ready they bring it outside and serve it to you on a tray. I went for the Cheeseburger and footlong chili dog. Both were good, but not as good as 2:00 in the morning after a night of drinking.

THE CAPITAL GRILLE - ORLANDO, FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL GRILLE

ORLANDO, FLORIDA

After eating at Texas de Brazil in Orlando, the last thing I was thinking about was a steak dinner. We were invited by some good friends and business associates so what the heck lets do this. You cannot miss the Capital Grille when driving down Orlando's main drive near the Convention Center. The building is beautiful. We arrived to find the place packed with suits. This was a convention week and we were part of it. Despite the large crowd we were greeted nicely by the reception staff. Our party was found in the bar and we were quickly seated. The service started off good but went down a little due to the large crowd. There were times when we could not find our waiter. Especially when it was time to pay. The meal started with some fresh breads. I had a dark bread that was absolutely delicious. The Capital Grille is a classic steak house like Mortons or Ruth Chris. Elegantly styled eating space with class. I examined the menu to find a great selection of appetizers and sides. We did not order any appetizers but some looked great like the Wagyu Beef Capaccio, Lobster and Crab Cake, Pan Fried Calamari with Peppers and Fresh Oysters. Just not that hungry or I would have jumped on a few of these. I opted for a Caesar Salad. It was o.k. The dressing was a bit bland. For the entree, I chose the Bone in Rib Eye. They called it a Delmonico Steak. The steak was seasoned and cooked perfectly medium rare as requested. Good flavor. I liked it but could not finish the whole thing. We also tried the Creamed Spinach and Au Gratin Potatoes. This was a hearty portion of sliced potatoes layered with creme and a combination of cheeses. Topped with fried onions. I kept going back to the plate for more of these. They were awesome. I did not pay much attention to the prices but figure the steak was around $40.

TEXAS DE BRAZIL - ORLANDO, FLORIDA

TEXAS DE BRAZIL

ORLANDO, FLORIDA

Hands down one of the best meals of my life. Texas de Brazil rocks. Great food and service.

If you like meat this is a dream restaurant. You are served unlimited portions of meat. Then more meat and then more meat. Balance out the meat with an incredible selection of salads, soups and sides and you have an experience - not a meal. Your evening at Texas de Brazil begins with a trip to a huge salad bar filled with high quality and delicious selections that include; Fresh salads, Buffalo Mozzerella, Potato Salad, Cold Brazilian Pasta Salad, Olives, Caramelized Sweet Onions, Marinated Portobello Mushrooms, Beets, Harts of Palm, Artichoke Hearts, Grilled Peppers, Steamed Asparagus, Salami, French Cheeses, Rice, Black Beans, Sushi, Soups and more. Our entire table tried the Lobster Bisque Soup. It was awesome. You also get sides delivered to the table. They were all delicious. We tried the Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Brazilian Cheese Bread and Fried Bananas. The meat selections come to your table one, two, three and sometimes four at a time. The waiters bring huge skewers and cut you the portion size you request. Are you ready? Here is what was served: Seared Top Sirloin, Brazilian Sausage, Brazilian Picanha, Slow Roasted Lamb, Chicken Breast Wrapped in Bacon, Crispy Chicken Legs, Parmesan Crusted Pork Loin with Garlic, Flank Steak, Rack of Lamb, Filet Mignon, Bacon Wrapped Filet, Pork Ribs and Braised Beef Ribs. I loved the Filet and Sausage but everything was great. All of the meats are marinated and full of flavor. No bland food here. It is just amazing and never ending. To top it all off, Texas de Brazil has incredible quality dessert selections that are also included in the set price. Our table tried them all: Brazilian Cheesecake, Chocolate Mousse Cake (my favorite), Key Lime Pie, Carrot Cake, Creme Brulee and a great Banana's Foster Pie. The price for all this is about $45 per person. Well worth the price for the quality, portions and assortment. There are several different Brazilian Steak House chains in America. I have now been to two and they were both excellent. This is a Taste of Hawaii favorite.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS - CHOP STEAK HOUSE

ROYAL CARIBBEAN BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS

CHOP STEAK HOUSE

The Brilliance of the Seas has two "specialty dining" restaurants. One Steak House and one Italian Restaurant. We paid an additional $25 cover charge per person to dine at the steak house. The cover includes all the appetizers, sides, entrees and deserts that you can eat. The Chop Steak House is like a Ruth Chris or Morton's. They have your choice of starch, veggies and several types of steak. We chose the bone in ribeye and were not impressed with the taste. We actually ate very little on our plates.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS

ROYAL CARIBBEAN BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS

SOMEWHERE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

Christmas on a cruise ship in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea is not like at home. It was a great time, but did not feel like Christmas. No complaints. We were blessed to enjoy this time together as a family. Seeing the Pyramids of Egypt, Ephesus and the House of Mary was a great Christmas present.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS

ROYAL CARIBBEAN BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS

SOMEWHERE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

ROYAL CARIBBEAN BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS

ROYAL CARIBBEAN BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS

MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE

We enjoyed a great balcony stateroom aboard the Brilliance of the Seas. This ship is a huge floating hotel. Keli enjoyed the rock climbing wall and her bunk bed. The kids playroom was also a hit with Keli. She played with other children for several hours each day while we were at Sea. This gave Shirley and me time together seeing a show or playing in the casino. It was nice to spend some time reading on the balcony when weather was good. Not a bad day when you can read, eat, take a nap, eat again, see a show, gamble, sightsee and eat again. We had an incredible itinerary that included: Barcelona Spain, Ephesus Turkey, Egypt, Cyprus, Rhodes, Sardinia and Palma De La Mallorca. This was truly a trip of a lifetime.

EPHESUS TURKEY - THE STADIUM

EPHESUS, TURKEY

STADIUM

Saint John preached in this 25,000 seat stadium in Ephesus. Mark Anthony and Cleopatra walked along these marble streets.

EPHESUS, TURKEY

EPHESUS, TURKEY

Probably one of the most awesome places to visit on earth. This was a highlight of our cruise and will remain in our memories forever.

BARCELONA CITY TOUR

BARCELONA CITY TOUR

BARCELONA, SPAIN

We hopped aboard a double decker tour bus and enjoyed a two hour drive through the city of Barcelona. This is a great way to see the sights without taking a cab. I enjoyed seeing the Olympic Stadium and other venues that are at the top of a hill overlooking the city. There are hundreds of sidewalk cafe's all around the city. You can enjoy a coffee, soft drink, beer, wine and snacks or full meal while sitting outside watching the people go by. This is a great way to spend time.

BARCELONA TRAM RIDE

BARCELONA TRAM RIDE

BARCELONA, SPAIN

After being stranded by our cab driver, we found the only way off the mountain was by tram. The ride was quick, smooth and comfortable. We arrived at the base and caught a city bus to a location where we could catch a cab back to our hotel.

TOP OF BARCELONA

TOP OF BARCELONA

BARCELONA, SPAIN

We jumped in a Taxi and asked the driver to take us to the top of the city where a great cathedral sits. The driver who spoke almost no english sped us up the hill. When we arrived the area was almost empty of tourists. We asked the driver to stay and wait for us. He said he would be back in half hour in very broken english. We thought we agreed on a time and place. We entered a restaurant to enjoy some hot chocolate and a cold beer for Drew. We walked through the church and grounds and waited for our driver. And waited.....and waited.....

Finally we asked the bartender to call our driver as he had left his card. She would not make the call and instructed a waiter not to call for us. A bus came by and we could not communicate with the driver. We waited some more. Finally I asked another girl at a ticket window how we could get off the mountain and down into the city of Barcelona. She said in very broken english that there was a tram right behind us. None of us had even noticed the tram. We bought tickets and made it down in minutes. Never did see that driver again. My advice when visiting Barcelona is to take a Spanish book or some language classes and speak their language instead of trying to get them to speak English.

CATHEDRAL BARCELONA

CATHEDRAL BARCELONA

BARCELONA, SPAIN

PARK GUELL - BARCELONA, SPAIN

PARK GUELL

BARCELONA, SPAIN

Keli was so excited to visit this park in Barcelona. She had seen it many times in a movie by the Cheeta Girls or some other girl group. Keli described the entire area to us before we got here. Here main goal was to touch the sculpture of the large lizard that is near the entrance. The park was created by famed architect Gaudi and was the place of his home for many years. We toured his home and walked the grounds overlooking the city.

BARCELONA DELI

BARCELONA DELI

BARCELONA, SPAIN

We were told that many homes in Europe do not have refrigerators. Most families visit the market, butcher and deli each day to purchase food for the daily meals. We were amazed with the number of fish shops, meat shops, vegetable stands and deli's that are all over the city. Some of the best and freshest ingredients in the world. I walked into this deli and was in pure heaven. Wanted to sample everything!

BARCELONA DELI VIDEO

GAUIDI RESTAURANT - BARCELONA, SPAIN

GAUDI RESTAURANT

BARCELONA, SPAIN

We found a little neighborhood restaurant, coffee house/bar right around the corner from our Barcelona apartment. There are hundreds of these type of restaurants all over the city. While Keli dined on traditional eggs and bacon, we decided to try the Paella. This is a rice dish served with seafood. The dish was a bit bland and was very light on the seafood. Most people in Spain do not eat this for breakfast, but we just had to try it while we were in Barcelona. It was nice to sit and watch the locals enjoy their coffee before work. There is a lot of smoking in Barcelona. We found it difficult to stay in this place because everyone around us was smoking. We would have eaten outside but it was a little too cold. Most restaurants in the city have tons of outdoor seating. The entire city is filled with outdoor cafe's. Would love to visit here during the warmer months. The people of Barcelona are not early risers. Most shops do not open until 9:00/10:00 am. The streets are completely empty from 7:00 to 8:30 am. This is a really nice time to walk around. The language here is Spanish. We found that most people working in the restaurants, cab drivers and vendors do not speak too much english. You definitely want to bring a Spanish book or study the language before coming to Barcelona. The people are friendly but can only do so much if they do not understand you. The currency of Barcelona is the Euro. We found the best way to obtain Euro's was from standard ATM machines.

ORIO RESTAURANT, BARCELONA, SPAIN

ORIO RESTAURANT

BARCELONA, SPAIN

While taking a stroll in the rain trough the charming Gothic section of Barcelona we stubbled upon a Tapa Bar that featured seafood. The place looked clean and fresh so we entered and sat at one of the large communal type tables in the middle of the space. Along the bar there were dozens of small size plates of food to sample. The waiter explained that it was ($1.95 Euro's) each for a plate. Kind of like going out for Genki Sushi in Honolulu but instead of counting the plates these folks count the toothpicks. We tried a variety of seafood toppings placed on a nice piece of french bread. I liked the tuna with pimento best. The Chorizo Sausage was good and so was the tuna with fried leeks. One with hot peppers, anchovie and olive was good too. Keli liked the simple salami with cheese best. We ate until we were full but were not totally impressed with the flavors. Everything is served with bread so you get full quite quickly. The waiter was friendly and gladly served a Spanish Champagne that was great. One of the reasons we ended up eating here is that it was one of the only restaurants open around 12:00 pm. Most restaurants don't open for lunch until 1:30. We had picked the oldest restaurant in Barcelona to dine at this day, but it turned out they did not open until 1:30. My girls wanted to eat NOW as they did not have dinner the night before. We also found that restaurants open around 8:30 for dinner. Typical dinner time is 9:00 to 11:00 pm which is our family sleep time. We ended up missing dinner today because the girls fell asleep. This was good because we all need a good rest after our adventure to get here.

ORIO RESTAURANT - BARCELONA, SPAIN

SAGRADA FAMILIA - BARCELONA, SPAIN

SAGRADA FAMILIA

BARCELONA, SPAIN

Barcelona's most famous architect named Gaudi designed but not complete this great structure. He was hit by a trolly car and died during it's construction. Barcelona is filled with beautiful buildings that are both modern and old. The streets are clean and are filled with sidewalk cafe's. A great place to sit, drink, eat and people watch.

6 HOURS ON THE RUNWAY - HEATHROW AIRPORT

6 HOURS ON THE RUNWAY

HEATHROW AIRPORT, LONDON

Delayed overnight in Los Angeles was heaven compared to what we endured in London. We arrived after a 10 1/2 hour flight to snowfall and and an airport that perhaps is not prepared too well for snow. After being huddled up in a small lounge we were told that our flight was delayed because of the snow. We waited over an hour and then were placed on buses to drive to the plane which was not near the terminal. When we departed the bus, it was snowing. We had to walk up stairs to the plane in the snow. Keli liked this but it was cold. We stuck our tongues out to catch the snow and had some fun. We got settled in to our seats and found that we were surrounded by a certain ethnic group that loved to talk loud amongst each other. They had a dozen children and just had to scream across the isles to talk. After a while the pilot came on the intercom and announced that we would be delayed one hour so they plane could be de-iced. I tried to sleep but a two year old in front of me was hanging off the back of his seat screaming. The lady behind seemed happy to continually grab my seat back and bounce me around a bit. Our one hour delay soon turned to two. Then three, then four, then five hours. Thankfully the crew busted out free wine and beer. The loud got louder and the quiet got drunk. We learned the life stories of the people in back of us and a little bit about the drug cartel in Mexico that forced our friends on the other side of the isle to move to Arizona. Everyone was yapping in a dozen different languages. The bathrooms ran out of water, the wine ran out and there was no food. After six hours of this crap the plane finally departed for Barcelona. SIX HOURS ON THE RUNWAY GOING NOWHERE. Got to hand it to the British Airlines crew. They were really relaxed and treated everyone well. They kept the booze flowing until they were completely out of stock. The flight to Barcelona was two hours. We arrived after midnight and got to our hotel around 2:00 am.