The Belle of the South
Amsterdam, The Great Surprise
When talking about my travels, I often bring up how Amsterdam is the most surprising place that I have been. Why? Well, it’s one of the few places that blew my preconceptions of it right out of the water. Back a few years ago when we, me and a few friends, were planning our great European adventure, I was hesitant to add Amsterdam to the itinerary. Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t know all that much about the city. What I had heard was that it was a party city filled with legal drugs and prostitution and frat boys. (Do they have those in Europe?) But my friends wanted to go and I will pretty much go anywhere. What I didn’t expect was to be totally blown away by the Dutch city.
Side story time! Our journey getting there was a little rocky and is the epitome of looking back on it and laughing. We were in London and had a flight to Amsterdam. The night before me and my friend checked into the flight, the third opting not to. Well, the next day was riddled with delays, us leaving the hostel too late, the train late by 20 minutes, therefore making us late to the airport. Our friend missed the cut off for check in by 10 minutes. Ah! But she told us to go ahead and leave her behind. Though I didn’t like the idea, it would have cost us all too much money to do so. So, me and the other friend made a mad dash through security. I had never taken off and put on boots as fast I had then. And then, as if to add extra torture, the plane was on the entire other side of the airport. So, like a couple of crazy people, we ran like our wallets depended on it. I fell behind, one, because I was out of shape, and two, my asthma was acting up. My friend left me in her dust. When I finally got to the gate I was wheezing like a squeak toy. And to add another layer of embarrassment, the plane was already out on the tarmac and we had to hoof it up the stairs and be the subject of annoyed stares as we made our way to our seats. I collapsed in my seat, totally worn out, grateful to actually make it and not keeling over in a fit of wheezing and choking. The flight itself was delightful and short. Our bags, also being late, didn’t arrive with us at the airport and we had to wait for them and our friend at the hostel. So, lesson learned. Leave plenty of time to get to the airport because delays can and will happen. And if you can, check in the night before.
Anyway, after that whole ordeal, getting to the airport was a relief in itself. What wasn’t fun was trying to figure out the public transportation. I’m a total noob when it comes to that stuff. When we finally reunited and set off to explore, I was struck by just how beautiful Amsterdam really was.
It was spring when we visited, so it was still kinda cool out and the trees and plants were showing off their new greenery, but that didn’t detract from the charm of it. The architecture was picturesque with the tall skinny buildings, the canals and bridges, small side streets, filled with quaint shops and restaurants, and inns, etc. Bikes were everywhere. And boats, either giving tours or to be lived in. It was so quintessentially European. Being an American, I felt like I had been transported into another world. It was unreal.
Now, there were all of those things that I had originally been uncertain about, not that I am against those things per se, but there is enough to balance them out. From the flower market to the Anne Frank House, which we didn’t get to see, there is enough to do and see to please almost everyone. We only had a few days in Amsterdam, so we opted to just explore, and eat. One of our main goals of anywhere we go. The food didn’t disappoint. I think we got bitterballen two or three times. And cheese, ah, cheese… We did, out of curiosity, go through the red light district, which is where most of the hedonistic activity is located and had a few giggles. What I had feared turned out to not be bad at all.
So, what I suppose the point of this is, give a place a chance. You might end up liking it more than you think. I think we tend to let our fears prevent us from trying things sometimes and we have to tell that little voice in the back of our minds to shut up and take a chance. I am glad I did. (please use your own discretion, I do not condone ignoring instincts completely if you think a place is dangerous!) As for Amsterdam, it is one of my favorite places that I have gone so far in my travels and I would absolutely go back.
Exploring a great big hole in Tennessee
Have you ever wanted to journey deep into the earth? Or gaze into the actual Devil’s Hole yourself? Then make a trip to The Lost Sea Adventure in Sweetwater, Tennessee, an extensive cave that you can take a guided tour through. Just be warned, this tour isn’t for the faint of heart, or the out of shape. Why you ask? Well, you begin by going down this big yellow tube:
It might look pretty intimidating going down, but it’s even more so coming back up. So, make sure you wear comfortable footwear. You descend into the earth via a metal yellow tube with your fellow group members and you might be thinking, this is impressive and all, but where’s the cave? Well, once you step out of said tube, the room opens up into the sprawling cave beyond. Strategically placed lights illuminate the natural wonders, stalactites, stalagmites, great rocky cracks and holes, and waterfalls and natural pools, a moonshine still. Well, that last one isn’t natural. But the caves were used as a hidden bar during prohibition and some of the famous Tennessee moonshine was made deep in it’s bowels.
Along the tour you are taken into a considerably sized room where you can experience complete darkness, and you might not think it, but it is a little unsettling, especially how we’re all so used to our world filled with light all around us. Unfortunately, I didn’t capture a picture of this for obvious reasons.
And although it may seem a little strange, if you aren’t too fond of heights you might not have such a good time since there are multiple scaffolding walkways and bridges throughout the cave.
There’s so many interesting nooks and crannies to discover.
Beautiful sights.
But the truly most amazing feature of these caves lies at the end of the tour, which is optional given that it’s down even further and therefore quite the hike, and that is the lake. A lake in a cave, you ask? It seems strange when you finally lay eyes on it, not sure what to expect, some sort of dinky pond to marvel at, but my expectations were totally blown away when I entered the huge room with an expansive lake, so expansive they give boat tours out into it. The Lost Sea Adventure surely lives up to it’s name.
But not only is there a lake down there, but there are fish as well which you can feed if you want.
Big fish, rainbow trout if I remember correctly, put in there as an experiment to see if they would find their way out, but it looked like they hadn’t quite done that…
At some point along the journey you get the chance to gaze into the Devil’s Hole, the very thing that inspired the name of this blog.
The worst part, however, is the trek back above ground. Not only do you have to climb back up from the lake far below, but you then have to crawl, I mean walk, I definitely didn’t crawl… up the long yellow tube to see the daylight once again. Go grab a drink and a rest because after that adventure you totally deserve it.
The Lost Sea Adventure is definitely worth a side trip to go see, just make sure you come prepared for a hike that might be a little taxing for some.
Please forgive the shoddy quality of the photos. I only brought along my phone on the trip, unfortunately.
Local Adventures: The Great Escape Room-Tampa
Exploring what our backyard has to offer!
Looking for a challenging and fun experience? Then The Great Escape Room may just be up your alley. Part of a growing sensation that’s been sweeping across the nation, (Perhaps even further?) escape rooms are simple in concept, but not in practice. Each room is typically centered around a theme, this particular location had a Library and a Game room, and each has a story to go along with it. And then, well, you have to escape it by finding clues and solving puzzles under a certain time limit. Now, it doesn’t seem like it would be a whole lot of fun, but it really is, which is probably why they’ve grown in popularity recently.
I, along with a group of friends, which I’d recommend unless you can get along and work with strangers easily, was in the Game Room for the hour. I wasn’t allowed to take pictures of the actual room, but it was simple in set up, but not design. Clues were everywhere, hidden and in plain sight. The story went as follows: Moriarty, Sherlock’s arch nemesis, had stolen a deadly poison and we had to solve the puzzles in his game room to find the antidote before the time ran out. Simple, but effective. Once the clock started, we were off, each spreading out across the room in a frantic search for clues to help solve the puzzles. Soon the air was filled with cries of elation as they were found and then quieted as we tried to solve the puzzles, each one seemingly harder than the last. Time moves deceptively fast in there and before we knew it it was running out, but we managed to squeak by and escape one of the hardest rooms they have. That feeling of accomplishment trumped the frustration we all felt throughout, and was totally worth it.
The Great Escape Room, and ones like it, probably aren’t for everyone. If you get easily frustrated and aren’t really into solving puzzles, then this isn’t for you. If it is, then don’t fret too much over the difficulty. There was a game master in the room with us the whole time and we were allowed three clues to help us on our way. So if you get stuck, you aren’t at a total loss.
If you are in the mood for a challenge and want to try something different, or just want to work on your teamwork (I heard these are popular in corporate team building circles…) then give The Great Escape Room a try.
Versailles
It’s been a while! I’ve just been trying to figure some things out. In the meantime, why don’t we take a virtual tour of Versailles?
About 45 minutes outside of Paris lies probably one of the most famous palaces in the world. Why is this? What draws people to the Palace of Versailles? Is it the romance of the past? The perfectly preserved french architecture and gardens? The grandeur? It could be all of the above. Whatever the case, I had to go see for myself what makes this place so spectacular.
The palace is relatively easy to get to. I took the subway, about a 45-60 minute ride (I can’t remember the exact time.) and a short walk from the train station, and then you see it, the golden gates shining in the sun, just a taste of what’s to come.
Now, the lines can be intimidating, but even there you are surrounded by history and simple beauty as the ticketing is housed inside an old building.
Once I got the tickets, it was on to the main attraction. If I remember correctly, the palace and the gardens are two separate tickets, so be prepared to pay up for the full experience. Right from the start you can see the opulence, the attention to detail.
We decided to tackle the gardens first and search for Marie Antoinette’s famed boudoir. At the top of some stairs I was greeted by the breathtaking vista of the gardens, and it was then I truly witnessed how extensive they were.
And looking back:
Now, I will say that I was undertaking all of this while still suffering from a cold. That’s right, I got sick in Paris! But I was determined! It wasn’t long before I started to see some of the grand, manicured aspects of the gardens. Namely the famous fountains:
The symmetry:
The first stop was the Grand Trianon, a somewhat gaudy pink marble building, a getaway from the rigors of the royal life. (Because ruling in opulence must have been hard, right?)
That black and white tile was pretty amazing though! The inside wasn’t as garish as the outside:
The next stop was the Petit Trianon. Built as a retreat for the famous Madame de Pompadour and later used as an escape by another famous figure, Marie Antoinette, it was a little simpler than the main palace, but still had a sort of charming lavishness.
It’s the next part that I should have researched a bit more. When I visited, I had no idea about Marie Antoinette’s medieval town and the way she used to pretend to be a simpleton to amuse herself. So when we happened across this little fairly tale-like village in the gardens, we didn’t know what to think of it. We wandered around a little bit, searching for Marie Antoinette’s boudoir, but to no avail. It wasn’t until after we left that I researched and realize what we had missed. Perhaps someday I’ll make it back there and then I’ll know what to look for.
Anyways, it’s quite a sight to see this peeking through the spring foliage:
And quite another to see the whole thing, like stepping back through time:
Exhausted and confused, we made our way back to the main building.
It’s easy to say that the interior didn’t disappoint.
Doesn’t every house come with its own private chapel?
One of the most iconic areas of the palace spans the back, a little corridor known as the Hall of Mirrors.
It’s always awe inspiring when you see such a famed place in person for the first time, like you just want to stand there and take it all in. The Hall of Mirrors is the epitome of what the palace represents, the wealth and power of the french royal family, the priceless chandeliers, the painted murals on the ceiling, the glass mirrors on the walls, overlooking their extensive gardens. It makes it easier to see why the proletariat revolted.
Good thing that I was only there to enjoy in these modern times.
Next up were the bedrooms. Yes, you read that right. The king and queen had separate bedrooms. I can’t say I hate the idea…
The king’s:
And the queen’s:
The railing’s are there for a ceremony called the =&0=&, where people would come in and watch the king and queen rise for the day and then again as they go to bed for the night. Now the garden getaways make a little more sense…
I wrote a little bit more about this here: ♦♦
And here’s the door that Marie Antoinette snuck out of on the fateful night the mobs came:
No matter who you are, that must have been terrifying!
After a quick trip to an art gallery in one of the palace wings, our tour came to an end.
After it all, it’s easy to see what draws people to the Palace of Versailles. It gives you not only a glimpse of the past, but how the rich and powerful used to live, and may still live these days. The opulence is equal parts gaudy and mesmerizing. I couldn’t even imagine living in a place like this, with my life put on display for all to see, even if it is in the lap of luxury. It’s a place that must be seen to believe and will stay with you forever.
I know I’ll never forget my short time spent here.
Local Eats: Greek City Cafe
Local Eats: Greek City Cafe
Celebrating unique local restaurants!
While Devil’s Mistress #2 is away in Greece eating the delicious food, I am stuck behind, much to my dismay, in the old United States. But, to help tide me over we at least have some good international fare in the neighborhood. And one of those places is the Greek City Cafe in Spring Hill, Florida. It’s not a big place, nor a particularly fancy place, but it will help satisfy the Greek food cravings you have. (Though it is not, unfortunately, a replacement for the real thing.)
The inside won’t win any style awards, but it’s clean and modern and cute. It’s set up cafeteria-style where you order at the counter from a small selection of light Greek fare, take a number and a seat. After experiencing the Holy Grail of gyros that is Greece, I’ve been on a sort of quest to find a suitable place state-side that could sate my cravings. So, I took the plunge and ordered the gyro plate.
And while it didn’t live up to the greatness of the Grecian homeland’s, it did satisfy the cravings. If you also have a sweet tooth, they offer an assortment of Greek desserts as well.
So if you are in the area and have any Greek hankerings, look no further than Greek City Cafe!
Website: http://www.greekcitycafe.com/
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Local Eats: Taco Bus
Local Eats: Taco Bus
Celebrating unique local restaurants!
When I first had Taco Bus I was told it didn’t really count, that it didn’t measure up to the real thing. Which is saying something because my first time wasn’t all too bad. I had been at a friends wedding where they catered, pulled up in a short, bright yellow bus. Yes, they take their name seriously! And that was two years ago!
So after picking up another friend from the airport, I finally got to experience the REAL deal after hearing so much about it. And I wasn’t disappointed. After I pulled in, I was pleased to see not one, but two buses making up a charming little courtyard. Most of the seating is outside, but they did also have an indoor dining room if the weather is not so agreeable, and let’s face it, in Florida thunderstorms are a daily summer afternoon occurrence. Luckily for us, the sun was just peeking out from behind the remnants of one such storm and we got to enjoy the humid heat while Latino music filled the air.
Ordering was easy, with a nice step-by-step menu where you can choose from tacos, burritos, and other light Mexican fare. And best of all, besides the yumminess, is how affordable it is. I think only one or two items break the $10 barrier.
I wanted to get the full Taco Bus experience, so I got the tacos of course! The beef tacos to be exact, minus cilantro because that stuff tastes like soap to me. You can get all the toppings or none at all. (I foolishly forgot to add cheese to mine.) And their hot sauce is HOT and not for the faint of heart. I learned that the hard way after pouring it all over one of the tacos, my mouth was on fire! I like spice, but it was a little too much for me.
For an additional $2.50 more you can make it a combo that comes with two sides of rice and refried beans and a drink. While everything was delicious, I was surprised to find that the beans were my favorite. They were that good! The whole dish wasn’t too filling, so if you are super hungry, you’ll have to order more, which isn’t a bad thing here.
So if you are in the Tampa Bay area, I would highly recommend this unique and delicious spot.
Website: http://taco-bus.com
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Local Eats: Kazu’s
Local Eats: Kazu’s
Celebrating unique local restaurants!
Looking for the best Sushi in the Hudson area? Then check out Kazu’s! A small restaurant tucked away in a rather barren strip mall (don’t let that scare you away!) Kazu’s has a rather large following in the area, and for good reason. According to their website, the restaurant was opened in 2003 by Kazunobu Miyazato and his wife. With 30 years of being a sushi chef under his belt, it definitely shows, yum! And the prices are very reasonable too. So if you are ever in the area and have a hankering for delicious sushi, check out Kazu’s! Your stomach, and your wallet, will thank you!
Pictured above: Spicy tuna and Tampa rolls.
Their website: http://www.kazussushi.com/
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