tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73887686000211792542024-03-12T17:56:34.660-07:00Lense FareFood / Travel / Photography. Independent reviews of excellent food & drink, unpretentious musings of a curious NZ lad's culinary encounters. Seasoned with dark humour.Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-38385258420972229012013-10-28T18:32:00.000-07:002016-02-07T06:13:20.613-08:00New Zealand: Land of the long white cloud, & the black dog...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.984375px;">For all of it's ups & downs, 2013 has had some really magical moments. In February this year, Birta & I set off on a 5.5 week awe inspiring road trip around New Zealand. Land of hobbits, ancient forests, flightless birds, rugged mountains, glaciers, grassy plains, thermal waters, golden beaches & deep fjords. The land of 4 seasons in 1 day - & to me, home.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.984375px;"><br />
</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.984375px;">I have really been thinking a lot about this holiday recently, it had so many layers of meaning than just temporarily repatriating. This trip was so significant to me, because it would be the first time that I would get to see my mum in almost 3 years. Aside from all the usual holiday nerves, & excitement of seeing new things, & catching up with long lost friends & family, I was actually very scared about the fact I hadn't seen her for so long, or just how I would feel about finally going home. I was excited of course, but there were also so many questions on my mind. What if I realised that I didn't want to leave New Zealand, what if my mum has aged drastically, or maybe become more mentally unstable than when I had left? My mum suffers from severe anxiety & depression, as do a lot of people in my family. Before going back, I'd recently found out that she had developed a kind of habit with sleeping pills in the last year, something the doctor had been describing to A: get some sleep, & B: zone her out to stop her from having panic attacks & getting so nervous. As it turned out, mum was indeed much older & a bit crazier than when I had left, but it was still fantastic to have the opportunity to spend so much time with her, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px;">& who wouldn't be a bit crazy after everything Christchurch has been through</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.984375px;">. That brings me to the other aspect which made this journey back so odd - & it was knowing that my home city had been largely destroyed by 2 huge earthquakes a few years earlier, & that this would be the first time I'd see the effects firsthand.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.984375px;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.96875px;">I felt like I was prepared for this to some degree. I had left Christchurch with a pretty foul taste in my mouth, dissatisfied with life in this place & I had made the city the scapegoat for my dissatisfaction (even though it wasn't the sole reason) - I had a weird bee in my bonnet about this place, & had convinced myself that any sentimentality towards it would just be for the people I knew who were affected. What I wasn't prepared for, was the actual scale of devastation (which is much, much bigger than the impression I got from abroad), & how heart wrenching it would be to reunite with old friends who were still persevering to live on shaky ground, many who had lost family homes & businesses from this awful natural disaster. I really wasn't as prepared for it as I'd thought. The twist of irony was that Birta had been given a grant from a Danish arts council to do some research on temporary post-earthquake projects & architecture, which was essentially funding her trip with me. This purpose of earthquake tourism/research made being her part-time tour guide for this project quite a strange experience. I was equally curious to see what had changed, but also much more personally affected by things I was seeing, as this was the place I had grown up, & I knew what it had been before this disaster. Having Christchurch as s a starting point to our trip, really robbed me of my desire to document what I was seeing, I didn't want to remember this city as a fucked-up ghost town with whole suburbs of abandoned houses & a city centre that had been almost entirely leveled. It was just incredibly eerie & sad to think of all of these displaced people, & unfortunately these feelings would revisit me a few times during the remainder of our trip - it's just not an easy thing to let go of when you're seeing something you're so familiar with in a such a devastating condition for the first time.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.96875px;"><br />
</span></span> <span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.96875px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Having said that, almost every day of our trip outside of Christchurch was filled with wonderment, new experiences, loving companionship & adventure. I am so happy to have shared this time with Birta, who is not only someone I love dearly, but is also just an amazing travel companion, & she was also really in desperate need of a getaway herself. Her absolute awe of every place we went to was so rewarding to me, & really soothed my anxious heart & let me at least for a time slip into the holiday mode, forgetting the devastation I had come home to, & for some moments the mounting uncertainties that awaited me back in Berlin. Hard to believe it, but even on an amazing holiday I was still nerved-up about joblessness & VISAlessnes. But for Birta alone, I was a proud tour guide, showing off every postcard location that was within our reach, sharing everything I could to make her happy, & kicking aside the black dog who had been gnawing at my heels. I look through the following photos & feel so many thanks for the amazing memories that I will cherish forever.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.96875px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></span> <br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.96875px;"><i><b>Akaroa - a day trip to the old French colonial town of cute villas, & the search for decent Fish & Chips.</b></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.96875px;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PbUYmvT7Vkfwo1pTom_A2it5tWX_eWaZ1wj6XwZz0USDAxVvgWmSf1bVi6odqt-T1_HAaxZFO3uyxeTMXhj7YdNl0oczWKP7tPLZibQET5EzJl9jdnZbiynxeTeWI1nKdAygCuYrBew/s1600/P1020219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PbUYmvT7Vkfwo1pTom_A2it5tWX_eWaZ1wj6XwZz0USDAxVvgWmSf1bVi6odqt-T1_HAaxZFO3uyxeTMXhj7YdNl0oczWKP7tPLZibQET5EzJl9jdnZbiynxeTeWI1nKdAygCuYrBew/s640/P1020219.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptxm6SA90rCcuxs3VxxjWvbfNQh6otEPCaOv0VC0ktVh-tFVSyrWb4BOmFniqGB8LjAzEXsjQ7IHJHFuk24i7axoRZ1ow6EVEhtyfFFopEvzrRfM0-s1Ippja5ypoXkMp7zyJBKZAs2k/s1600/P1020222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptxm6SA90rCcuxs3VxxjWvbfNQh6otEPCaOv0VC0ktVh-tFVSyrWb4BOmFniqGB8LjAzEXsjQ7IHJHFuk24i7axoRZ1ow6EVEhtyfFFopEvzrRfM0-s1Ippja5ypoXkMp7zyJBKZAs2k/s640/P1020222.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMyarOw6u-ietuv6rAagrU4OXyFVfkTWzq2FjnwPVd1jcE27plvUwxqz8sdeu4hLo6GOkQMFEJwQfSbb8NSJeGuhgv6s38Hc8Fd0dU2glcDc6YbH3wofnHnNc8X9sgTN6bo0SwPTxhZQ/s1600/P1020228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMyarOw6u-ietuv6rAagrU4OXyFVfkTWzq2FjnwPVd1jcE27plvUwxqz8sdeu4hLo6GOkQMFEJwQfSbb8NSJeGuhgv6s38Hc8Fd0dU2glcDc6YbH3wofnHnNc8X9sgTN6bo0SwPTxhZQ/s640/P1020228.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeb0dM2L2Si5hG844z4iOBsy_Ct2lCK4V6H9cZSqE0HYfAVRPw37viX_e1BO6kfLIC1cEVstz9goDTWlTguNUykM0MaFmHliFIjbm6xz55xuCSuxHKkJvsxdDnLVYPLjxx9CX1WUgO98s/s1600/P1020229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeb0dM2L2Si5hG844z4iOBsy_Ct2lCK4V6H9cZSqE0HYfAVRPw37viX_e1BO6kfLIC1cEVstz9goDTWlTguNUykM0MaFmHliFIjbm6xz55xuCSuxHKkJvsxdDnLVYPLjxx9CX1WUgO98s/s640/P1020229.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYEci3mXvZT-RdF3jtIJ_fkm8X9FsU4yv30pH0-T4P4hAQwaGrUsdAQdBtduA3_ltxNFQjX-92H-t2TrmCmhMliQyFSjaxe-_mK9H-rlSV7lTmWS-6mREW4eSvqpaQyNzJEIO66QMhM0/s1600/P1020231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYEci3mXvZT-RdF3jtIJ_fkm8X9FsU4yv30pH0-T4P4hAQwaGrUsdAQdBtduA3_ltxNFQjX-92H-t2TrmCmhMliQyFSjaxe-_mK9H-rlSV7lTmWS-6mREW4eSvqpaQyNzJEIO66QMhM0/s640/P1020231.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiOWm-azU5NfUabkEqgSoAqBmmoiiyXABC51XmHTiD2GNDeZsWMNfElwuPitKQHEYIvOyANFeQoQSrFTphp3UfKhJEAu9yS-YZh3YZ7Wo_b703_lWLKb83PzBkYiFyVX9Z9sEeCyhvYg/s1600/P1020232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiOWm-azU5NfUabkEqgSoAqBmmoiiyXABC51XmHTiD2GNDeZsWMNfElwuPitKQHEYIvOyANFeQoQSrFTphp3UfKhJEAu9yS-YZh3YZ7Wo_b703_lWLKb83PzBkYiFyVX9Z9sEeCyhvYg/s640/P1020232.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZh2uOtrdxuMRoXiBOZRd8Nts8q5Et3fxPXSEv1uffCdFLQJ785llO1DBdKMEMA099DAkEqRhWwajYVS1F0NPzBW8kAqooI7P_8oCdoQza2ebwDEAB4zXZuVS5LRykCRAYLR0nHvZhmM/s1600/P1020233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZh2uOtrdxuMRoXiBOZRd8Nts8q5Et3fxPXSEv1uffCdFLQJ785llO1DBdKMEMA099DAkEqRhWwajYVS1F0NPzBW8kAqooI7P_8oCdoQza2ebwDEAB4zXZuVS5LRykCRAYLR0nHvZhmM/s640/P1020233.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVcnrEmwD3wJkBBIOEjdIIh14pMd1tJURuy19fI9BIXKMuheM0tSNe351APoQWNRXMl1tY3Xnl9veo7hPP3aPl-c-nzAZh2H4E2ikN2AC5ki9_RNLsPHxbC0TxMYKjsmPyrmdi7z9BzU/s1600/P1020234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVcnrEmwD3wJkBBIOEjdIIh14pMd1tJURuy19fI9BIXKMuheM0tSNe351APoQWNRXMl1tY3Xnl9veo7hPP3aPl-c-nzAZh2H4E2ikN2AC5ki9_RNLsPHxbC0TxMYKjsmPyrmdi7z9BzU/s640/P1020234.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_U9RyxHicUviaaq8-CbMqC005v541NnzaS4ZSAyNH5JL8TPWgpBpwIVSl2jnQNtUAQ9H4c7BQcO_Luzu81NVPz01YctrdgwDeBQwkXDctDGmrMPkbPgkoq_3xC-2Kfw-AbISgGjStBE/s1600/P1020235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_U9RyxHicUviaaq8-CbMqC005v541NnzaS4ZSAyNH5JL8TPWgpBpwIVSl2jnQNtUAQ9H4c7BQcO_Luzu81NVPz01YctrdgwDeBQwkXDctDGmrMPkbPgkoq_3xC-2Kfw-AbISgGjStBE/s640/P1020235.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIl7MPnfBGgGV16Tg9WoUaLUIB5l_nfcOiuSXukNP79Pn6FOF1oNRL8ZwstE-sw7VA5PRJ8Qy7WFssECLQLN4ZBm7Dqdpvyp4c6p4eoJnvzaslL8Txc9KiE501VWbAR6mtMM2jlAdUbU/s1600/P1020236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIl7MPnfBGgGV16Tg9WoUaLUIB5l_nfcOiuSXukNP79Pn6FOF1oNRL8ZwstE-sw7VA5PRJ8Qy7WFssECLQLN4ZBm7Dqdpvyp4c6p4eoJnvzaslL8Txc9KiE501VWbAR6mtMM2jlAdUbU/s640/P1020236.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.96875px;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span></span></div>
<i style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px;"><b>Christchurch Botanical Rose Gardens. One of my favourite moments was taking Birta for a ride on the "horse tree" an amazingly bowed branch of a Californian Cedar tree that is just high enough off the ground to bob up & down on, & has been that way ever since I can remember.</b></i><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.96875px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></span></span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90Qy6jnF6Z6Xe2E7bTjXfWA34wjfvtNnSJcEipjG0WLGf9BPiTKAOf-Y_Jui8vrjU16rw0ZBobbMSR-B9myXmuwDiT_SLBKeaWXbB0DzqOe9R0WWRGAmNPOSBB45XRbHLG2NhFPp7Eh4/s1600/P1020238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90Qy6jnF6Z6Xe2E7bTjXfWA34wjfvtNnSJcEipjG0WLGf9BPiTKAOf-Y_Jui8vrjU16rw0ZBobbMSR-B9myXmuwDiT_SLBKeaWXbB0DzqOe9R0WWRGAmNPOSBB45XRbHLG2NhFPp7Eh4/s640/P1020238.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdmXPimb6p0YVoQXVeiHxbIPVnV18o6CKdjFG6GcYyxLXP76QtXhvm33OMdsyxvdhJiM0K0j2KHntjWHPK1l8Bjpes5yKP8mZURrGtK6-0S7yhaN84fv9FU3OfmxwDER7wv4xfpcQYH8/s1600/P1020239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdmXPimb6p0YVoQXVeiHxbIPVnV18o6CKdjFG6GcYyxLXP76QtXhvm33OMdsyxvdhJiM0K0j2KHntjWHPK1l8Bjpes5yKP8mZURrGtK6-0S7yhaN84fv9FU3OfmxwDER7wv4xfpcQYH8/s640/P1020239.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvxvAGBmIq6t6HZZKWSkp5Ac1_P3nV1nwzhipzPR8xjB-ZBgZpQIWAJG4GSJbojPpq6BlC4oOBbfFpxtVsNOrFiG0kI5MwO6AtOa3IfWimL_yI_X9KFSy2xpYN6bSMBRHj4NxOL04kgQ/s1600/P1020240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvxvAGBmIq6t6HZZKWSkp5Ac1_P3nV1nwzhipzPR8xjB-ZBgZpQIWAJG4GSJbojPpq6BlC4oOBbfFpxtVsNOrFiG0kI5MwO6AtOa3IfWimL_yI_X9KFSy2xpYN6bSMBRHj4NxOL04kgQ/s640/P1020240.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlejTedN9VqsUq28kC9ljRdqBK59RGgFxpTmN2n8f9NoXBeiPJqRXRHo4wVEkjsRCapmjNUCEOE2iVHbfGz1S2L7NfjsNdSIE8lIvSSvcqwqjHtg8P09ma-VPpBsjmzKvce-21KAkjwc8/s1600/P1020241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlejTedN9VqsUq28kC9ljRdqBK59RGgFxpTmN2n8f9NoXBeiPJqRXRHo4wVEkjsRCapmjNUCEOE2iVHbfGz1S2L7NfjsNdSIE8lIvSSvcqwqjHtg8P09ma-VPpBsjmzKvce-21KAkjwc8/s640/P1020241.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.96875px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></span></span><i style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px;"><b>I took so few photos on the way down, but our next stop was Wanaka. I'm so thankful to Brigit, Susie & Mike for having us to stay in Wanaka, taking us out on their boat on the lake & giving us directions to walk the beautiful Rob Roy Glacier track.</b></i><br />
<i style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px;"><b><br />
</b></i> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsB_fFId24m5i4uJZdmkdOuhJVgzoImIKLrs_89bVU51uwOidTtfxqjithZzc_C40LKfqAH25yVP-yInUFCw6hv6b8urzPfhXM64TL9tG93lhgsoHJaXX2J-V2-trTWlLSjtEu8BWgyEk/s1600/P1020247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsB_fFId24m5i4uJZdmkdOuhJVgzoImIKLrs_89bVU51uwOidTtfxqjithZzc_C40LKfqAH25yVP-yInUFCw6hv6b8urzPfhXM64TL9tG93lhgsoHJaXX2J-V2-trTWlLSjtEu8BWgyEk/s640/P1020247.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QKnu6mxL8Gdw8KCk7XpD6cPPBADN_zDD1tZQrKNp-ol4I3a_jtobxni5TTqq9MTfWBjgW_ZTa16QF0oJoAVYDzJ2CETdSUuUUNlN4fkESLEFKkD7K0joWIwUYPyWg3tOhOggCpcZTXo/s1600/P1020253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QKnu6mxL8Gdw8KCk7XpD6cPPBADN_zDD1tZQrKNp-ol4I3a_jtobxni5TTqq9MTfWBjgW_ZTa16QF0oJoAVYDzJ2CETdSUuUUNlN4fkESLEFKkD7K0joWIwUYPyWg3tOhOggCpcZTXo/s640/P1020253.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOkGD-z4PrJmQbW0nqZb6au1FR6bPm-OwP_3lk0i1Z_pkEeG7tvMySK0WA-M5u9FU7UxPrHQnEODffxu_b8w3UFtfDRmKidLSwGv-9uvMF4-Df64sc_LrGpy2EuULKW4fGh4yeeKzwKU/s1600/P1020254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOkGD-z4PrJmQbW0nqZb6au1FR6bPm-OwP_3lk0i1Z_pkEeG7tvMySK0WA-M5u9FU7UxPrHQnEODffxu_b8w3UFtfDRmKidLSwGv-9uvMF4-Df64sc_LrGpy2EuULKW4fGh4yeeKzwKU/s640/P1020254.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkS6feo4bOw7Ezc-y_xMlq_QloN8nU5RIUtbFvRat20nzdYWSXnqZjN3XJvR7j_2ct1_WndjdhRemz_wcR2lkiYWSqiXJOc-JLkntWjl1lAd545FpNLNmRYY1n_UltHxi7GJbjV1vL8o/s1600/P1020256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkS6feo4bOw7Ezc-y_xMlq_QloN8nU5RIUtbFvRat20nzdYWSXnqZjN3XJvR7j_2ct1_WndjdhRemz_wcR2lkiYWSqiXJOc-JLkntWjl1lAd545FpNLNmRYY1n_UltHxi7GJbjV1vL8o/s640/P1020256.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_pimCWACTcBFwgv4DL339v9NGtsWGAq8f_S0jEhpxXtGn_anby_R98keoQYECuru6VnLVi5Ob5rpCHKatufNUCYl7lgXvgHNjLVmox35HbftQVSnzdWYZXHzglHhlNa_lVoD3OdIpmk/s1600/P1020259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_pimCWACTcBFwgv4DL339v9NGtsWGAq8f_S0jEhpxXtGn_anby_R98keoQYECuru6VnLVi5Ob5rpCHKatufNUCYl7lgXvgHNjLVmox35HbftQVSnzdWYZXHzglHhlNa_lVoD3OdIpmk/s640/P1020259.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjducz3g9VYDz206GzPbjKazPbF47R1gPb0Sgnlf7D9Ihzq46TEUCqJAf6bUCStQ8fjxvwvNJ0iyAONwCpZPzskFubMVyfO6AleB1B1UFFh0WElP5BnFBz8mPBSA6-g4kjaMrh90T1Vk/s1600/P1020260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjducz3g9VYDz206GzPbjKazPbF47R1gPb0Sgnlf7D9Ihzq46TEUCqJAf6bUCStQ8fjxvwvNJ0iyAONwCpZPzskFubMVyfO6AleB1B1UFFh0WElP5BnFBz8mPBSA6-g4kjaMrh90T1Vk/s640/P1020260.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroNA-R7ezSnujjKpNBqtiSaVhYhW1v0d45G57RB46VPIWbQ7zv77Br0pfK3yFfmqZUGIkGXNd9buhZN9i1beGsK7bjy7TyH6vTvZNc5HCwaLVHbzbbW9AzKs3gF1qE9yBMaJR7WafQno/s1600/P1020265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroNA-R7ezSnujjKpNBqtiSaVhYhW1v0d45G57RB46VPIWbQ7zv77Br0pfK3yFfmqZUGIkGXNd9buhZN9i1beGsK7bjy7TyH6vTvZNc5HCwaLVHbzbbW9AzKs3gF1qE9yBMaJR7WafQno/s640/P1020265.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcIvi7_T2PCzVtWfkiPpWpkudkT5kKQkPQdAaSt9xtySnXjpQLSSQWlEk9nsGcv1W3Uqs0KMT2VIOIRUOv0q-9lq4gH81kbdMUh7G5sp2XkjK3XfkTs47pKSBoO3qUrX3vinzAbxK2tk/s1600/noname-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcIvi7_T2PCzVtWfkiPpWpkudkT5kKQkPQdAaSt9xtySnXjpQLSSQWlEk9nsGcv1W3Uqs0KMT2VIOIRUOv0q-9lq4gH81kbdMUh7G5sp2XkjK3XfkTs47pKSBoO3qUrX3vinzAbxK2tk/s640/noname-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMz9HCBsMCxRNY_8Etyng2chaZ6hcNCHZGlNLgGV0I1MXjxtAz7aapF_8DjK_a5SN0q-uoEX02fKG1NtARiwXFHk5opclgAEfU2NVGt3LCXxv3bDCIwHVQ773cVj-NkfLkak8ccDkfyk/s1600/noname.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMz9HCBsMCxRNY_8Etyng2chaZ6hcNCHZGlNLgGV0I1MXjxtAz7aapF_8DjK_a5SN0q-uoEX02fKG1NtARiwXFHk5opclgAEfU2NVGt3LCXxv3bDCIwHVQ773cVj-NkfLkak8ccDkfyk/s640/noname.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipm2eOzoLBikAh6Oh2FOnaE5inSI8ozcHtXXr5sAVuKCVwWzb_RDkRzUHCMh2HKW9NUv9qTGED1t7xVtAN1oswiNrwJMhhPsOHdzxQaXBESyqV9UR83P5mA6U8_bGo5GPOR8ejiZxvmiE/s1600/P1020267+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipm2eOzoLBikAh6Oh2FOnaE5inSI8ozcHtXXr5sAVuKCVwWzb_RDkRzUHCMh2HKW9NUv9qTGED1t7xVtAN1oswiNrwJMhhPsOHdzxQaXBESyqV9UR83P5mA6U8_bGo5GPOR8ejiZxvmiE/s640/P1020267+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYsrWnGBluUhWAjmI0yNo4jLaPmGBwQ3DzQy7kouQtREn30aePemPoW1IyMYJ9lxBA6CeiOLEw_zVsQ8qrKLRxocYLZPg3fHNqDD2pg511RfU0Zo3_S0w405WgnwUG_lhPbyoan97ccq8/s1600/P1020268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYsrWnGBluUhWAjmI0yNo4jLaPmGBwQ3DzQy7kouQtREn30aePemPoW1IyMYJ9lxBA6CeiOLEw_zVsQ8qrKLRxocYLZPg3fHNqDD2pg511RfU0Zo3_S0w405WgnwUG_lhPbyoan97ccq8/s640/P1020268.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCkr-WZ4QYZEod7tg8kfdCSx1Ne1FhYGc8UMNE0mofb_Y8rur5C2rpzu2lC4syT8ggASHjgoUeekEeNoBvSK1JZi9fatK-m3j-zJYK9sXQhy6WvUMi-GGu9Lv1UZPqe6bwPbSJjlQZRA/s1600/P1020269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCkr-WZ4QYZEod7tg8kfdCSx1Ne1FhYGc8UMNE0mofb_Y8rur5C2rpzu2lC4syT8ggASHjgoUeekEeNoBvSK1JZi9fatK-m3j-zJYK9sXQhy6WvUMi-GGu9Lv1UZPqe6bwPbSJjlQZRA/s640/P1020269.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_H4cQpp0wPG483tpcu5MSZH2ftiDEU0IDKZ66vPSlkZFLQVdNfXOt3bW9LOw3mxBt2qUqO9U27I4mMPrcAHfQ55ViB9ZdfAKUJR9-UM9QduyNQmoxYn1uEHd8IkV0WyyXaiciN9C8Ns/s1600/P1020270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_H4cQpp0wPG483tpcu5MSZH2ftiDEU0IDKZ66vPSlkZFLQVdNfXOt3bW9LOw3mxBt2qUqO9U27I4mMPrcAHfQ55ViB9ZdfAKUJR9-UM9QduyNQmoxYn1uEHd8IkV0WyyXaiciN9C8Ns/s640/P1020270.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jYHtQsliaRIQYOSP827GlPkyiux0J6misvRbAm_nGiWkdPxcNc-Avp4wQSdnwDtNItPvkK2CYlep4JL4HLolAsDPMU8UJvUyhWlk3sQHVkvRBYc7JoSlqpsTbgcVUBz3N9SKR2ghDgI/s1600/P1020272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jYHtQsliaRIQYOSP827GlPkyiux0J6misvRbAm_nGiWkdPxcNc-Avp4wQSdnwDtNItPvkK2CYlep4JL4HLolAsDPMU8UJvUyhWlk3sQHVkvRBYc7JoSlqpsTbgcVUBz3N9SKR2ghDgI/s640/P1020272.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioz3l5jjGMpmZ0kfYzVsREXuirlycn82DBPywTY_1wGPcM2A0Hv2GFPAt-p9iB5Nj_Zov-1Sw1rB92ZG88vO3hBM6AHZXconZBitKPf5Qe6_Hvlg3_AiQm_JVLbd0Rk0_T6aVa8uQFXBI/s1600/P1020273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioz3l5jjGMpmZ0kfYzVsREXuirlycn82DBPywTY_1wGPcM2A0Hv2GFPAt-p9iB5Nj_Zov-1Sw1rB92ZG88vO3hBM6AHZXconZBitKPf5Qe6_Hvlg3_AiQm_JVLbd0Rk0_T6aVa8uQFXBI/s640/P1020273.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBE7wvD4KpnrhJtl6dYhtS1oELyZpWGAUWhJdTa73rsxxRXRllYAczN8dZpMItEzsClG-hsEjSGQXWp4JA6cBmjinvlyb9hIM6_xpaEEH027tbWbCcdc_dvoDKdO1az5PywEv-pK5iK4U/s1600/P1020274+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBE7wvD4KpnrhJtl6dYhtS1oELyZpWGAUWhJdTa73rsxxRXRllYAczN8dZpMItEzsClG-hsEjSGQXWp4JA6cBmjinvlyb9hIM6_xpaEEH027tbWbCcdc_dvoDKdO1az5PywEv-pK5iK4U/s640/P1020274+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJh5FPJIXg8Vo2uk9fq35FCAEyvjq2iDT1r4UBIlgs3dingRpUchF3QU7LoyVEMn6DzXA0hquVQyjicNootgsoRJGn6dX0DaPP2mK06j9dZKNhVagFnSksnVsTrBOTaj5yVy3R3UdtUj4/s1600/P1020275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJh5FPJIXg8Vo2uk9fq35FCAEyvjq2iDT1r4UBIlgs3dingRpUchF3QU7LoyVEMn6DzXA0hquVQyjicNootgsoRJGn6dX0DaPP2mK06j9dZKNhVagFnSksnVsTrBOTaj5yVy3R3UdtUj4/s640/P1020275.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<i style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px;"><b><br />
</b></i> <i style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px;"><b>Sadly the next stay of our trip is one that I didn't get any photos of, but it was the wonderful Kansas ranch style getaway of the August clan, in New Zealand's own 'heart of the desert' Bannockburn (it's as hot as the name suggests. This is vineyard country, we spent most of our time just kicking back, & doing a couple of vineyard tours & eating good food . I tried to pretend that I like wine enough to know what I'm drinking (I haven't a clue), & also trying not to get so drunk that I couldn't drive to the next vineyard (also probably failed!).</b></i><br />
<i style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px;"><b><br />
</b></i> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX88Q2IDq-77Y9GILx3v-l4W44FasJ_zrKyOH9yk26cB9PHvegPgnsmro3FgfzTRmWFGhi0Yq74MTRpAvkWF36rQnAHV9zSl6kAZdmaq2ZkWLDL7YbQV4bpRDkXdgwM1-AfxYD3cu9WlM/s1600/P1020277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX88Q2IDq-77Y9GILx3v-l4W44FasJ_zrKyOH9yk26cB9PHvegPgnsmro3FgfzTRmWFGhi0Yq74MTRpAvkWF36rQnAHV9zSl6kAZdmaq2ZkWLDL7YbQV4bpRDkXdgwM1-AfxYD3cu9WlM/s640/P1020277.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<i style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px;"><b><br />
</b></i> <i style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px;"><b>We headed further south to a place I've always wanted to go, the Fiordland national park. This seriously feels like the edge of the earth. We took a boat out into Milford Sounds, which is one of a number of deep fiords, whose faces drop hundreds of metres vertically into the sea. The sea here is unique, composed of a dark layer of fresh surface water that is coloured by the tannins that drain off the trees. Camping about 20 minutes out of Te Anau in our first Department of Conservation campsite, which was sublimely picturesque. The only thing that somewhat makes this paradise hard to deal with, is the sheer volume of winged-bastard-bitey-things, sandflies & mosquitoes which inhabit every square metre of this national park. During our first night cooking at the campsite, we thought that we'd be safe since we'd covered head to toe in clothing, it wasn't until the next morning that we realised those little fuckers will bite you through your clothing if it's tight. As a result, poor Birta's legs & ass became a buffet for these little bloodsuckers, they must have developed an addiction to exotic Icelandic blood. One evening in our tent, we were playing a game of last card with the torch hanging from the tent roof - during a pause in our conversation, we both thought we could hear a bee hive in the near distance. Concerned that we'd set up camp under a beehive, we pointed the torch towards the roof of the tent, & saw a black cloud of mosquitos buzzing in a frenzy above us. It was unreal.</b></i><br />
<i style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px;"><b><br />
</b></i> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3t5448Qh6TFGXLAVDqK-AMXIXGG9GdJ2x7nmPe1Wv5nS1q6SjilKoGy5wZJfTmsOg6sT8NtJjL6jwqIkcON6pXVCdoanUXtpLy-yH313_MiKIcbPB36ifcBPRHOV_zT88kYT1vMgWveo/s1600/P1020288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3t5448Qh6TFGXLAVDqK-AMXIXGG9GdJ2x7nmPe1Wv5nS1q6SjilKoGy5wZJfTmsOg6sT8NtJjL6jwqIkcON6pXVCdoanUXtpLy-yH313_MiKIcbPB36ifcBPRHOV_zT88kYT1vMgWveo/s640/P1020288.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdXSyRGikwWI36sO6EkEk1j_7BNXZzLJ1TVsLjL6jZtLnMeLiDByi8JbNGYuY_JpTLW1YyF-n4ucp4kA4uJkSF8t1cqJTvf2ImjNshcZon8-Omhzyk__iKm5x4Z7Dlf2BfRHlzByVHA8/s1600/P1020291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdXSyRGikwWI36sO6EkEk1j_7BNXZzLJ1TVsLjL6jZtLnMeLiDByi8JbNGYuY_JpTLW1YyF-n4ucp4kA4uJkSF8t1cqJTvf2ImjNshcZon8-Omhzyk__iKm5x4Z7Dlf2BfRHlzByVHA8/s640/P1020291.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHCk1YCDG2Bde4ENJTkgVfK4IgxDaXJ21MjgHZRKfPV72rif-nJRNgQmX57a_LKzx9Ll3HgiHXuaOEMkc-Hvm-oudhqM2-c1wPDTcX78kig0gLrVbR2DawIwRlXqzU3MdA7lQMvDr7Gc/s1600/P1020292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHCk1YCDG2Bde4ENJTkgVfK4IgxDaXJ21MjgHZRKfPV72rif-nJRNgQmX57a_LKzx9Ll3HgiHXuaOEMkc-Hvm-oudhqM2-c1wPDTcX78kig0gLrVbR2DawIwRlXqzU3MdA7lQMvDr7Gc/s640/P1020292.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yeIKu8Nf9G1DM8IXnw7CZJ5fzKysYxGulF3vHtgDbOEaqw31nJT_Notk2AwSV0H1uPfVlZSzdLELfYl3iEL2QNIxyPZs8K9nkKwGSAG50n-WZGPwG1Z71nchpeDBpt-fV3qcziBQK2Y/s1600/P1020298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yeIKu8Nf9G1DM8IXnw7CZJ5fzKysYxGulF3vHtgDbOEaqw31nJT_Notk2AwSV0H1uPfVlZSzdLELfYl3iEL2QNIxyPZs8K9nkKwGSAG50n-WZGPwG1Z71nchpeDBpt-fV3qcziBQK2Y/s640/P1020298.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlU0SDPFA0dGfHc946bjeVKJu15F2cS1WIKLEeQ_Tvus2kcp8F7Geb_U8zGs0zjwOcZGeSukRB9K7-Enb4t5OOZOV6YpqWWX2kiTu_EzNnnKA03zQkXkdh0jybhYSqEvxB62fihSXcxg/s1600/P1020302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlU0SDPFA0dGfHc946bjeVKJu15F2cS1WIKLEeQ_Tvus2kcp8F7Geb_U8zGs0zjwOcZGeSukRB9K7-Enb4t5OOZOV6YpqWWX2kiTu_EzNnnKA03zQkXkdh0jybhYSqEvxB62fihSXcxg/s640/P1020302.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOF2-ysGK1CXsMfKD_Fz9BgGfzd4oJ7D88tVXLsjOpIlErEyCAgI6CmDWBRwXH_EjuEpU4B6Ni42ydUAmCVh4jMo5GJpZ3ODQc-J7y7z2PXmlTPv9rID6UydyugXoj8EYTW2aWuH_xfKY/s1600/P1020304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOF2-ysGK1CXsMfKD_Fz9BgGfzd4oJ7D88tVXLsjOpIlErEyCAgI6CmDWBRwXH_EjuEpU4B6Ni42ydUAmCVh4jMo5GJpZ3ODQc-J7y7z2PXmlTPv9rID6UydyugXoj8EYTW2aWuH_xfKY/s640/P1020304.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXyzggvqk7YDRiK9VlD47wnIE83NuNfwO7wzIekY07yyAoMuZnruMZLedtCkKVYSOdkIK-Y8Er6WLci9j8dBQJYcuwAY0woc_EsLLCb0C-54ZW31qE6TqRZ3pRr0O2EEohnmRDeJ6iAs/s1600/P1020305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXyzggvqk7YDRiK9VlD47wnIE83NuNfwO7wzIekY07yyAoMuZnruMZLedtCkKVYSOdkIK-Y8Er6WLci9j8dBQJYcuwAY0woc_EsLLCb0C-54ZW31qE6TqRZ3pRr0O2EEohnmRDeJ6iAs/s640/P1020305.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCeK628Z-cbE9X7dvgIpeUGYgOF6dcDmk2fBTfBZ2He_N4Ahq0py89fol2zbtnNckv30Txt2zCAixD5PyMZJVLXH8-VZV2PqR4DddQKwftS8dBuRXPrHawCjDI84OoFhaY-0kozHXNtw/s1600/P1020306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCeK628Z-cbE9X7dvgIpeUGYgOF6dcDmk2fBTfBZ2He_N4Ahq0py89fol2zbtnNckv30Txt2zCAixD5PyMZJVLXH8-VZV2PqR4DddQKwftS8dBuRXPrHawCjDI84OoFhaY-0kozHXNtw/s640/P1020306.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaXvPWHh50qCZ__aMdKhstb8zQNv3qXWH9YhzKBYB1kXFhj7IKB2vixz84TLY8Oavb5GCrGaZdjDrd5aPpQImeq8ZfzU4AFEXiiO42jIFx_ucH06zWbWNGXXNVAgD7mv_yK-8Urq4dm8/s1600/P1020309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaXvPWHh50qCZ__aMdKhstb8zQNv3qXWH9YhzKBYB1kXFhj7IKB2vixz84TLY8Oavb5GCrGaZdjDrd5aPpQImeq8ZfzU4AFEXiiO42jIFx_ucH06zWbWNGXXNVAgD7mv_yK-8Urq4dm8/s640/P1020309.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhmMZEOm0fH21gq_56KMXI1um1N8AdA9n8dvmaivemvxkiRPuh4aAimDS2DuoKXTidMqgMHb4q3P4v2fXUKZMHtsgCUOxZt4HnIyDjc-TLcwjms_tfzl_U1ezj66WNHTCjURfpMGbp8k/s1600/P1020311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhmMZEOm0fH21gq_56KMXI1um1N8AdA9n8dvmaivemvxkiRPuh4aAimDS2DuoKXTidMqgMHb4q3P4v2fXUKZMHtsgCUOxZt4HnIyDjc-TLcwjms_tfzl_U1ezj66WNHTCjURfpMGbp8k/s640/P1020311.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvohOeofFgwAPEmlGjjtUQrXqm_PL6DU12lGUBXF-RXLfobRG2MIF3F-y7EK473LPh3J4om6wi7alg5IYhLAipiiefzLbIAXv8dglbHObbPvYrYdEt_2IyF166e_wo0CwPcAN9cZUFUSg/s1600/P1020315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvohOeofFgwAPEmlGjjtUQrXqm_PL6DU12lGUBXF-RXLfobRG2MIF3F-y7EK473LPh3J4om6wi7alg5IYhLAipiiefzLbIAXv8dglbHObbPvYrYdEt_2IyF166e_wo0CwPcAN9cZUFUSg/s640/P1020315.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFoppk_73gbByrIuw2EO7skCoWKO0FamAJSKSI9Cs8CjsIXjTfdR3TtotmhUSSdBdECk21LGtDHcqqwIRiiG5aKsBoD1tqHOJCl0xxcrAE9l_vNY8Ue-9snrIbshCzF_vDH_tWfvfH0xs/s1600/P1020316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFoppk_73gbByrIuw2EO7skCoWKO0FamAJSKSI9Cs8CjsIXjTfdR3TtotmhUSSdBdECk21LGtDHcqqwIRiiG5aKsBoD1tqHOJCl0xxcrAE9l_vNY8Ue-9snrIbshCzF_vDH_tWfvfH0xs/s640/P1020316.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIS_ljp5kCdr3IvPBKsqhlW4ERgzsyA2SWwYJHuIn25HuwwKrKuBrDNKTOfBhc-Er963mnZNdjbQY3hHMf9jFeSCGL0agzjiqbiw3ijBVYmBTaT_0y-VDk1GjCSZ3Ox7HsxUQ7AMTgaIY/s1600/P1020318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIS_ljp5kCdr3IvPBKsqhlW4ERgzsyA2SWwYJHuIn25HuwwKrKuBrDNKTOfBhc-Er963mnZNdjbQY3hHMf9jFeSCGL0agzjiqbiw3ijBVYmBTaT_0y-VDk1GjCSZ3Ox7HsxUQ7AMTgaIY/s640/P1020318.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaCWNDzCN-mxIBu8_VY9nmG8T4wH6PjYZNeZNOi1vCEdKeYBrSUNbwxFmFDrX9VgROP5brC_LZa273dsaFxkV05oE9GleW1f3X3y_xyEwGo3M3VDbLTmJ8L7DXq4xl78eNVuftPF-nJE/s1600/P1020319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaCWNDzCN-mxIBu8_VY9nmG8T4wH6PjYZNeZNOi1vCEdKeYBrSUNbwxFmFDrX9VgROP5brC_LZa273dsaFxkV05oE9GleW1f3X3y_xyEwGo3M3VDbLTmJ8L7DXq4xl78eNVuftPF-nJE/s640/P1020319.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIA9uk5uP1Xs0iyXfKNIHrJCydB18mhQePD_gNk-WHH0Bb3QVUSK5Wb33VYetKyuHodLE0OUYMp2Hrn3HDCshR6iG60lF03OXJOvXlH4k5oWmtwR7tgDfQv249sYeV1-QoxCxgRqovgU/s1600/P1020320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIA9uk5uP1Xs0iyXfKNIHrJCydB18mhQePD_gNk-WHH0Bb3QVUSK5Wb33VYetKyuHodLE0OUYMp2Hrn3HDCshR6iG60lF03OXJOvXlH4k5oWmtwR7tgDfQv249sYeV1-QoxCxgRqovgU/s640/P1020320.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QKNAqQ6YQUv2oTJ6-xW5i2bPIUSZ6ZwlKlSqoQ3Przc_M3gNTlm9xNxbdYe0hu9DWiVmj3gGfS46koBpr-3Q5x8oHlEAcqzzEej76uQgXpqE-W0BPGvbOe3wRAvYuX6aURKRiCNgwZU/s1600/P1020328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QKNAqQ6YQUv2oTJ6-xW5i2bPIUSZ6ZwlKlSqoQ3Przc_M3gNTlm9xNxbdYe0hu9DWiVmj3gGfS46koBpr-3Q5x8oHlEAcqzzEej76uQgXpqE-W0BPGvbOe3wRAvYuX6aURKRiCNgwZU/s640/P1020328.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVlFPbLv3aiqum-xc_p52BEwL7cHP_HpGzXJ_D7SLoqd_0MDtJhYVdQP60g8gMgVndTpJtxObyW7rhpKQ1bqAyj0Y9y35-E5psyt0ODZOt7iJdXYPzhvdl6vuMIeUpSenRwKSRiGkIyQI/s1600/P1020329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVlFPbLv3aiqum-xc_p52BEwL7cHP_HpGzXJ_D7SLoqd_0MDtJhYVdQP60g8gMgVndTpJtxObyW7rhpKQ1bqAyj0Y9y35-E5psyt0ODZOt7iJdXYPzhvdl6vuMIeUpSenRwKSRiGkIyQI/s640/P1020329.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VS0lHHb-iB1mORPGO4EUFQc8fYoizgRqSzSd2MtAH-2fYXT_w9PswWiH-5ND2bQj8msVrsXm7jEkCMcqgAC88-ldPG40MJS4o3PNF8YstR8tqpCRTH3F6wYA1EyvHhDbWadOT28bQn0/s1600/P1020333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VS0lHHb-iB1mORPGO4EUFQc8fYoizgRqSzSd2MtAH-2fYXT_w9PswWiH-5ND2bQj8msVrsXm7jEkCMcqgAC88-ldPG40MJS4o3PNF8YstR8tqpCRTH3F6wYA1EyvHhDbWadOT28bQn0/s640/P1020333.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<i style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px;"><b><br />
</b></i> <i style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px;"><b>I wish I had been able to capture more of this amazing forest scenery, the drive from Te Anau up the Haast road was just incredible, open empty roads for eternity, often flanked by these windswept beech trees that look like something from a Dr Seuss book, they are just so otherworldly. Unfortunately my foot was to the floor most of the way, to try & get us to our Department of Conservation campsite before nightfall, in the middle of nowhere, which we just managed to do - the photo lakeside is just after we got our tent up, it was dark 15 minutes later!</b></i><br />
<i style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px;"><b><br />
</b></i> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiH_TcwwXyFmy7URWF-qyNDeP3IYQ4kIFacQCRzBewcyNFYlwQB9FJcXWrX6ik70BbBtVd877GRmKp-iGoNEzEgEGlFpo-5kd0Lb5Q14DjMq5B_IPp_86fEMYJ7a2VdRhXE_RvY-3TF5A/s1600/P1020334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiH_TcwwXyFmy7URWF-qyNDeP3IYQ4kIFacQCRzBewcyNFYlwQB9FJcXWrX6ik70BbBtVd877GRmKp-iGoNEzEgEGlFpo-5kd0Lb5Q14DjMq5B_IPp_86fEMYJ7a2VdRhXE_RvY-3TF5A/s640/P1020334.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpSNgr__bU4zvtRYGVzrqo6vEdFjHFEGt11bQfW2wDZhr2h4N8tVbU8vPWMw2zEdpLoJDONV6rvB2NYt7GV4awzK_FjUeFfJ3j6R4cVV3uoS1zpxa9xHYKUmcQz51NRJ4dAy9xf2csfc/s1600/P1020335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpSNgr__bU4zvtRYGVzrqo6vEdFjHFEGt11bQfW2wDZhr2h4N8tVbU8vPWMw2zEdpLoJDONV6rvB2NYt7GV4awzK_FjUeFfJ3j6R4cVV3uoS1zpxa9xHYKUmcQz51NRJ4dAy9xf2csfc/s640/P1020335.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-Q1iJzWAki3h5JjeWSCscokdY16Kn_RJmrmcTYajQRMEiGSK37nE3v1OXfyYmcaIJyCIXRNdmepj8yalAqrmW2_urs1o9ZzjSrKVSsmp3xLbfcca026FKcfZQ8E2_ZEKe64527aN4GM/s1600/P1020338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-Q1iJzWAki3h5JjeWSCscokdY16Kn_RJmrmcTYajQRMEiGSK37nE3v1OXfyYmcaIJyCIXRNdmepj8yalAqrmW2_urs1o9ZzjSrKVSsmp3xLbfcca026FKcfZQ8E2_ZEKe64527aN4GM/s640/P1020338.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<i style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px;"><b><br />
</b></i> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuNC2qgkrZChCVZjsfKZtlEl2GtwPYT-N43ChqPAza__01pbqKwRnMjPnFg8LBFl5UBGdF_J_O5ETKkHbDa9IEsGZ7aeEYsA7D9Y4l2ZisnQ6DewAEUynUZDs5liSC2KWqKsKm9EtJY4/s1600/P1020340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuNC2qgkrZChCVZjsfKZtlEl2GtwPYT-N43ChqPAza__01pbqKwRnMjPnFg8LBFl5UBGdF_J_O5ETKkHbDa9IEsGZ7aeEYsA7D9Y4l2ZisnQ6DewAEUynUZDs5liSC2KWqKsKm9EtJY4/s640/P1020340.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOjFSNVYNK4QLGEq7rkRThp6tD006CsrOOmQPcvV9LHF4D-XqpdaG_A7Up9TJYXzz0BUBozVwZNK_F-xNKm1wWfIotFStUQw4vTpfOTnVJymz5LPGuMS3mFOUcltA9kx64PGzfXJpbZI/s1600/P1020342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOjFSNVYNK4QLGEq7rkRThp6tD006CsrOOmQPcvV9LHF4D-XqpdaG_A7Up9TJYXzz0BUBozVwZNK_F-xNKm1wWfIotFStUQw4vTpfOTnVJymz5LPGuMS3mFOUcltA9kx64PGzfXJpbZI/s640/P1020342.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMhurc2ZUtTpj0ieH-rCxEmm464h6_AZZ3l1gd1n0oj5hT8rznPu9M8O-ucWSFfeQJapDAM3x__BFkFuGAxN4g-CsQlhFQ37ghvmcAwrwcf0V3rFyMqvg09xycqeJBKzBQotAOuluuCs/s1600/P1020343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMhurc2ZUtTpj0ieH-rCxEmm464h6_AZZ3l1gd1n0oj5hT8rznPu9M8O-ucWSFfeQJapDAM3x__BFkFuGAxN4g-CsQlhFQ37ghvmcAwrwcf0V3rFyMqvg09xycqeJBKzBQotAOuluuCs/s640/P1020343.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px; text-align: left;"><b>Our next brief stop on the South Island whirlwind, was to Franz Josef Glacier. It was the first time that I'd been so close to a glacier, that I could hear the ice cracking & rocks grinding. Powerful nature.</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkB-t414-2wDXQxgcCMpHApkwNN9DCjucA8RT_xT57zxD9_gjyNuuU20dJ-37246s2Vdq8X6INT5f_Gv9EsMRCTAk8ptT_m5iYFxDfCpXRNXbdhraIhBeRWbirCzEvoCxwkpnbFyawjc/s1600/P1020346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkB-t414-2wDXQxgcCMpHApkwNN9DCjucA8RT_xT57zxD9_gjyNuuU20dJ-37246s2Vdq8X6INT5f_Gv9EsMRCTAk8ptT_m5iYFxDfCpXRNXbdhraIhBeRWbirCzEvoCxwkpnbFyawjc/s640/P1020346.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcaBJ7n8Io6fBEXR1DY2t343WCn1Efcp_Ko9ixQl0zcOaGe5wNVT4bc-t-TIJReT4XiZzfJduKunAtZjGm9q9WUVy_TPOiAl6nAkOPxtW0gMScoSme02Gmbbkch8211Mpo7VGAjQEoIM/s1600/P1020349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcaBJ7n8Io6fBEXR1DY2t343WCn1Efcp_Ko9ixQl0zcOaGe5wNVT4bc-t-TIJReT4XiZzfJduKunAtZjGm9q9WUVy_TPOiAl6nAkOPxtW0gMScoSme02Gmbbkch8211Mpo7VGAjQEoIM/s640/P1020349.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7TzS8sENUErvE6csyBSVoJRUMWjKfiUnc8azs9GLdY6tWBzDjPHv4sgxXUZMTx9QMwg6lRX1KYnuAQf6NcqkxYGusuGaXIdfHzTzG9YGtopHas7IxARK70DI8JVo9-B24b4mEXWYop0/s1600/P1020350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7TzS8sENUErvE6csyBSVoJRUMWjKfiUnc8azs9GLdY6tWBzDjPHv4sgxXUZMTx9QMwg6lRX1KYnuAQf6NcqkxYGusuGaXIdfHzTzG9YGtopHas7IxARK70DI8JVo9-B24b4mEXWYop0/s640/P1020350.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px; text-align: left;"><b>Our first photostop in small town New Zealand was the town of Greymouth. One of the many West Coast towns that my mum grew up in, it has the reputation as being a "boom & bust" town, meaning that money comes & goes from these places, usually because of temporary economy & industry, primarily gold & coal mining.</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYR-LnpX5xCXUNPCy35EN1E8Cjyge8mptcukbc6GNHyzIvdH1o0UZ-ZFq3YQlWW17bcfMV_P42hnMvXGN2TJ_2jDDFaoAf37Hz1QNknBLnuvVmHSGTbY_K425QzriINEenLzPl8aHiBc/s1600/P1020351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYR-LnpX5xCXUNPCy35EN1E8Cjyge8mptcukbc6GNHyzIvdH1o0UZ-ZFq3YQlWW17bcfMV_P42hnMvXGN2TJ_2jDDFaoAf37Hz1QNknBLnuvVmHSGTbY_K425QzriINEenLzPl8aHiBc/s640/P1020351.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVYapYVKsfbUF39LpG7kof8feH3j3yX19TzFvHWlrBHmLlpHiUW65hxATXJOdNJmobi_tt3_TRGGn_EuEZkaoKtogF0lKodY31HG1T9uhSiD_HoB68GJJQf5s_2MFLo25JdNy9lny5Ko/s1600/P1020352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVYapYVKsfbUF39LpG7kof8feH3j3yX19TzFvHWlrBHmLlpHiUW65hxATXJOdNJmobi_tt3_TRGGn_EuEZkaoKtogF0lKodY31HG1T9uhSiD_HoB68GJJQf5s_2MFLo25JdNy9lny5Ko/s640/P1020352.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-DeKAyYME4pS3qshYWgfgpI6Q4swFpPNg2aVuc6umIQk9i-_Ek8G9saltDWgqvVY5JoB68Fd05NCnF4aysJqT15abdZDgPQX4X6OZjrFpaoS_8n4J6608QosEKv4toBui5kfsNBWXgA/s1600/P1020354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-DeKAyYME4pS3qshYWgfgpI6Q4swFpPNg2aVuc6umIQk9i-_Ek8G9saltDWgqvVY5JoB68Fd05NCnF4aysJqT15abdZDgPQX4X6OZjrFpaoS_8n4J6608QosEKv4toBui5kfsNBWXgA/s640/P1020354.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQMlXg8Z8iAaCXESLHFW0rKRJyoAnX6qHpPFqet_vCk6ZccHvi2DB66ImJwc_94xsxqiYjevQ7rg9oKFABjA034KTrIoKZELuEEs2iK6LzPfFM3M0zzWKPukI-8CvRFN7J_MszVUs9ns/s1600/P1020355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQMlXg8Z8iAaCXESLHFW0rKRJyoAnX6qHpPFqet_vCk6ZccHvi2DB66ImJwc_94xsxqiYjevQ7rg9oKFABjA034KTrIoKZELuEEs2iK6LzPfFM3M0zzWKPukI-8CvRFN7J_MszVUs9ns/s640/P1020355.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijC65QnNAujo_1jq4de_6b11N50U9UHo3x3lkC4h1pTsr5DBA6u236eklwUmYNC-_rAa7hdc5D3sQdDZODnIo3LEAPsbvtSE2SjBj97iPpTEghq2v0erFkV8SFsnaQYgHrv42w1b4MfAE/s1600/P1020356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijC65QnNAujo_1jq4de_6b11N50U9UHo3x3lkC4h1pTsr5DBA6u236eklwUmYNC-_rAa7hdc5D3sQdDZODnIo3LEAPsbvtSE2SjBj97iPpTEghq2v0erFkV8SFsnaQYgHrv42w1b4MfAE/s640/P1020356.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPUPSqU4CCxJlsyTkA8ITNqqpFfrLbvnsqpaTYROiJ9N9VHhp_Kf9JEt3LYSagrWmimR84r_eMX2BRFeAMRByhlgZ1kuKhBqXiSrYf8gFEzF2r7oQbxCuL4hBh2bSHU2uTZQim0V_Btw/s1600/P1020357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPUPSqU4CCxJlsyTkA8ITNqqpFfrLbvnsqpaTYROiJ9N9VHhp_Kf9JEt3LYSagrWmimR84r_eMX2BRFeAMRByhlgZ1kuKhBqXiSrYf8gFEzF2r7oQbxCuL4hBh2bSHU2uTZQim0V_Btw/s640/P1020357.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA48t6yA_J3Kx2Wi24gMLT74nMhw28C2kOGC_bMqZ0y-pxdm9VmuEnkBc2Fo9YvCsrVkzJ_SG6BOMNFg76pJ-kf3v3l34ry5AmEzkujKE9xDmCayqRxEnm2Drtez_NNTz4gqXp6S81ZN0/s1600/P1020358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA48t6yA_J3Kx2Wi24gMLT74nMhw28C2kOGC_bMqZ0y-pxdm9VmuEnkBc2Fo9YvCsrVkzJ_SG6BOMNFg76pJ-kf3v3l34ry5AmEzkujKE9xDmCayqRxEnm2Drtez_NNTz4gqXp6S81ZN0/s640/P1020358.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px; text-align: left;"><b>Our next stop to recharge our batteries after mega amounts of driving was Reefton. My family have a holiday home in this quaint little...you guessed it, mining town. There is something special about Reefton, it's got this wild west feeling about it, & even though there is nothing at all going on there, it has a sizeable population for a small town, & because it's location, the amount of passers by are able to sustain one main street of nice little cafes & pubs. We spent our time here mostly walking around old mining ruins, gorging on the abundant blackberries in my aunties garden, soaking up the sunshine, followed by a day trip to the Porari River & the Pancake Rocks.</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KTWmMba9P9ZAmloz6B7D4T75rA2m-ms7O-uN1yXsOy2aU4oUpXHj8WIbytFE5x8eRsuYZL51OgDDEsSZT96j94XugbzL_py4ldz186v-175PW1K3Mmlv5wUj-8VLSAArwCloFWIIwDg/s1600/P1020360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KTWmMba9P9ZAmloz6B7D4T75rA2m-ms7O-uN1yXsOy2aU4oUpXHj8WIbytFE5x8eRsuYZL51OgDDEsSZT96j94XugbzL_py4ldz186v-175PW1K3Mmlv5wUj-8VLSAArwCloFWIIwDg/s640/P1020360.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqE6gHUU3O2s-mbndwW52ZB26SauikHwKMZYeQnGnyYiqIB-ryZM1TKTskufC1jYEkkRAGvNb2aZIzDNsOY3keqB6WNiRBk6sD8g361ICfQqpLGW6Rbn-Fy1doH8XFMAhCkfq2Ad0vRSI/s1600/P1020361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqE6gHUU3O2s-mbndwW52ZB26SauikHwKMZYeQnGnyYiqIB-ryZM1TKTskufC1jYEkkRAGvNb2aZIzDNsOY3keqB6WNiRBk6sD8g361ICfQqpLGW6Rbn-Fy1doH8XFMAhCkfq2Ad0vRSI/s640/P1020361.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4AbsTktWGkwVCvW2J-XW1RsswJIiQaD0Q9gj-pJ_ke6IRPJTHVSptLUIx8xLvO0a4SjFclTPeRv0y2Ax0iQeEPmOH619fhru3IR41RYbz1RynL-7eu8KLPe2QN0yZf3b0nHGzh9P72U/s1600/P1020362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4AbsTktWGkwVCvW2J-XW1RsswJIiQaD0Q9gj-pJ_ke6IRPJTHVSptLUIx8xLvO0a4SjFclTPeRv0y2Ax0iQeEPmOH619fhru3IR41RYbz1RynL-7eu8KLPe2QN0yZf3b0nHGzh9P72U/s640/P1020362.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeLFNB48ftjuPHt6UdZGVAA20IQEsDk2NsYEbYpE3B6LNNpc_WoreC95-Tbnt6wvb1GNkmV_edACSJqe2BHJwY-E2VjYtxOqyu22IrOnIXkEpRpIINMYMtDzPngkHLcDJpDyT-lTp1ng/s1600/P1020364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeLFNB48ftjuPHt6UdZGVAA20IQEsDk2NsYEbYpE3B6LNNpc_WoreC95-Tbnt6wvb1GNkmV_edACSJqe2BHJwY-E2VjYtxOqyu22IrOnIXkEpRpIINMYMtDzPngkHLcDJpDyT-lTp1ng/s640/P1020364.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznODLiSW0CqbJlgpJ1XikWlhOnf7Put-KjIJCfUPtkt3h8ngE3LUQkMKKXS4va6v5tvIGzauZAvaaZUJJDup64kgf_l_IWODtVpqK3pEVVkIcxSxuo5E5j3wtWCKhUtTdDVJ_isZJhwo/s1600/P1020366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznODLiSW0CqbJlgpJ1XikWlhOnf7Put-KjIJCfUPtkt3h8ngE3LUQkMKKXS4va6v5tvIGzauZAvaaZUJJDup64kgf_l_IWODtVpqK3pEVVkIcxSxuo5E5j3wtWCKhUtTdDVJ_isZJhwo/s640/P1020366.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6uSPsff-19hvkw-eeW212d71gtsRACu0ydIeyDz8d-Ldxif9VH5dE1gg-PTzvnMntMG-I7akuHUKw61lMnyOsatYsM5tNN9-vyRe8Ts_sbY9RVRJ4rnyEVGHN1Vsh-QQjZ7K08XZFkg/s1600/P1020367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6uSPsff-19hvkw-eeW212d71gtsRACu0ydIeyDz8d-Ldxif9VH5dE1gg-PTzvnMntMG-I7akuHUKw61lMnyOsatYsM5tNN9-vyRe8Ts_sbY9RVRJ4rnyEVGHN1Vsh-QQjZ7K08XZFkg/s640/P1020367.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7ZA8qDaQcpkZmjXuXeY6u9r7S2fs0mPoyYOgRdHsLraa-5MpMxnNHPMachPQS3v0GLSNe684n5vugUqtcXwJDGThKL0KJxLvOYB5PoB4iifqiDbZy8X3yHl0izhFs6CJ55AtRGoiLUo/s1600/P1020368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7ZA8qDaQcpkZmjXuXeY6u9r7S2fs0mPoyYOgRdHsLraa-5MpMxnNHPMachPQS3v0GLSNe684n5vugUqtcXwJDGThKL0KJxLvOYB5PoB4iifqiDbZy8X3yHl0izhFs6CJ55AtRGoiLUo/s640/P1020368.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vmYv2f7TTJrVR4sWE_1ZNzAG7qzQI6zzEkfLsfjr2nN4JOvYz3AkovDb1TOfOX7u-bVcj7DKSiS7HhrvdGWEa_nIpt0mqxmeSmjACa77lSq3wJ7z6VJErtgx8tWjHJxxjnSykyN48Ms/s1600/P1020369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vmYv2f7TTJrVR4sWE_1ZNzAG7qzQI6zzEkfLsfjr2nN4JOvYz3AkovDb1TOfOX7u-bVcj7DKSiS7HhrvdGWEa_nIpt0mqxmeSmjACa77lSq3wJ7z6VJErtgx8tWjHJxxjnSykyN48Ms/s640/P1020369.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6ywXx22Ju5q9Kb4W59Q3d17bESYVSsNFssNCFl7QRYBYbBpNe82pBqXjmIdOMB79qbzMEdgVGOat-coR01k_ymXNdXPPNSqKfHymsbKRA7wTftLCzggyGQV9prXjftgbBeHvtI85ue8/s1600/P1020370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6ywXx22Ju5q9Kb4W59Q3d17bESYVSsNFssNCFl7QRYBYbBpNe82pBqXjmIdOMB79qbzMEdgVGOat-coR01k_ymXNdXPPNSqKfHymsbKRA7wTftLCzggyGQV9prXjftgbBeHvtI85ue8/s640/P1020370.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwNShiM_WaQZy4ZdAaQC1TwHyq4Y3ZycsjMsaHAWVHQlGLzdNX1TOnTmwfBaQfLcJ6f_tcH775Yg0yJLohTXRdVoEtfeeYFAMeX9VoY-wWwY36w3CtPv6SyNYlPTTXORXi1DRYb7iPns/s1600/P1020373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwNShiM_WaQZy4ZdAaQC1TwHyq4Y3ZycsjMsaHAWVHQlGLzdNX1TOnTmwfBaQfLcJ6f_tcH775Yg0yJLohTXRdVoEtfeeYFAMeX9VoY-wWwY36w3CtPv6SyNYlPTTXORXi1DRYb7iPns/s640/P1020373.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgep8jRn2x1o0secc6DqRMgwc3rwIz1KBv0D7eFuuL181sIwNGGnhpcpId-8eEiFQvuLspZjyII3z6EYaz0A0Y3mS85OxxufcEfeRr-clzm5x_yfJHbCOMD4g4IuXXC4vakW_Is5s1JuNM/s1600/P1020374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgep8jRn2x1o0secc6DqRMgwc3rwIz1KBv0D7eFuuL181sIwNGGnhpcpId-8eEiFQvuLspZjyII3z6EYaz0A0Y3mS85OxxufcEfeRr-clzm5x_yfJHbCOMD4g4IuXXC4vakW_Is5s1JuNM/s640/P1020374.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEpGhFbb4ME3kCySP6dzqx9BuH3jOND7yrzulb9azN2bBZM4hM2F1EQjRN3o-Zx6MDfNe25zum1e-hfsI74oeRsOlOlpDcD1J8sWQcivGi0mm3CZoQDSH3pYBRdZgrrn6kq3BxqMpGL0/s1600/P1020375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEpGhFbb4ME3kCySP6dzqx9BuH3jOND7yrzulb9azN2bBZM4hM2F1EQjRN3o-Zx6MDfNe25zum1e-hfsI74oeRsOlOlpDcD1J8sWQcivGi0mm3CZoQDSH3pYBRdZgrrn6kq3BxqMpGL0/s640/P1020375.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7PN4JD9BllGWUInm6XwHuksMTAeC9ZIiGLSlFKMTrnTGFyilXLvwsvPhyphenhyphencfpyl8KIFWiKPuNqeEJFUtR9y30YK4BsCnlFpCqRcj_QZnGy8-tVhE87b2cH1xcA6vJaLwgUfzZ2WDTdY4/s1600/P1020377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7PN4JD9BllGWUInm6XwHuksMTAeC9ZIiGLSlFKMTrnTGFyilXLvwsvPhyphenhyphencfpyl8KIFWiKPuNqeEJFUtR9y30YK4BsCnlFpCqRcj_QZnGy8-tVhE87b2cH1xcA6vJaLwgUfzZ2WDTdY4/s640/P1020377.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOi5jTTq9SKAd0NzxdSLSEfk7tuEhXi85Abb2rK8wLyiBy7XQyl69UVv09GD1T80c74iitB4Czjuap9Br-UyGb08T0nU-vIZ75x8U1yj850A7be12uhuLMAomtQRjMK_kz1FwNhL8bivE/s1600/P1020378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOi5jTTq9SKAd0NzxdSLSEfk7tuEhXi85Abb2rK8wLyiBy7XQyl69UVv09GD1T80c74iitB4Czjuap9Br-UyGb08T0nU-vIZ75x8U1yj850A7be12uhuLMAomtQRjMK_kz1FwNhL8bivE/s640/P1020378.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUC_W5dmx8dRKS_8ab44Xw0fR5qW27M2a3I-BBNfUDvLhutK6On0jQK7L8WYdkt4ySY3TmfUELXnGlq-PWacXoQcGMda7ZcaJBkmdCIgY1EjxJm33aZGk9rqgEfd0ghlBdnpYS2R6Dk4/s1600/P1020379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUC_W5dmx8dRKS_8ab44Xw0fR5qW27M2a3I-BBNfUDvLhutK6On0jQK7L8WYdkt4ySY3TmfUELXnGlq-PWacXoQcGMda7ZcaJBkmdCIgY1EjxJm33aZGk9rqgEfd0ghlBdnpYS2R6Dk4/s640/P1020379.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qXeTRMp3fAiA1uOqEtXHkNJbjtZGdklZwtg3CjonJFMl1kO-9ZRY14mpC95nIEHvnekHWzal3h-OnsbCf7J7SnxRTaUOguw5IehQrADEXzaaH5fuOGfqh8wvmwm5JefczHEKaI8CK0w/s1600/P1020380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qXeTRMp3fAiA1uOqEtXHkNJbjtZGdklZwtg3CjonJFMl1kO-9ZRY14mpC95nIEHvnekHWzal3h-OnsbCf7J7SnxRTaUOguw5IehQrADEXzaaH5fuOGfqh8wvmwm5JefczHEKaI8CK0w/s640/P1020380.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2fOlVD6gbTUpcWufv9rjOkGnYFLeGEOsNQJx13C1oTHoU-niT7nBQFQDCjWY7wG8zmY9y6Vt-IOx6HyKVW6mRbVZJ8Dox4Ql8GGamxSFYD-TjIuA8kLOPlfQXmG0tYPeDvcWtfoTPnM/s1600/P1020381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2fOlVD6gbTUpcWufv9rjOkGnYFLeGEOsNQJx13C1oTHoU-niT7nBQFQDCjWY7wG8zmY9y6Vt-IOx6HyKVW6mRbVZJ8Dox4Ql8GGamxSFYD-TjIuA8kLOPlfQXmG0tYPeDvcWtfoTPnM/s640/P1020381.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7C0fTgR4IGrg99phwb1pc04L-pQZe1NAOzoYgFatLjeskq1AFXK_IANXagK6pXP7RpngN-woUX4Ok0K5Bhp-rIwl2Uv0nOy3GyJBwJghTKZW2Dbw7eS_6oKFq5gfRGF4YB4AFTrUztY/s1600/P1020382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7C0fTgR4IGrg99phwb1pc04L-pQZe1NAOzoYgFatLjeskq1AFXK_IANXagK6pXP7RpngN-woUX4Ok0K5Bhp-rIwl2Uv0nOy3GyJBwJghTKZW2Dbw7eS_6oKFq5gfRGF4YB4AFTrUztY/s640/P1020382.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17.96875px;">The Porari River. I think Birta & I both felt like we were canoeing upstream in some kind of Jurassic Park location set. The guy who rented us kayaks was so stoned he probably would've forgot to mention if there was any real threat of velociraptor attacks...the closest thing I saw was a goat, which was also exciting.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17.96875px;"><br />
</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIt7jq5uK_u-wwvBqL-8Sqxi-DjahamEe-7oVltpxqUJ0Y1efyfAS8J00_KwFZv3fb1kGHkJmoIGehJ8jw3wGhBgWQnMaxONod5rnrSiFCaTXoWEPE7h5PWLwAlBIsEciF1cbFlrqd_w/s1600/P1020383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIt7jq5uK_u-wwvBqL-8Sqxi-DjahamEe-7oVltpxqUJ0Y1efyfAS8J00_KwFZv3fb1kGHkJmoIGehJ8jw3wGhBgWQnMaxONod5rnrSiFCaTXoWEPE7h5PWLwAlBIsEciF1cbFlrqd_w/s640/P1020383.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowwAQlEW14oqLR6h8KPYbTDgatqF9yUJoC8XPPt7DA8I6fjgriLlPeATH7-7fgQejlS9Dq6LPfSqvdURy1VHctdTgltSMqDPvHDHciUZO0DAy2ABNR3pdS_kR1yG9It6aH1CnHQ5og4E/s1600/P1020385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowwAQlEW14oqLR6h8KPYbTDgatqF9yUJoC8XPPt7DA8I6fjgriLlPeATH7-7fgQejlS9Dq6LPfSqvdURy1VHctdTgltSMqDPvHDHciUZO0DAy2ABNR3pdS_kR1yG9It6aH1CnHQ5og4E/s640/P1020385.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mU6YWRLGmDV_dUQ2J9tubobPjRGupyqq94WMa5RUNhlg05P1MTsZGEjHnkCdtjCoTo-sG2k-TR9yDggiVrghygNuxMkndpfb1A9pcF1JfHqn42wwysECiztHAT5oZE8tGJzfhvbLmgM/s1600/P1020387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mU6YWRLGmDV_dUQ2J9tubobPjRGupyqq94WMa5RUNhlg05P1MTsZGEjHnkCdtjCoTo-sG2k-TR9yDggiVrghygNuxMkndpfb1A9pcF1JfHqn42wwysECiztHAT5oZE8tGJzfhvbLmgM/s640/P1020387.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxneRTGs29WooxSal-qQv00at8Y43u7n1nfcOP6hJ9nEltT4HfxY20wY0Q2P52XfzM84Mp198I79VVWG3k25eHSzn7nblty5zl5VU8uUOfDti3roMRgQVvqam8c1somMf0TC97wOfvN4/s1600/P1020388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxneRTGs29WooxSal-qQv00at8Y43u7n1nfcOP6hJ9nEltT4HfxY20wY0Q2P52XfzM84Mp198I79VVWG3k25eHSzn7nblty5zl5VU8uUOfDti3roMRgQVvqam8c1somMf0TC97wOfvN4/s640/P1020388.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99wKX0j2aMEBpqZNhrb_UYQONATgyBsBnA1nZVtbR4Hsp_Fq7SxhvLYZtaN0Kl5LAB3FHpAyGXoUA5p_i0TSq0bMIJUQshWF8ODsPuznvFbmeRLFvs2SpFe8KljPeR9luAlucnJ6v69s/s1600/P1020389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99wKX0j2aMEBpqZNhrb_UYQONATgyBsBnA1nZVtbR4Hsp_Fq7SxhvLYZtaN0Kl5LAB3FHpAyGXoUA5p_i0TSq0bMIJUQshWF8ODsPuznvFbmeRLFvs2SpFe8KljPeR9luAlucnJ6v69s/s640/P1020389.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitH_ykulCVHqpuu4R4B4PbKOAHKWXxzGIaQUw6qfpjqI8dVp9K4W4NKPBp99qfi9iSntfULcRQgAZAMImDpKHpHr8TcvIFcNXl0NlmSxF1WerAyVNql1GW-bCY8z4pLJxi6hV2u8KcpmQ/s1600/P1020391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitH_ykulCVHqpuu4R4B4PbKOAHKWXxzGIaQUw6qfpjqI8dVp9K4W4NKPBp99qfi9iSntfULcRQgAZAMImDpKHpHr8TcvIFcNXl0NlmSxF1WerAyVNql1GW-bCY8z4pLJxi6hV2u8KcpmQ/s640/P1020391.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPJv4NwLy4H1fJ5RNLfV3tYNddY30J89El2YUuWcPk4QsUbd8ren_k4Hk3UeFoy6mAVV5wdTh3hWWJlGqJFCMFofix3siB_5lHwwjyT6UT44u8QplTIJ0Py4GYU_0imecTujr_SpiW7Q/s1600/P1020393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPJv4NwLy4H1fJ5RNLfV3tYNddY30J89El2YUuWcPk4QsUbd8ren_k4Hk3UeFoy6mAVV5wdTh3hWWJlGqJFCMFofix3siB_5lHwwjyT6UT44u8QplTIJ0Py4GYU_0imecTujr_SpiW7Q/s640/P1020393.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0injbg0oNusXlMxnV4JRD_i24sms5zVBz0cXfNrmwc1Q2SywElbyKXmXg7vFDrCXtzBmqiv0M2oDdb5YOJGdgyn7uRjnk_F5gKEqRa26d_lvSQ83EqbeZ7Hpdy5FfnzEP-bDR-h7oAs/s1600/P1020394+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0injbg0oNusXlMxnV4JRD_i24sms5zVBz0cXfNrmwc1Q2SywElbyKXmXg7vFDrCXtzBmqiv0M2oDdb5YOJGdgyn7uRjnk_F5gKEqRa26d_lvSQ83EqbeZ7Hpdy5FfnzEP-bDR-h7oAs/s640/P1020394+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17.96875px;">The Pancake Rocks. I don't know much about these, but that's ok, because neither do scientists! What they do know is that they are mysterious limestone formations that were probably pushed out of the sea bed somehow, but they don't know why they are layered in this way. They always make me hungry for pancakes though.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17.96875px;"><br />
</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoIBYZ6ATgQYZyLKZ52YhwvU2Tl2rDt0SLWTanOwOIRrj46NbxwLx4xEOCbVIW1Aq0H_gfDVe5jua1R9b_gDEPq1bPq0OeI25ROTIqdy2se-EoP8NcYKHKrHa1LYgVBDDYFco3bvp9p0/s1600/P1020398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoIBYZ6ATgQYZyLKZ52YhwvU2Tl2rDt0SLWTanOwOIRrj46NbxwLx4xEOCbVIW1Aq0H_gfDVe5jua1R9b_gDEPq1bPq0OeI25ROTIqdy2se-EoP8NcYKHKrHa1LYgVBDDYFco3bvp9p0/s640/P1020398.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFB0NM3trrFF5ccd2SEHOLTN8358PWBJIuM45QesHvH41lz5_BkJuzgHBFtb-c8WYCkGxH9Atxz_pl2JZG7ZZjfga3BXa7M1HlLVEb-5Azu9Go56ZHrHEiEpue3sRZ8wGCxgFWZTf4Mxo/s1600/P1020399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFB0NM3trrFF5ccd2SEHOLTN8358PWBJIuM45QesHvH41lz5_BkJuzgHBFtb-c8WYCkGxH9Atxz_pl2JZG7ZZjfga3BXa7M1HlLVEb-5Azu9Go56ZHrHEiEpue3sRZ8wGCxgFWZTf4Mxo/s640/P1020399.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHpdzQ9lvjCgNt-xogExqkzLzVnOif0tPol8cUQUgLY11F851y2PCiyUhyphenhyphen_hxY0ioQeSQFfRXIJD1521Ekedyb7os2wOqUN0R1Sfka4XckeDc0xXRcvutU8IX0sNJZ1a8SezTOnkWUyc/s1600/P1020401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHpdzQ9lvjCgNt-xogExqkzLzVnOif0tPol8cUQUgLY11F851y2PCiyUhyphenhyphen_hxY0ioQeSQFfRXIJD1521Ekedyb7os2wOqUN0R1Sfka4XckeDc0xXRcvutU8IX0sNJZ1a8SezTOnkWUyc/s640/P1020401.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRd-Mjbs8aVuhpx6hjlSAkDC2IcC7axTQPoR81wjohUa-6TrIBEgBi1UW0CjybHbFoxEZSbbg-yYuwSKPwsX0oV_P6gjFew3QQb8GkwVzSN1mhMKiDPRvLM3JBEn-0UVcqOhmvBzqL0o/s1600/P1020402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRd-Mjbs8aVuhpx6hjlSAkDC2IcC7axTQPoR81wjohUa-6TrIBEgBi1UW0CjybHbFoxEZSbbg-yYuwSKPwsX0oV_P6gjFew3QQb8GkwVzSN1mhMKiDPRvLM3JBEn-0UVcqOhmvBzqL0o/s640/P1020402.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBGHet2G7kQyewJecOZoAIM59cmP3VPh8-JGTZLFM9vpyiwPuAHWJwxt80EPHlZOhD0380_68nSAOsuP6WbyTXMzKmn1pUWfPVUmsB0ZGJyGKhJrpnkPByksH0H_qc41ZRDtlNeYnUTo/s1600/P1020403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBGHet2G7kQyewJecOZoAIM59cmP3VPh8-JGTZLFM9vpyiwPuAHWJwxt80EPHlZOhD0380_68nSAOsuP6WbyTXMzKmn1pUWfPVUmsB0ZGJyGKhJrpnkPByksH0H_qc41ZRDtlNeYnUTo/s640/P1020403.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1n3LRcQDu-qVek8vLc7IiV2qWYmfG1MQj795d5NknF_ttiZ8dahUmSX-rffXWvDGJGsU0DCMZwxG6deGg2wJdCJEavxMQwrmZY9oAKUqMgk9fbJ8EPqT4-T8SffJFO-kc-Eg-92zSmI/s1600/P1020404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1n3LRcQDu-qVek8vLc7IiV2qWYmfG1MQj795d5NknF_ttiZ8dahUmSX-rffXWvDGJGsU0DCMZwxG6deGg2wJdCJEavxMQwrmZY9oAKUqMgk9fbJ8EPqT4-T8SffJFO-kc-Eg-92zSmI/s640/P1020404.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3v95pZnxqHK5GaknugDTgdlcTV5phuSFjsZ6w6h3XWdhg6U7Ra4t3wy3Gm1ORQwQLRt8R-xcQCbydzCQM-Utp2ujpHdtdatu5b-p5OfGT4A1iwAOHypbclOVMiqnPZxLCBZxH6hW8njQ/s1600/P1020405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3v95pZnxqHK5GaknugDTgdlcTV5phuSFjsZ6w6h3XWdhg6U7Ra4t3wy3Gm1ORQwQLRt8R-xcQCbydzCQM-Utp2ujpHdtdatu5b-p5OfGT4A1iwAOHypbclOVMiqnPZxLCBZxH6hW8njQ/s640/P1020405.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdJxmdaGajWso7NFStJhwSKgTWAOyQZwKAyxq6h3f0_y7oH7LKQprizEk2wLsBLATDgL8ScR1AMeSpD3Yu9fyV2Jb2XK06L-rAxcHcoTC1SO1sSilSncJE896JLtk2R1Ua3ShZ3WsDO4/s1600/P1020406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdJxmdaGajWso7NFStJhwSKgTWAOyQZwKAyxq6h3f0_y7oH7LKQprizEk2wLsBLATDgL8ScR1AMeSpD3Yu9fyV2Jb2XK06L-rAxcHcoTC1SO1sSilSncJE896JLtk2R1Ua3ShZ3WsDO4/s640/P1020406.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17.96875px;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17.96875px;">Our next small time New Zealand stopover was Murchison. I really love these small towns so much, they are just so dead peaceful. I managed to get a few excellent bargains from the Somebody's Treasure thrift shop, including a 1960's Weetbix card album of famous New Zealand icons. </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17.96875px;"><br />
</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Meek1qNHKmxV_I9BCcf-VCQnfpfz-emU1Suul9qoK2KmnvhRJUM2b1VLzmcUEqC1xsWck1mo8FxQhzMl4Jicjo2w_3K4Hb4YTk9rxDMD-cXMSvV1hyphenhyphenaRm8XwCns4m9Pr6tz4TIhrm7k/s1600/P1020408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Meek1qNHKmxV_I9BCcf-VCQnfpfz-emU1Suul9qoK2KmnvhRJUM2b1VLzmcUEqC1xsWck1mo8FxQhzMl4Jicjo2w_3K4Hb4YTk9rxDMD-cXMSvV1hyphenhyphenaRm8XwCns4m9Pr6tz4TIhrm7k/s640/P1020408.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbZC1-DtG2a4XXxyc-NgzIGsEk6CnbyyFLH9BG6K3K5xkFdWdNsh_UheS74XiYGhem3-rBIrVBKin36RMi3VkwK6aTxWq15idLV9FpbwDibeJPVhWvg-bjXrOY1qZvqJqX8eQTfDqIws/s1600/P1020410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbZC1-DtG2a4XXxyc-NgzIGsEk6CnbyyFLH9BG6K3K5xkFdWdNsh_UheS74XiYGhem3-rBIrVBKin36RMi3VkwK6aTxWq15idLV9FpbwDibeJPVhWvg-bjXrOY1qZvqJqX8eQTfDqIws/s640/P1020410.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bQSpBALfNhuCFGgYGbDyU3BwrfIIq96DApZIBxqbXQ-sHMgIbZigPAHNZQKzSNAOVCUOVApyuUtBkOM93VAdEvuj5YIhErL0gSWjiV7yC02dlDHjgi0NSvXUQbUomWwYZvgI3w_B2vs/s1600/P1020411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bQSpBALfNhuCFGgYGbDyU3BwrfIIq96DApZIBxqbXQ-sHMgIbZigPAHNZQKzSNAOVCUOVApyuUtBkOM93VAdEvuj5YIhErL0gSWjiV7yC02dlDHjgi0NSvXUQbUomWwYZvgI3w_B2vs/s640/P1020411.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhED6zPzGVhTrjXlyU9fHTJeNPco0Kgy1p-CCHzzDbjYRqSBIvoY72Z16PGSakfpWlHLqx1HN4qxBkkKePZiG6gxKFc6jT8e2fzWzoL_1AthMjQHWjKlOMwXfR1DOkevm2jilIg1jY4Q/s1600/P1020412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhED6zPzGVhTrjXlyU9fHTJeNPco0Kgy1p-CCHzzDbjYRqSBIvoY72Z16PGSakfpWlHLqx1HN4qxBkkKePZiG6gxKFc6jT8e2fzWzoL_1AthMjQHWjKlOMwXfR1DOkevm2jilIg1jY4Q/s640/P1020412.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSr-6nbUCk2LhxwlKTLpl0f57RONLmdt2vEli9skaeOM9becrUWqawYyfSbNFA0wA5yOWCM7ajoWVjPJO8FvjObybKu31PivorPuOfPuqFRHXvVmGihp4BUjQGa-rsrWS80v1mBLu0xz0/s1600/P1020414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSr-6nbUCk2LhxwlKTLpl0f57RONLmdt2vEli9skaeOM9becrUWqawYyfSbNFA0wA5yOWCM7ajoWVjPJO8FvjObybKu31PivorPuOfPuqFRHXvVmGihp4BUjQGa-rsrWS80v1mBLu0xz0/s640/P1020414.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjut0epLxWGR8FluUf2neCBdSWpUM-9f0FaD4v3dlF0QZceLS-KVweM6LSeoRyA2ywTwoq1z-c4PJOZDXpFeEEstOpY_k-X9hYbRlOqcFxBb5pZNurvl_cMI6nAUyPXYNTk_BgwinRdT44/s1600/P1020417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjut0epLxWGR8FluUf2neCBdSWpUM-9f0FaD4v3dlF0QZceLS-KVweM6LSeoRyA2ywTwoq1z-c4PJOZDXpFeEEstOpY_k-X9hYbRlOqcFxBb5pZNurvl_cMI6nAUyPXYNTk_BgwinRdT44/s640/P1020417.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8saM5FJ9RzqDuPW3SRK4GuovhIKsYXoM1L6Go1kymxBDviSX7FJn3cExRDeprkGn1rRKCt9NJKsinYVAQxovXO79SpUOPfg1E9tG6MtB30j-yVSLS8aYEPpYEbSKdcugkN_NluBOEqE/s1600/P1020418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8saM5FJ9RzqDuPW3SRK4GuovhIKsYXoM1L6Go1kymxBDviSX7FJn3cExRDeprkGn1rRKCt9NJKsinYVAQxovXO79SpUOPfg1E9tG6MtB30j-yVSLS8aYEPpYEbSKdcugkN_NluBOEqE/s640/P1020418.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVBUi2Oz8dSkq1FopEU7DTHiX_xQz88tXkCO30dNzqZVfheqJQvp3TXEjxAupwlWluqRbbKPuDybJVcxJ-VSOkFTNmTHnUqaJ98VtMcln5YQy7zzoS2KzILiZ5G1g201gIU0_vL1d__E/s1600/P1020419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVBUi2Oz8dSkq1FopEU7DTHiX_xQz88tXkCO30dNzqZVfheqJQvp3TXEjxAupwlWluqRbbKPuDybJVcxJ-VSOkFTNmTHnUqaJ98VtMcln5YQy7zzoS2KzILiZ5G1g201gIU0_vL1d__E/s640/P1020419.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17.96875px;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.96875px;"><b><i>Our next stop would be the lovely Motueka to stay with an old family friend of mine Dave. Dave is someone I have always really looked up to since I was a kid. He & my mum had been teenage sweethearts, but remained friends for many years later. I had always remembered him as a really kind natured hippy dude, who was encyclopaedic in his knowledge in all areas of science, maths, nature, mechanics & engineering. He's like a D.I.Y guy on steroids, & professional bargain hunter. It was nice to finally get the chance to hang out with him on my own terms, & anjoy many a bottle of red wine together. His hospitality & generosity was incredible, & I think that both Birta & I owe him our sanity after trying to pack way too many kilometres into too short of a time. We spent at least 4 nights in sunny Motueka, & one of those days traveling up to a really special remote property that he spent some years making a building on. It's an incredible hilltop only accessible by a 30min quad bike ride, & it's surrounded by hectares of virgin native bush & trees. It's not even a humble building considering how insanely remote this place is.</i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17.96875px;"><br />
</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3M5jcqCegiMXE6xCYHumxTh6IzQE24QcwgXhp0uXRvtgBc1xRgVnQbX2UB1ECGUe9wYqn23YvHq2jblYM3zgJvr4NHuP-pB7kBQ1JnfPvGLOAGz29CYhlKhqVrXtHhOSgVAqwhkmzZGA/s1600/P1020420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3M5jcqCegiMXE6xCYHumxTh6IzQE24QcwgXhp0uXRvtgBc1xRgVnQbX2UB1ECGUe9wYqn23YvHq2jblYM3zgJvr4NHuP-pB7kBQ1JnfPvGLOAGz29CYhlKhqVrXtHhOSgVAqwhkmzZGA/s640/P1020420.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5fxGUsHX4tE53sWZoz928ZdpI_eRu0vF2tZOjioeiz2M9CSgMz_rs_RoS0I8Hqsu437AWaAeC9IEmk79R_4dP2QszaHVkkXsGx1dxM3wZQhxoV1SCdtv5nK4SzvMF6CQ1gyrFFFaU7s/s1600/P1020422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5fxGUsHX4tE53sWZoz928ZdpI_eRu0vF2tZOjioeiz2M9CSgMz_rs_RoS0I8Hqsu437AWaAeC9IEmk79R_4dP2QszaHVkkXsGx1dxM3wZQhxoV1SCdtv5nK4SzvMF6CQ1gyrFFFaU7s/s640/P1020422.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMotjdEZMRK38cj5pIjskEvp3BJw5jjVNcYoUAESq846PK9tnUTgOz_o2tUoERjQjGGEolMfqAebYKlCNo1DxgWw6Z9hYA6ICKQfeW6dORDvDBF65g1ajqLoEff8q-7xz_8YTK8qLnxGI/s1600/P1020425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMotjdEZMRK38cj5pIjskEvp3BJw5jjVNcYoUAESq846PK9tnUTgOz_o2tUoERjQjGGEolMfqAebYKlCNo1DxgWw6Z9hYA6ICKQfeW6dORDvDBF65g1ajqLoEff8q-7xz_8YTK8qLnxGI/s640/P1020425.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqN8dH1OJ3btEg0CmLshZ2nKNyV7BzsCY8ome5_nPTtjULbPo2FCBKvG4sj2rN3SdJ3hnVdP-zwK8HBpNG8tg1ftEhyphenhyphenD9M3m8p14DeVZZThxaJiv5syNT4si2kRVJ7afV558Q3BeFHDU/s1600/P1020426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqN8dH1OJ3btEg0CmLshZ2nKNyV7BzsCY8ome5_nPTtjULbPo2FCBKvG4sj2rN3SdJ3hnVdP-zwK8HBpNG8tg1ftEhyphenhyphenD9M3m8p14DeVZZThxaJiv5syNT4si2kRVJ7afV558Q3BeFHDU/s640/P1020426.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2VBjVJdzqwBZkQhXnJUXXTB-wpS6PrzdRXPpoTzmAS1ZThBQ9ao7OV2cBtQaax8P92h2enxKdZVbMUVuMfhAdVsyJmu2AtQVk7cYeIklxTUxywr5BM7ATC1dBcV9u1OnV4vVj2v4bEw/s1600/P1020427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2VBjVJdzqwBZkQhXnJUXXTB-wpS6PrzdRXPpoTzmAS1ZThBQ9ao7OV2cBtQaax8P92h2enxKdZVbMUVuMfhAdVsyJmu2AtQVk7cYeIklxTUxywr5BM7ATC1dBcV9u1OnV4vVj2v4bEw/s640/P1020427.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjhpqY0sh0dGIjm-t80B48zyfmN-GHDAU9MDNSZaNVVMv7-TpSdkp6I3t5cvzUdjlZ7_hCpTswXnpW9rlVF62kk92tzd4veE1OiBZEzG1GE0U_JXzoWBhRgfOuA_JELhqVlodjOJBw5w/s1600/P1020428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjhpqY0sh0dGIjm-t80B48zyfmN-GHDAU9MDNSZaNVVMv7-TpSdkp6I3t5cvzUdjlZ7_hCpTswXnpW9rlVF62kk92tzd4veE1OiBZEzG1GE0U_JXzoWBhRgfOuA_JELhqVlodjOJBw5w/s640/P1020428.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DIU87Sz1CLd3rOAvreyTuU387xPhkMSG9sWJuQprJrk7hOO0eHKuYnZFQBWmlHgKzI_EIEjY_EHt7UTlrIviST2il3VO-vZSJm8qKDiBJoRyn_Yw3I51Cv8htgAVfNDHwK-OqixZ2Z4/s1600/P1020429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DIU87Sz1CLd3rOAvreyTuU387xPhkMSG9sWJuQprJrk7hOO0eHKuYnZFQBWmlHgKzI_EIEjY_EHt7UTlrIviST2il3VO-vZSJm8qKDiBJoRyn_Yw3I51Cv8htgAVfNDHwK-OqixZ2Z4/s640/P1020429.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0AXL90LrhRruAHoinBs2k39CZ6FSRInSO-V-rBfltWUD2mPR_qsRF9nLY5v-hHTvHUZSkvpfX2N6q5nmhEORf_lopsao6OGzV9O3WBgbfyH4qp5JOHHePJUyQ3OY9MfaOZ7_7LcVxNs/s1600/P1020433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0AXL90LrhRruAHoinBs2k39CZ6FSRInSO-V-rBfltWUD2mPR_qsRF9nLY5v-hHTvHUZSkvpfX2N6q5nmhEORf_lopsao6OGzV9O3WBgbfyH4qp5JOHHePJUyQ3OY9MfaOZ7_7LcVxNs/s640/P1020433.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaK6Gd2EfmM6tBsIKLkjDf-HwyYjjlRKpFjAeW10qAp2SndE_aXxdgK9cygJOWJqOlG6ZVz8sYFTfYXVYJdH5SrfBP2nXkuXXhKOZPcEhcVRnRN31TGWiIJzDrzFR-CQi-KMBT8U1i3GE/s1600/P1020434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaK6Gd2EfmM6tBsIKLkjDf-HwyYjjlRKpFjAeW10qAp2SndE_aXxdgK9cygJOWJqOlG6ZVz8sYFTfYXVYJdH5SrfBP2nXkuXXhKOZPcEhcVRnRN31TGWiIJzDrzFR-CQi-KMBT8U1i3GE/s640/P1020434.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxzu9TLKs_OIFFs8nEnb9Z2C2qKjfuL2OMbm2Tl6KWxQDbOv8z51dowAE1hO7FR-t3hNIlVidKhC14A8lXi8KnceDygQA68L0Mj0H8gtPh0qM7B8xWQty_vbtkfDzBGM9iJZ4iOe9DuE/s1600/P1020436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxzu9TLKs_OIFFs8nEnb9Z2C2qKjfuL2OMbm2Tl6KWxQDbOv8z51dowAE1hO7FR-t3hNIlVidKhC14A8lXi8KnceDygQA68L0Mj0H8gtPh0qM7B8xWQty_vbtkfDzBGM9iJZ4iOe9DuE/s640/P1020436.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzax0qu51Yh0ZaOaI1w9Zov_8gv8Wx_Z-ob_UyAHpfnTa1TDULkEpXmznJqv27muVYI1XOHQm7H9u2X9h_RFb86NaXhr2iHk8czp3-xWw6PSShFZ4SaaYouzTYHGhf0tDPA1JBdjqMBmE/s1600/P1020437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzax0qu51Yh0ZaOaI1w9Zov_8gv8Wx_Z-ob_UyAHpfnTa1TDULkEpXmznJqv27muVYI1XOHQm7H9u2X9h_RFb86NaXhr2iHk8czp3-xWw6PSShFZ4SaaYouzTYHGhf0tDPA1JBdjqMBmE/s640/P1020437.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNY93DKxrVH01IltKOCmrNbkm_el0e1qSPFqYpHUiNUbVqJBjJB6OXBgivNuarCDzE6u7K8px7ageGYtX8Mc-us7VCZLsnPxrxisPZq2ua8gXlNKkjpcL8ySMla0Q4m80qF1gcHHZhM3U/s1600/P1020438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNY93DKxrVH01IltKOCmrNbkm_el0e1qSPFqYpHUiNUbVqJBjJB6OXBgivNuarCDzE6u7K8px7ageGYtX8Mc-us7VCZLsnPxrxisPZq2ua8gXlNKkjpcL8ySMla0Q4m80qF1gcHHZhM3U/s640/P1020438.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ISZNqeK6fqzVLCuuqBaSxIm-lSx5uJWVJhmA2JTHfAfN_zQsVZYLSooTQGP1CUC9HxrwKiWwLzw7It0im2EZhKDClgSgHGcrP-5I5ZlnW9l8bgZfq1-Lmjni6yFMOMbNWwRmMVUr9cs/s1600/P1020439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ISZNqeK6fqzVLCuuqBaSxIm-lSx5uJWVJhmA2JTHfAfN_zQsVZYLSooTQGP1CUC9HxrwKiWwLzw7It0im2EZhKDClgSgHGcrP-5I5ZlnW9l8bgZfq1-Lmjni6yFMOMbNWwRmMVUr9cs/s640/P1020439.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IkFOz1mxig6Qswlw3HIEe2d-kSAa810bzupAGaRUg-Ch_v_B4bAnwsxAsJrEtlfOkPvcMa9smkvY5WxyFoDxhN8gPt9UXw_z1R_MoteoDj9mImpsB-TAW_AB6yagL5d1Kh3Ta6-uzCI/s1600/P1020440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IkFOz1mxig6Qswlw3HIEe2d-kSAa810bzupAGaRUg-Ch_v_B4bAnwsxAsJrEtlfOkPvcMa9smkvY5WxyFoDxhN8gPt9UXw_z1R_MoteoDj9mImpsB-TAW_AB6yagL5d1Kh3Ta6-uzCI/s640/P1020440.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvdgMdMErXxuzTHo09yImz-PCymTQEW2KyetGJ569VEsOQhLvaBvHxDyHQy1S1GkHPectdStGaklT9MiaZC_uGnD5Tvz7zb679ONI5mAukXjjiKp3Pio8KpQs5OHf91RxCoHK09VdUd4/s1600/P1020443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvdgMdMErXxuzTHo09yImz-PCymTQEW2KyetGJ569VEsOQhLvaBvHxDyHQy1S1GkHPectdStGaklT9MiaZC_uGnD5Tvz7zb679ONI5mAukXjjiKp3Pio8KpQs5OHf91RxCoHK09VdUd4/s640/P1020443.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbQbZ9uByhpChv7nQNY7bf5T-pau-SVsmZ4vy50pBOAkctouY7Z2DykG-VHAm2_aAVgfgu4biiGxcq8lYB6FDUzoGq1c3M3t-EdnJfS4LVZS8PQ382vqe5FJeFowS4claFnFJELfeC4U/s1600/P1020445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbQbZ9uByhpChv7nQNY7bf5T-pau-SVsmZ4vy50pBOAkctouY7Z2DykG-VHAm2_aAVgfgu4biiGxcq8lYB6FDUzoGq1c3M3t-EdnJfS4LVZS8PQ382vqe5FJeFowS4claFnFJELfeC4U/s640/P1020445.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUh7hj6Cjs_Ky_yUO33Qq-aucmqnswKvK35-BeFCxh_VxvWUSCsnjmCmZsynvwxWrQ2S5NamTzQ7Xf6L4-3JXkI-F1hMsh0mVUD8V9l4qmiVYJ8submdaGCdl4ARl97ZbAr7HEn6PvF24/s1600/P1020446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUh7hj6Cjs_Ky_yUO33Qq-aucmqnswKvK35-BeFCxh_VxvWUSCsnjmCmZsynvwxWrQ2S5NamTzQ7Xf6L4-3JXkI-F1hMsh0mVUD8V9l4qmiVYJ8submdaGCdl4ARl97ZbAr7HEn6PvF24/s640/P1020446.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px;"><i><br />
</i></b> <span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.96875px;"><b><i>Our last days in Motueka before heading back to Christchurch were spent eating as much fish as humanly possible, including this pan fried Gurnard with saffron sauce, & ceviche which we made for Dave as a thank you for having us. The last great nature experience was walking 10km of the Abel Tasman. I was so amazed by the beauty of this walk, that I have promised that I will go back to New Zealand & do the whole thing one summer. It was hard for Birta & I to tear ourselves away from sunny Nelson & return to cooling grey Christchurch warzone.</i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.96875px;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkbbqtpB4w2KpZepLArqMHqfIN-YsSIY14topq81Kb0IVqzIt4F0fWXDRyyzvPLh49zCQjkmfhBWSsK_VwviIEdgsfZtnkmLP1FCMFZ6_nK50EIbJuSEFRKKb8kA-NJluMAEaqTxBEqA/s1600/P1020448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkbbqtpB4w2KpZepLArqMHqfIN-YsSIY14topq81Kb0IVqzIt4F0fWXDRyyzvPLh49zCQjkmfhBWSsK_VwviIEdgsfZtnkmLP1FCMFZ6_nK50EIbJuSEFRKKb8kA-NJluMAEaqTxBEqA/s640/P1020448.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxWDEojW24agY9EXwOaJRvvoEcgKesbx7S0G8l7fR9MKPoI6npIW0Fc0G1N2H6Ozk9L7fUKyKDNiTpMhWmu32kP-KTBNc1GUJ4P_uVLZIOw7pwypuM6qLiuqKjlt75Tu7XxWo50lIRAE/s1600/P1020451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxWDEojW24agY9EXwOaJRvvoEcgKesbx7S0G8l7fR9MKPoI6npIW0Fc0G1N2H6Ozk9L7fUKyKDNiTpMhWmu32kP-KTBNc1GUJ4P_uVLZIOw7pwypuM6qLiuqKjlt75Tu7XxWo50lIRAE/s640/P1020451.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjraaOMguUF8C0w9q8_nTdgZZY5cpLNBOnvuEe6b0RaYgw0LEEW4gjCpa9QMnWTZBOTUx0WYaJHSrl9b61raJcbV4gi0Na_e6ZL1PO34C9OdRtroajlidl5-SZA3ZAc5RfUH69qEmtXA2U/s1600/P1020453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjraaOMguUF8C0w9q8_nTdgZZY5cpLNBOnvuEe6b0RaYgw0LEEW4gjCpa9QMnWTZBOTUx0WYaJHSrl9b61raJcbV4gi0Na_e6ZL1PO34C9OdRtroajlidl5-SZA3ZAc5RfUH69qEmtXA2U/s640/P1020453.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNishiz_mAG5wUOOUrrpHB3eeUQFdXM1TcK7tzisNUJI-WGXmkOfnJpA6DSNWYXhkjFnQOZeyxdeDDu5e5tTQGv9w1xWi8AYk8d36HbZW1rhuvYwADhrgl49CPC-6BEV4ry1kOeFJYfg/s1600/P1020454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNishiz_mAG5wUOOUrrpHB3eeUQFdXM1TcK7tzisNUJI-WGXmkOfnJpA6DSNWYXhkjFnQOZeyxdeDDu5e5tTQGv9w1xWi8AYk8d36HbZW1rhuvYwADhrgl49CPC-6BEV4ry1kOeFJYfg/s640/P1020454.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYaZNGlhyphenhyphenKaMlj6Wsr32O9kPRCmtNJkDnbwdx1HMxj8rp9z_Hkld__GcGwGPsMA7jHxdF5g3eSTTYhumMKZZ4GNOB_6ce985I8Bom3NGB2BCBxF51vurgGACmN71gazSL51X_1UO0nxU/s1600/P1020460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYaZNGlhyphenhyphenKaMlj6Wsr32O9kPRCmtNJkDnbwdx1HMxj8rp9z_Hkld__GcGwGPsMA7jHxdF5g3eSTTYhumMKZZ4GNOB_6ce985I8Bom3NGB2BCBxF51vurgGACmN71gazSL51X_1UO0nxU/s640/P1020460.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2v603zfp3VFEgpJMgB0umXcFL-t9Y-mNorFNKo_IC12Y9VFpzlsl6DJXw23bOFWlUEE2UeO63Yk92XU-c3x8NiK2emyqusd8ryjonUHs3W5oAkED5pb9YLON3qA565XBI1yBlpyYWmRc/s1600/P1020477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2v603zfp3VFEgpJMgB0umXcFL-t9Y-mNorFNKo_IC12Y9VFpzlsl6DJXw23bOFWlUEE2UeO63Yk92XU-c3x8NiK2emyqusd8ryjonUHs3W5oAkED5pb9YLON3qA565XBI1yBlpyYWmRc/s640/P1020477.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhyMdfYT4BO1IKrc3sbG7pGNNFUzhsMalbh9R-I1HNyJx2FAS8PhEMGfQYJxrJgqZDOXH90xyJdOq3UiT3Sls_U9nWpzvKV6oZN_cTT4oxp_lNn2UA2oUeYlNAwH76lpZDmqCYFvX2yw/s1600/P1020483+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhyMdfYT4BO1IKrc3sbG7pGNNFUzhsMalbh9R-I1HNyJx2FAS8PhEMGfQYJxrJgqZDOXH90xyJdOq3UiT3Sls_U9nWpzvKV6oZN_cTT4oxp_lNn2UA2oUeYlNAwH76lpZDmqCYFvX2yw/s640/P1020483+copy.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px; text-align: left;"><i>Mum & Birta at Samo cafe in Lyttelton, for a hangover breakfast.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px; text-align: left;"><i><br />
</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 17.96875px; text-align: left;"><i>The months following this holiday were really tough for me, I had to face the reality of the tail end of Berlin's winter, & returning to a set of obstacles which I couldn't feel calm about until they were dealt with. Somehow setting myself up in this city where I was pretty much still a tourist felt too overwhelming. I didn't cope with it well, & slowly descended into a rut of depression. I went through the exact same growing pains in London too, a circumstantial bout of depression bought on by large life changes which seem to be wrought with overwhelming challenges. The shitty thing is being unable to REALLY see oneself in the thick of it when one is there. I am incredibly sad that the anxiety-ridden person I became, took such a toll on my relationship. I couldn't shake this dark cloud off of me that obscured my real personality & oppressed my senses. I sip on a weird cocktail of emotions when I look at these photos, amazing memories, heartwarming nostalgia, mixed with sadness & regret for the slippery slope that followed. Nonetheless, it was a time of immense personal growth, and I am thankful for it. You never know what the future will lay before you, but you can be certain that things never stay good OR bad for long, change is the one true constant.</i></b></div>
<div id="viewportSize" style="background-color: black; bottom: 0px; color: white; font-family: Menlo; font-size: 11px; line-height: 20px; position: fixed; right: 0px; text-align: center; width: 85px; z-index: 99999999;">
</div>
</div>
Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-47357976906387764682013-09-29T12:51:00.001-07:002013-09-29T13:02:41.399-07:00Moments in time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">This blog has always been as much of a direct line to my heart as it has to my stomach. I'm filled with so many emotions when I visit these posts and reminisce on these special moments with people, locked in time forever. Some of them are the literally the happiest moments of my life, where I have received and given the most love and I'm so grateful to have experienced them.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Food is synonymous with love in many cultures. There aren't many things more intimate than preparing food for guests. When you welcome someone into your home, it's a symbol of trust, when you prepare them food, it's a token of gratitude & care. In its most base sense, you are showing them love by providing them with that vital life necessity.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">In the last months, I've had the most turbulent times in love and life, & despite my best efforts, I feel like I may have lost the love OF my life. Despite all of the heartbreak and turbulence, by nature, this place will live on as a record of those times when love could overcome everything. I still believe in love, and it's power to overcome anything.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">I have been sitting on these photos since the end of Summer, unsure what to write about them, but it was a night when me, Birta, Harriet Finbar and Simon made a Thai green curry from absolute scratch at Sonnenallee 71. Even though the last months seem to be peppered with heartbreak, and this home only exists as a memory now, it's a reminder of the moments there when it was full of love.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4JIz8X5T9bvWRyzLXFjsO_Vk1xCwj2ln796qQwPsJ9GglzIXlpfC1-JPZ6jo8bK5DhNi9ZOXgKzQHk7t66bK3FSXMEQdl2c5obJXEbUaISqa2dubKlROsY7s6WxivIS3O7m5GWPCHS4/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4JIz8X5T9bvWRyzLXFjsO_Vk1xCwj2ln796qQwPsJ9GglzIXlpfC1-JPZ6jo8bK5DhNi9ZOXgKzQHk7t66bK3FSXMEQdl2c5obJXEbUaISqa2dubKlROsY7s6WxivIS3O7m5GWPCHS4/s1600/3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyQ5H4QmJ559yYqwOFMx7rqlEbr42MkTCuBC2GMAiWL6UQp1GMMDYk-rjuQK6iFMdZSKX6dKW34ZTMofvERGQrvCmlIrMkx1dvCGhoSQfMOpDWbaxuVrWhJFtWZfeybw3jMeWv-wXBHg/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyQ5H4QmJ559yYqwOFMx7rqlEbr42MkTCuBC2GMAiWL6UQp1GMMDYk-rjuQK6iFMdZSKX6dKW34ZTMofvERGQrvCmlIrMkx1dvCGhoSQfMOpDWbaxuVrWhJFtWZfeybw3jMeWv-wXBHg/s1600/7.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9V52r_QDsR_u6RJNjvR1UZI_lIJzrOuXJUAU-jGOgnGrvvvwSmitGo4Ak4gzPeLdPSY9646E9wyPTzTW72YP5Ul4EpgQpnz4ba9wLc3nA_g4_4ROBp2ucR8Q1lQVkA9U-ndbTwTRJsM8/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9V52r_QDsR_u6RJNjvR1UZI_lIJzrOuXJUAU-jGOgnGrvvvwSmitGo4Ak4gzPeLdPSY9646E9wyPTzTW72YP5Ul4EpgQpnz4ba9wLc3nA_g4_4ROBp2ucR8Q1lQVkA9U-ndbTwTRJsM8/s1600/1.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyC08Cl7wQL5SNItOTjnhlKpjs4vzxW5mqmqdFYbeWufC5roy5ee6t1WFhfJJYMrzdt_dOr7nqwT3Zml1vXK5aO6hPvqHb6fZ47RG1p57hjhGkhQPIcabctRWF1bVuw9_a_ip4SjuT2vc/s1600/2..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyC08Cl7wQL5SNItOTjnhlKpjs4vzxW5mqmqdFYbeWufC5roy5ee6t1WFhfJJYMrzdt_dOr7nqwT3Zml1vXK5aO6hPvqHb6fZ47RG1p57hjhGkhQPIcabctRWF1bVuw9_a_ip4SjuT2vc/s1600/2..jpg" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5YdVh6p3WsqejHdH_RIzYBt0YwYb7fgnkSMFrRpXdflXcior1292xE-BGl701Lgnav15xdQxFytzgHNjqQ_hO-5io4SpP_VuXCdDJe21GPuxb9qsOlzqkF100lBHePJHtTznkcl6VuY/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5YdVh6p3WsqejHdH_RIzYBt0YwYb7fgnkSMFrRpXdflXcior1292xE-BGl701Lgnav15xdQxFytzgHNjqQ_hO-5io4SpP_VuXCdDJe21GPuxb9qsOlzqkF100lBHePJHtTznkcl6VuY/s1600/4.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEorUxdYIlfojSLQ4p5jlbYxR5GdmFDwpweGF06urUuP45V0nU1AaiTPYAr3x200SUByCOsXhvk3Jf_NlQ0XQ70zUC8gkjlP2aRyYDHHQBq3gBxZv87g1-ZlkX1ZhAG01ASyk26H4Wecw/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEorUxdYIlfojSLQ4p5jlbYxR5GdmFDwpweGF06urUuP45V0nU1AaiTPYAr3x200SUByCOsXhvk3Jf_NlQ0XQ70zUC8gkjlP2aRyYDHHQBq3gBxZv87g1-ZlkX1ZhAG01ASyk26H4Wecw/s1600/5.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMkezWyMvr5_kHkBtwRvgB8SiBWwV2lNeQy57g20fza8m-KCii1fO93Gp8EL46T5MeOebbSRXkK8OY0KQBUJGMr-CK5cZ4ypYSwGucMNuQ7xWg7uy77tfqNjYnZzXHwMgLp4mmixaMFU/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMkezWyMvr5_kHkBtwRvgB8SiBWwV2lNeQy57g20fza8m-KCii1fO93Gp8EL46T5MeOebbSRXkK8OY0KQBUJGMr-CK5cZ4ypYSwGucMNuQ7xWg7uy77tfqNjYnZzXHwMgLp4mmixaMFU/s1600/6.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTc6EX1A3NqLf-Jq_H91h1BjPYGfQETHtUKGl00TXdAVS9KKPXRjGb9N1a2vFwIFcJBuIWUi7LQZMJFwnpD7dpjtnNapkfWqRekCxY3XEis24aHg9lqvZY_F80LKnc8_x_qlFDCxDx028/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTc6EX1A3NqLf-Jq_H91h1BjPYGfQETHtUKGl00TXdAVS9KKPXRjGb9N1a2vFwIFcJBuIWUi7LQZMJFwnpD7dpjtnNapkfWqRekCxY3XEis24aHg9lqvZY_F80LKnc8_x_qlFDCxDx028/s1600/8.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzFGtNEsmppcxRkcACsyWUL9bb_DMN0uvCLof6hdvM41a20EJ1fkJ3cEItkmbMK4txWzIkXzYg7-6MLNGFGrFZGK3-7EhfeONc55JohoR5eYUnvs7Ml1bSIW3sfF28h3WYONHBMFrX8M/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzFGtNEsmppcxRkcACsyWUL9bb_DMN0uvCLof6hdvM41a20EJ1fkJ3cEItkmbMK4txWzIkXzYg7-6MLNGFGrFZGK3-7EhfeONc55JohoR5eYUnvs7Ml1bSIW3sfF28h3WYONHBMFrX8M/s1600/9.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThUalSEdLigTbZdpw-xZuWH_MVEzwXFbOrq_1MIJrc3dBTGqfdqObwokCIGvB_NVHqmR-30pq_jwP203_9BOYGUYepfeUgBrppNH2XtDucpNUU8huAfU9JKD1KfeFGmDBff7he5dQGao/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThUalSEdLigTbZdpw-xZuWH_MVEzwXFbOrq_1MIJrc3dBTGqfdqObwokCIGvB_NVHqmR-30pq_jwP203_9BOYGUYepfeUgBrppNH2XtDucpNUU8huAfU9JKD1KfeFGmDBff7he5dQGao/s1600/11.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzi4vVbBor6ljKU3JALKKcrosN2pFvrSkcxxHbxWygvKoikO1HBwYQ9GKgNFEwjXda9GVqrm1dHBtOq2kOcUB9cmkNGc92gSST_i5-CBxmY6pf-F4FBncZAmUUXT9xjySoc4LqtEIKNU/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzi4vVbBor6ljKU3JALKKcrosN2pFvrSkcxxHbxWygvKoikO1HBwYQ9GKgNFEwjXda9GVqrm1dHBtOq2kOcUB9cmkNGc92gSST_i5-CBxmY6pf-F4FBncZAmUUXT9xjySoc4LqtEIKNU/s1600/10.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Love.<!--3--><!--3--><!--3--></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-30445940010044828612012-11-10T03:22:00.000-08:002012-11-10T03:48:22.919-08:00Canteen: Beetroot & White Chocolate Cake<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the last days of October, Berlin really put all of its might into decorating the city with explosions of colour and light. A giant took hold of the sun, sliced it open, only to discover it was in fact a colossal citrus fruit brimming with potent pigment and radiant beams. He squeezed the fruit with much vigour, expressing puffs of gold, amber and orange down into the little neighbourhoods of the people below. The trees shone in the brilliance of the once mighty and relentless sun, and took on new shades as this heavenly nectar soaked into their leaves, and as time progressed, the brilliant beams that pierced the canopy of the trees became weaker and less frequent, the sun-fruit was drying out, leaving in its wake a chilly </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">grey</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> evening. Quite a sight it was while it lasted, lucky I got some photographs...</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvUE14UZGsXCDkbTiTUtwD_MnuFJMxzYBlYcS4R2r4dQ8poRzEocvlOjOt5zgRQefCdEBppKcyKw2mfZvZPmjf6QgvinZoK2c8dmJUZEfUCj_Fyl2_QwpcGT2dm-DAe-E-Antmfk6wYE/s1600/P1020146.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvUE14UZGsXCDkbTiTUtwD_MnuFJMxzYBlYcS4R2r4dQ8poRzEocvlOjOt5zgRQefCdEBppKcyKw2mfZvZPmjf6QgvinZoK2c8dmJUZEfUCj_Fyl2_QwpcGT2dm-DAe-E-Antmfk6wYE/s1600/P1020146.jpg" /></a> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Friedrichshain Cemetery </i></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_FK6mMrLl3rUVI67U0yUgMBZ8SNKgGFMKeo3QjLXhULqJqYYTCiCvdrhK4o_kZ0rm0PGFD2RLX3jF4Ou87c2H4dxMY6MUhUEsAoHpThEcbQYODTZ40z4vWn23brFMSuHEuRZe40DKTA/s1600/P1020145.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_FK6mMrLl3rUVI67U0yUgMBZ8SNKgGFMKeo3QjLXhULqJqYYTCiCvdrhK4o_kZ0rm0PGFD2RLX3jF4Ou87c2H4dxMY6MUhUEsAoHpThEcbQYODTZ40z4vWn23brFMSuHEuRZe40DKTA/s1600/P1020145.JPG" /></a> <br />
<br />
<i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Friedrichshain Cemetery</i><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJmXTXVGSs9ft3lvkyr4Ynem8_890tyYO0riF_yzpYah4PYX8Sc1jrc4MPrNV2_MejYAhWjzm1K0LWfQAk4gx-BnbxeATBdWdRVdfziJyLsGdE0EbUEl1aDu7s-BTvDQoMWJ8PsJv8UM/s1600/P1020149.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJmXTXVGSs9ft3lvkyr4Ynem8_890tyYO0riF_yzpYah4PYX8Sc1jrc4MPrNV2_MejYAhWjzm1K0LWfQAk4gx-BnbxeATBdWdRVdfziJyLsGdE0EbUEl1aDu7s-BTvDQoMWJ8PsJv8UM/s1600/P1020149.jpg" /></a> <br />
<br />
<i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Volkspark Friedrichshain</i><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Volkspark Friedrichshain is the nearest large city park to where I live. It's a sprawling, tree filled park and contains two large hills, that haven't always been part of the landscape. During the second world war, the third reich built two fucking enormous concrete air raid bunkers in the park. The larger of the two bunkers was bombed extensively during the war, but was only properly demolished by controlled explosions after the war. The bunkers were then dismantled, filled with rubble, and the leftover 2 million tonnes of debris was landscaped to create the two "mountains"; Große Bunkerberg (large bunker mountain) and Kleine Bunkerberg (small bunker mountain).</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCgJISeCtQopjzK3h8UdJ6POpPhkxx7EZ6AKIDjr1IHO0iDsCVl5CwAMDe3Niyci5yLaOL2BmSL5OIWBlwO6zFkSEiEghyNlVUnTAVdZxQ822p3LQNEITh13Ywl02mV4pFvbfTKKdxLo/s1600/volkspark_bunker.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCgJISeCtQopjzK3h8UdJ6POpPhkxx7EZ6AKIDjr1IHO0iDsCVl5CwAMDe3Niyci5yLaOL2BmSL5OIWBlwO6zFkSEiEghyNlVUnTAVdZxQ822p3LQNEITh13Ywl02mV4pFvbfTKKdxLo/s1600/volkspark_bunker.jpg" /></a> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="font-size: small;">Große Bunkerberg after it's demolition in 1946</i><br /><br />My thoughts were with the people living in this area after the war, and how they would become the fabric of the GDR, East Berlin. One of the things that often occurs to me is the limited selection of goods available to people in East Germany, of course food was no exception. After flicking through one of my favourite cookbooks, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canteen-Great-British-Patrick-Clayton-Malone/dp/0091936322">Canteen: Great British Food</a> Birta came across something that sounded very intriguing, a Beetroot and white chocolate cake! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What has this got to do with East Germany? Well, not a lot, apart from the fact that I have strong associations between Germany and beetroot, and life in the GDR meant no access to anything produced outside of the soviet states. (exotic foods were so unobtainable for common people that the GDR actually used a left over war bunker in Berlin as a high security storage house for precious imported fruits like bananas & pineapples, these were reserved for politicians and other important figures). It's sad to think that something as simple as a banana cake would have been an impossible luxury for poor old East Berliners, but since beetroot is always plentiful, I fantasize that people were being creative & eating beetroot cakes, beetroot donuts, beetroot ice cream - the substitutions are only as limited as your imagination.<br /><br />So, here begins the Beetroot and White Chocolate Cake process....</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsllMGSCzwyyTAWelXo38qIbF3DdgL-8P7FaIeTolFxLn32_9cu_5UraGmi8NQiVpvzjnBn_NXvVD6rXWuIGG4oCB2ToTPByjIpqJ5Z8ZQLTthmIoMW7QPidMTdKhwNxuAzUd0vMGGKlg/s1600/P1020080.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsllMGSCzwyyTAWelXo38qIbF3DdgL-8P7FaIeTolFxLn32_9cu_5UraGmi8NQiVpvzjnBn_NXvVD6rXWuIGG4oCB2ToTPByjIpqJ5Z8ZQLTthmIoMW7QPidMTdKhwNxuAzUd0vMGGKlg/s1600/P1020080.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7fYpn0YZCptg0-q55DzsLe4f6QNbxzwPVrvYnWb1-PtoJr8UEx8EAbz7LyTkJHpXgxTT46S8Zj_GVeOKfuXPgtuzfacOtmENvBQO_39OgLuQYKc7dr8m0gCq1puXU3MYmcIuFt3rS8o/s1600/P1020088.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7fYpn0YZCptg0-q55DzsLe4f6QNbxzwPVrvYnWb1-PtoJr8UEx8EAbz7LyTkJHpXgxTT46S8Zj_GVeOKfuXPgtuzfacOtmENvBQO_39OgLuQYKc7dr8m0gCq1puXU3MYmcIuFt3rS8o/s1600/P1020088.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-e6mOSxXFk9AAi8GFc3kJBFJmpgp679-m7rzr4MLjr3Mk3YvTVy_uKsiEHsCOgbC1WPxj0UtnS7p3e3-y42ykq9cYGopyhGhwR5UTQL0O9efOjX8VlyANgA_FMC5SWrnvMzkEqSOIksc/s1600/P1020105.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-e6mOSxXFk9AAi8GFc3kJBFJmpgp679-m7rzr4MLjr3Mk3YvTVy_uKsiEHsCOgbC1WPxj0UtnS7p3e3-y42ykq9cYGopyhGhwR5UTQL0O9efOjX8VlyANgA_FMC5SWrnvMzkEqSOIksc/s1600/P1020105.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGTit0022DEXoiSn1R6Y87-KlBZobI0AXLAxbW98jqPZEkJzjrRaXdl1mgSnKry8fu3t4EeWuhqixPGO6IUaWVdf7OrmC6SWXOrJBWydrPOPpMU2GRf4rQN4RYLFx9pHIKM9IrK5eCjU/s1600/P1020106.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGTit0022DEXoiSn1R6Y87-KlBZobI0AXLAxbW98jqPZEkJzjrRaXdl1mgSnKry8fu3t4EeWuhqixPGO6IUaWVdf7OrmC6SWXOrJBWydrPOPpMU2GRf4rQN4RYLFx9pHIKM9IrK5eCjU/s1600/P1020106.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvuJ4fbSJ7daXxJ_X2u8ZvspgIZSLO5LfCk2-DmJf8leW-YEc7_TGFtMURTwrtsej9EOu4PS1Xi4UMHRgNvIt79XC4zfvQXU41tdllpVHRWOcQ_uy95nurCHoOas5n9bWpCKiyA58r1s/s1600/P1020107.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvuJ4fbSJ7daXxJ_X2u8ZvspgIZSLO5LfCk2-DmJf8leW-YEc7_TGFtMURTwrtsej9EOu4PS1Xi4UMHRgNvIt79XC4zfvQXU41tdllpVHRWOcQ_uy95nurCHoOas5n9bWpCKiyA58r1s/s1600/P1020107.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0jo0Z-khqxMiaSgjcqXEnIseJrRT0FmyB3rPQ023TDPjgaEAieN-pD0Ipm_5u77InO9cUR975Bum43uY_yMC1jsmb47fXWu294vCMZGzVAOpJazXwvj5s8YFP5zdAKWK8b5nOy5G4Jg/s1600/P1020118.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0jo0Z-khqxMiaSgjcqXEnIseJrRT0FmyB3rPQ023TDPjgaEAieN-pD0Ipm_5u77InO9cUR975Bum43uY_yMC1jsmb47fXWu294vCMZGzVAOpJazXwvj5s8YFP5zdAKWK8b5nOy5G4Jg/s1600/P1020118.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFnuO9uZ86c5-SR8P9l-vOuUYGxYoaS-u29gBJtGjVofeHLOrGx5CHpqAUfHDeEsXnv4Q4cZlszSMQKoW6yfEwMoG8hDghLWHayk3A9iLhNNqAsrLru0UC8-eAFOOYz9_Bg_dW3pJ7js/s1600/P1020125.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFnuO9uZ86c5-SR8P9l-vOuUYGxYoaS-u29gBJtGjVofeHLOrGx5CHpqAUfHDeEsXnv4Q4cZlszSMQKoW6yfEwMoG8hDghLWHayk3A9iLhNNqAsrLru0UC8-eAFOOYz9_Bg_dW3pJ7js/s1600/P1020125.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRpZ-EVMglA60ikLNKLCpZUj6p6aak7kD6ftdVZ1mtT0NU2dogffiTGJi1osmt4_qALD8h11Q8YWPuh2Px8D4vOcpv3ShTExvAf7YeNATelejYXAHkCLJ8XXRjCSwUaXAliSCaeMF_8U/s1600/P1020127+copy.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRpZ-EVMglA60ikLNKLCpZUj6p6aak7kD6ftdVZ1mtT0NU2dogffiTGJi1osmt4_qALD8h11Q8YWPuh2Px8D4vOcpv3ShTExvAf7YeNATelejYXAHkCLJ8XXRjCSwUaXAliSCaeMF_8U/s1600/P1020127+copy.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The end result was a pretty humble looking creature, with just a hint of something earthy in the flavour. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For me it was interesting because the taste wasn't overpowering at all, you could just detect something slightly unusual. We took this cake to our friends' house in the evening to eat and watch </span><a href="http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0301357/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Goodbye Lenin</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. We tortured them to try and guess the secret ingredient, which they never managed to figure out, and throughout the entire movie, I was distracted by my imagination of East Berliners eating Beetroot Cakes.</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-35035495905084482252012-10-15T06:50:00.000-07:002012-10-15T11:19:20.151-07:00Where does the time go? Berlin Thai Markets & friendly figs.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The daylight hours are vanishing like a thief in the night, Berlin's Autumnal colours are bursting into action, & with the shorter days, the window of opportunity for beautiful food photography is slamming shut & throwing on a deadbolt. So many brilliant dishes have I prepared & consumed without so much as an attempt to document them, simply because the photographs in these dark hours look like bland, overexposed platters of grey matter. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's a work in progress to find time for this blog & change my cooking habits so the outcome falls within the daylight hours, but it will happen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, like a squirrel stashing nuts for the winter, I have a back catalogue of trips & experiments that I have long been meaning to share, here are just a few to make up for the record stint of silence.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Preußenpark Thai Markets</span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This market is something of an anomally - for one, it's not actually just a Thai market (as most people call it), rather a smorgasbord of South East Asian cuisine, including Vietnamese & Laotian. Secondly, this market evolved out of tradition, rather than a concretely organised happening. The score is that a large Asian population resides in Wilmersdorf, & for some years they gathered on weekends to socialise & picnic in Preußenpark; bringing chilly bins of freshly made treats & hotpots filled with salty, spicy herby deliciousness - what isn't pre packed, is cut up & made before your eyes. This started as personal gathering where the community came to share food, play games & enjoy the sun. Slowly this became an informal market where the food is offered for sale, with all dishes costing €3-6, & by far more authentic & better quality than many restaurants would serve. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's quite a sight emerging into a wide open park where families have set up picnic mats & colourful umbrellas, surrounded by tables of their freshly made goods: Sweet, sticky rice puddings wrapped in banana leaves, spring rolls, papaya salads, whole grilled fish, sugary fried plantains, glassy noodles buried in coriander, sprouts & basil, the choice intoxicates one's appetite, but there is no sense of urgency, the vendors are mostly old women sitting cross legged cleaning mushrooms with tiny brushes & smashing chillies & herbs in mortar & pestles. There's something about communicating with other people whose second language is "broken-German" that I quite enjoy, it's like a level playing field for both parties. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The market is every Saturday & Sunday when the sun is shining, nestled within the park next to the metro station Fehrbelliner Platz, which also has its own flea market that's an absolute goldmine for soiled children's clothes & charmless kitsch (note sarcasm: it SUCKS).</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-align: center;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fY8irxKEONk7WaCFyglZb28COc0xHE5H3ZgEmRwoSO_6TLGXq8Er6Ku25eK1_REILObmVULybifFe41qzZBBCpr8xhSMtTTKxQAYlcx8FeT0k0th5xYAYosDzbZT_tCljqy2QUTDBAA/s1600/P1010997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fY8irxKEONk7WaCFyglZb28COc0xHE5H3ZgEmRwoSO_6TLGXq8Er6Ku25eK1_REILObmVULybifFe41qzZBBCpr8xhSMtTTKxQAYlcx8FeT0k0th5xYAYosDzbZT_tCljqy2QUTDBAA/s1600/P1010997.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">Vietnamese Pho in faux Chinese China</span> </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYn9uXGkhdcDuMERqO3HQfmHPq5cVvXPTe2HDTxk5XlTM8feoDTqVo5HpC7fEW8wQpKzYTYOWw-J-VMb0o8RBAOo4oZgenC772m0EXc_2let4wnjdkoKT8D925fUjO-crnejJngctL2c/s1600/P1010992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYn9uXGkhdcDuMERqO3HQfmHPq5cVvXPTe2HDTxk5XlTM8feoDTqVo5HpC7fEW8wQpKzYTYOWw-J-VMb0o8RBAOo4oZgenC772m0EXc_2let4wnjdkoKT8D925fUjO-crnejJngctL2c/s1600/P1010992.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgQT6QtXBqQUL4fK8tUL7eC1opR4umbFH7DVPT9EtiIgM5HI5rxL23D-437OAfCiB5By7E0hWlWhIbls0G_le5g1R8xCtHCU16fNRTD1gBOk4FGKNCyRvtKZfW2_L-1Yxg1LFBwYbNu4/s1600/P1010995+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgQT6QtXBqQUL4fK8tUL7eC1opR4umbFH7DVPT9EtiIgM5HI5rxL23D-437OAfCiB5By7E0hWlWhIbls0G_le5g1R8xCtHCU16fNRTD1gBOk4FGKNCyRvtKZfW2_L-1Yxg1LFBwYbNu4/s1600/P1010995+copy.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHslCcbDXP2bXSFLFsSFzm2Wuns3LPnlK1zQ14KFGRX3fHWfDfP2Rx-BiDlDOI0gbjHFJPIYotfQ1OpldcOKOwUKx-dB0ftPCVu1bkCSiMU8VkBun8SsaIC6p3nQDw7R0sJjQH0M6ut4/s1600/P1020002+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHslCcbDXP2bXSFLFsSFzm2Wuns3LPnlK1zQ14KFGRX3fHWfDfP2Rx-BiDlDOI0gbjHFJPIYotfQ1OpldcOKOwUKx-dB0ftPCVu1bkCSiMU8VkBun8SsaIC6p3nQDw7R0sJjQH0M6ut4/s1600/P1020002+copy.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Miss Saigon</span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Staying on the topic of quality South East Asian eats, I was recently introduced to Miss Saigon (the restaurant, not the musical...) which is already well known as a haven for travelers or Berliners on a budget, but this place doesn't sacrifice quality for economy. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The menu here is south Vietnamese, I have only visited once so far, but the Pho I ordered was very good, I'll definitely return. Curiously, the friend sitting next to me ordered a steak, which wasn't what I expected from a Vietnamese restaurant, but it came out looking fairly attractive & tasting equally good. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Miss Saigon is on Skalitzer Strasse 38, Kreuzberg.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Fpfj9BNpTi2jGTVtIADg7m6h-7VuWf_wwXoyGi3sxYkpAFEnuTwQBWwz0Kkr4TogAPAOkKKBiAcC6rN449zPTSByHRjgyX6QIdOzwwLz9_R8U7m5XvuYaPXgWej1YPT3tQaKbZGfSn0/s1600/P1010985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Fpfj9BNpTi2jGTVtIADg7m6h-7VuWf_wwXoyGi3sxYkpAFEnuTwQBWwz0Kkr4TogAPAOkKKBiAcC6rN449zPTSByHRjgyX6QIdOzwwLz9_R8U7m5XvuYaPXgWej1YPT3tQaKbZGfSn0/s1600/P1010985.JPG" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmVd_Kz7nhpOqBkaLDU6wQcJBv1Drt2d0wuNFSW0xhBCAxHFmM_h_rPwg7nH_fbYyGYEhElDNjqsm3Bt4bS2oo7_-51ZXPdKc6b5mWjggXz-hb92t1_REV99vwg60v30pjYsaWPu_5p4/s1600/P1010984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmVd_Kz7nhpOqBkaLDU6wQcJBv1Drt2d0wuNFSW0xhBCAxHFmM_h_rPwg7nH_fbYyGYEhElDNjqsm3Bt4bS2oo7_-51ZXPdKc6b5mWjggXz-hb92t1_REV99vwg60v30pjYsaWPu_5p4/s1600/P1010984.JPG" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Figs are Friends</span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shopping on the fruit & vegetable markets has given me a new awareness of when produce is in season, it comes in waves & is incredibly cheap when abundant. One of the most recent fruits to boon have been figs, which apparently have a second wave of ripeness in Autumn. I never encountered figs living in New Zealand, actually that's a lie, we had a fig tree in my back yard in Lyttelton, but it yielded very pale, insipid little bulbs, that still excited the shit out of a friend who was the local baker - THAT is how rare figs were. Now I'm acquainted with the brilliant taste, colour & texture of REAL figs. They are such a beautiful fruit with this bell like form, slightly velvet purple skin, white rind & deep red, sweet flesh riddled with dainty little seeds. I've discovered the joy of throwing them into salads, or simply putting them onto bread & crackers - a new favourite is fig, feta, honey & mint on rye bread.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_dbHzkm1Iq1_luMz8-XR9nmTxp_gQSrWRzEX5VWfXEAwL6UOKpjbkJ9Q0pSGzrS3EJStzYHZpbWEGTPx7wXjMun4d6BqFp_G4XxdqjeDYuBTZ9CQMojqSO-GNsX72BQft_L6Bps1Gk0Q/s1600/P1020048+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_dbHzkm1Iq1_luMz8-XR9nmTxp_gQSrWRzEX5VWfXEAwL6UOKpjbkJ9Q0pSGzrS3EJStzYHZpbWEGTPx7wXjMun4d6BqFp_G4XxdqjeDYuBTZ9CQMojqSO-GNsX72BQft_L6Bps1Gk0Q/s1600/P1020048+copy.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpHJSVZA4Dvms9axmxjrMq1510E673hqXoWrO7Z6RRscab-toWTS6fWpJnfioQOsdUgpsE2gq09xF8wyt9lBI7UPeRfwrGiRSkQkWg6GPvn_6JKQRSWWulZBbgyGYLjTTmtzE8XaZn3I/s1600/P1020058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpHJSVZA4Dvms9axmxjrMq1510E673hqXoWrO7Z6RRscab-toWTS6fWpJnfioQOsdUgpsE2gq09xF8wyt9lBI7UPeRfwrGiRSkQkWg6GPvn_6JKQRSWWulZBbgyGYLjTTmtzE8XaZn3I/s1600/P1020058.JPG" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-2194787900850792612012-08-24T05:20:00.000-07:002012-08-24T14:15:56.277-07:00Moroccan minted roast vegetables<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9eiNcC029vdtU8eV2PrvTZHTuTlfhelzZK5Cwb1XiRgL-0Nse4QsfrHapCqXoc1kNsNE5x1VTmWDLxduFX3fdRcA503RUcXAV0jCESIeZdGT68tDcD-vA-WNFNZkwXSK9Ep2rVQeRWs/s1600/P1010969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9eiNcC029vdtU8eV2PrvTZHTuTlfhelzZK5Cwb1XiRgL-0Nse4QsfrHapCqXoc1kNsNE5x1VTmWDLxduFX3fdRcA503RUcXAV0jCESIeZdGT68tDcD-vA-WNFNZkwXSK9Ep2rVQeRWs/s640/P1010969.jpg" width="640" /><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhV9o2zhigAAhT0gdhpZANheL5EpvANjUD0ClR3ev2QMUs664OoItuAcEsDKHEKAAoeHriSY37kXBuc6gCbZUjqcZpzJbFocNfLDAmRE-9Yxm9BwZm3W2yshs3YNkyFO7D_eI2q5DunE/s1600/P1010973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhV9o2zhigAAhT0gdhpZANheL5EpvANjUD0ClR3ev2QMUs664OoItuAcEsDKHEKAAoeHriSY37kXBuc6gCbZUjqcZpzJbFocNfLDAmRE-9Yxm9BwZm3W2yshs3YNkyFO7D_eI2q5DunE/s640/P1010973.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm just going to put it out there, I'm not above putting ketchup on roast potatoes. WHAT? THAT'S BLASPHEMY, THAT'S....THAT'S - that's fucking delicious is what it is. Ketchup is the sugary, vinegary, condiment of the gods, and I'm standing by this one because I've had a love affair with Heinz ketchup </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">since childhood</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. I sometimes imagine good old Mr. Heinz as a dapper, 3-piece suit wearing gentleman with a curly moustache & tobacco pipe. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I gingerly knock twice at the Victorian bureau's enormous oak doors then proceed to enter, After a heavy push, the sweet concoction of tobacco smoke, Earl Grey tea & crabtree & evelyn aftershave permeate the air. A myriad of coloured light spills through stained glass windows on either side of the cavernous bureau, silk shutters, taxidermy animals & curiousity cabinets decorate a frieze around the room. At the far end, a wirey old gent springs forth from his desk & twists his moustache ends.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>"DYLAN!"</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>"PAPPY HEINZ!"</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>With broad steps he swiftly strides across the room to meet me, almost losing his footing on a couple of white tiger cubs vigorously pawing each other on the office floor. Unperturbed, he meets me with a hug so forceful it leaves me breathless.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"Dylan my boy, such a pleasure to see you! How about we get out of this factory for the day, take our velocipedes to the lake & have a picnic? What do you say to that?!"</b></i><br />
<i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></i>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so goes my heartfelt & vaguely homo-erotic image of Mr. Heinz, who for all I know could have been a misanthropic, slave-driving Nazi pedophile. Ah well, c'est la vie.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I realise that slathering roast vegetables in ketchup is not socially acceptable, but this is why people need to be daring with: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A. Their choice of vegetables to roast. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">B. The inclusion of herbs & spices. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">C. Sauces or dips made to accompany them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If I hadn't been subjected to so many roast dinners that just seasoned their potatoes with regular salt, pepper & animal fats, I would never have any reason to abusively unleash thick lashings of Mr Heinz at all. *Groaaaan*. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now for the first time in a while I'm giving you a recipe for something I made, because I stole it straight from <a href="http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/moroccan-mint-roasted-vegetables-recipe.html" target="_blank">101 cookbooks</a> ;) I used sweet potato for this, which is probably a bit dominant to get the best of the seasoning (delicious nonetheless). The real surprise was the cauliflower. I'm not a big fan of cauliflower, I used to like it as a kid because mum would refer to it as "ghost-tree", but now that I'm too old to be calling it a ghost tree, it's a bit bland to me, however it's an excellent carrier of flavours & comes out of the oven very juicy & full. The radishes are also delicious softened up & full of juice too.</span><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ingredients</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can use different vegetables depending on what's available, pumpkin or other winter squash, or straight potatoes. If cauliflower & radishes aren't available, use green beans and broccoli, asparagus and artichokes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 lb / 16 oz / 450 g mix of potatoes, cauliflower, and a few radishes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 1/2 teaspoons dried mint</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon red chile pepper flakes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon cumin seeds</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon fine grain sea salt</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 teaspoon ground cumin</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon cinnamon</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 teaspoon ground ginger</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a squeeze of fresh lemon juice</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">toppings: fresh mint, toasted sesame and/or pumpkin seeds, plain yogurt (seasoned with a bit of salt)</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Preheat your oven to 425F / 220C. Wash and dry the vegetables, then cut the potatoes and cauliflower into 1/4-inch thick slices/pieces. Trim and quarter the radishes, setting aside the green radish tops.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Place the dried mint, chile pepper flakes, cumin seeds, and salt in a mortar and pestle and pound a bit, long enough to somewhat break up the cumin seeds. Add the ground cumin, cinnamon, and ground ginger. After that, add the olive oil and stir until combined.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Place the potatoes, cauliflower, and radishes in a plastic bag. Pour the spiced olive oil over the vegetables and toss gently but thoroughly - sqeeze it around until everything is equally coated. Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes or until everything is cooked through.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remove from the oven and serve on a platter topped with the freshly diced mint, a squeeze of lemon and any/all of the other toppings. A thick unsweetened salted yogurt really works nicely here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serves 4.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prep time: 5 min - Cook time: 15 min</span></div>
Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-2794673602828672372012-08-22T07:58:00.001-07:002012-08-23T21:04:02.009-07:00Iceland: I want to have your babies Pt. II<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've kind of been putting off writing this entry, just because I visited so many fantastic places in the 2 weeks I was in Iceland, the prospect of editing a small selection from all the beautiful photos & trying to stitch together my journey to and from each destination in </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a clear & cohesive</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> fashion was more than daunting, so this is exactly what I'm NOT going to do. Instead, you're going to get an ambling & mildly incoherent post that has little or no plot. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hopefully you'll be so busy looking at those photographs to care about my lack of journalistic professionalism. Yeah? Oh yeah, right now there are a few (a lot) of place names that I'm not sure of, so I'm going to substitute them with </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"unknown location"</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, but I </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>promise</b></i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> that I will find out the names from my official Icelandic tour guide & update this within the week, in case you're curious. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To pick up where we left off, we departed the farmers market in Mosfellsdalur with a huge bag of fresh cale & rhubarb chard courtesy of Clint Eastwood, and a 12 pack of free range eggs from Birta's 10 year old nephew M</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">áni. This market couldn't be more local, the vegetables were grown literally 20metres from where they're sold & are picked fresh the same morning. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">M</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">áni is an enterprising young whippersnapper who is offering a better quality product than the supermarkets, at almost the same price. His egg yolks are so rich in colour, they could be raw pigment. We even got to visit the chickens in his pen, y'know, VIP treatment.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ( if you're a fan of Portlandia, you might be sniggering to yourself & thinking of the </span><a href="http://youtu.be/ErRHJlE4PGI" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Is this local?"</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> skit, I don't blame you).</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3d4by6T_6FDYYETQHmEdlN3LKwFcG6Ft_TJwRgKDWsM083ECUqpPBo7C7GPkrfzaZXgzQghCBDC360-qpyFd8vs2v7HKfji9Kyuixw3uaV_zZB6oOt7ELrx5TCP2PggaxZhT8MeqpgU/s1600/P1010722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3d4by6T_6FDYYETQHmEdlN3LKwFcG6Ft_TJwRgKDWsM083ECUqpPBo7C7GPkrfzaZXgzQghCBDC360-qpyFd8vs2v7HKfji9Kyuixw3uaV_zZB6oOt7ELrx5TCP2PggaxZhT8MeqpgU/s1600/P1010722.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Scrambled eggs on sourdough with cherry tomatoes & rocket pesto.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Organic food really does taste better, I</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">celandic produce is still sparse, but of excellent quality </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">& as their climate warms </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">up, the potential for agriculture is improving. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because agriculture there is so young, the soil is naturally rich with minerals & vitamins that haven't been depleted by centuries of farming & the low climate means produce really takes time to mature, giving it plenty of time to absorb all of this goodness.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every other morning we would trek down to one of Reykjavik's most renowned cafés, <a href="http://kaffismidja.is/home/" target="_blank">Kaffismiðja</a> which is a pretty serious café & roastery, part of the 3rd wave coffee movement, primarily using from beans sourced by direct trade out of Columbian micro-lots. The number of certificates & awards lining the wall of this place takes up almost all of their wall space, but the proof was in the pudding, they make really nice coffee, in a jar nonetheless?<br /> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMztnoTxdTa_l4JWCCw0IXpegZe9-XOWFjXNLVwvoW_vAK8s9LxISIXk4IlGabUAHlksEOLRl727q26HfVsWuKTZj_9VuQPPPeQzFFokD9xDd-q0HUfozirvUTimkIgQyMOhKGKzQPrs/s1600/P1010479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMztnoTxdTa_l4JWCCw0IXpegZe9-XOWFjXNLVwvoW_vAK8s9LxISIXk4IlGabUAHlksEOLRl727q26HfVsWuKTZj_9VuQPPPeQzFFokD9xDd-q0HUfozirvUTimkIgQyMOhKGKzQPrs/s1600/P1010479.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTl5Q83o5sGa2NjkghlZj-2S4-lKnx3N3zKddQA9peJJsUwEi2L15wbJ5ALxH2qbKltKOqoI3l_6Q6VSLl-eL5E4VyJ6o_EL99IobNM-1HIR2DGK8iprL6i-wb7h4X4cWPa6mjq430WY/s1600/P1010481.jpg" /></div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">It's a really homely space with seating inside composed of a charming ramshackle of second hand furniture, artwork & records (yep, a turntable in the corner playing Fleetwood Mac).</span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-5zED0_XJtJxA3B4ZbGLWG9e9H4vJ-CSuP-yWc0CO1goU39mclJIwP6pOzkAHzFK-P35q4bKsEMnKaKBDB5SQ8imW6zppcEqZiP0p3CqiObeNsqOLaCHsdtf7iedCpjp6bodd6F5kiY/s1600/P1010492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-5zED0_XJtJxA3B4ZbGLWG9e9H4vJ-CSuP-yWc0CO1goU39mclJIwP6pOzkAHzFK-P35q4bKsEMnKaKBDB5SQ8imW6zppcEqZiP0p3CqiObeNsqOLaCHsdtf7iedCpjp6bodd6F5kiY/s1600/P1010492.jpg" /></a><span style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Times;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Massive outdoor seating area made from wooden pallats & stuffed hessian coffee sacks.<span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></span></i><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The week was punctuated with several day trips out of Reykjavik, every time it was somewhere with its own awe inspiring natural characteristics. One evening we drove somewhat blindly off the main road down a windy rocky mountain trail, that would have been no challenge to Bjork in her white Hummer, but it felt like it was going to rip the undercarriage off of poor Toyota Yaris, our trashy city car. Still, we threw caution to the wind, and within 15 minutes were lost deep in a volcanic desert of lava, moss & mountains. </span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KJNC5xMMFv_ueXMvVhyphenhyphenwsq1qXFKamrqoSiymph6IUbLVN1YmGL7NIKOwF8AjX_5KSQZoTMQMlLejZiiXvD2alN_52a3581s4UGElJu3wOOguf5_j85JjO75XvzL2BKgD2dSBCoyGP7A/s1600/P1010683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KJNC5xMMFv_ueXMvVhyphenhyphenwsq1qXFKamrqoSiymph6IUbLVN1YmGL7NIKOwF8AjX_5KSQZoTMQMlLejZiiXvD2alN_52a3581s4UGElJu3wOOguf5_j85JjO75XvzL2BKgD2dSBCoyGP7A/s1600/P1010683.jpg" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNhYzUyQMPXv_YlVI-bqvn02psb_PcK6gQLsMxMs0F88Eu5T5QWGojanW2USI16xXE9Vt3X3ZmyS5OrpxwnSu4Yr81cZKIBaImJe4iqEhJtiA1Zfrk7Gnh4z0GT0irOLbl2W69c7Imj4/s1600/P1010691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNhYzUyQMPXv_YlVI-bqvn02psb_PcK6gQLsMxMs0F88Eu5T5QWGojanW2USI16xXE9Vt3X3ZmyS5OrpxwnSu4Yr81cZKIBaImJe4iqEhJtiA1Zfrk7Gnh4z0GT0irOLbl2W69c7Imj4/s1600/P1010691.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaWhlbnr2YL_HazZvN0-coxPvgpD5S02xyFoEBQUCMGUHalS-l61yKySzVYTL72dt5lTZt3wL9H-eqqZ45vBy2zUsrNaBovPchndPGLmrxPbxXUSSrzV4UCwaZhi78ZzwiE-TuJRgf64/s1600/P1010676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaWhlbnr2YL_HazZvN0-coxPvgpD5S02xyFoEBQUCMGUHalS-l61yKySzVYTL72dt5lTZt3wL9H-eqqZ45vBy2zUsrNaBovPchndPGLmrxPbxXUSSrzV4UCwaZhi78ZzwiE-TuJRgf64/s1600/P1010676.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbZxeLnE0dXlwpl2ENwJUgb9imFRQDDlFdHjSiEkN0NUwT-hcYFDhjSHdhHf2k88GUFLV_WhidNDwJjK6cZ_ROGNgOtpeODF3kCvSwBhNTh7gA57I0eGLQU_WO-gYJkUr_sAKo7CqTVQ/s1600/P1010678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbZxeLnE0dXlwpl2ENwJUgb9imFRQDDlFdHjSiEkN0NUwT-hcYFDhjSHdhHf2k88GUFLV_WhidNDwJjK6cZ_ROGNgOtpeODF3kCvSwBhNTh7gA57I0eGLQU_WO-gYJkUr_sAKo7CqTVQ/s1600/P1010678.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our quest was to locate a natural hotpool that's unmarked from the roadside which was allegedly another 20 minute walk from the nearest rocky trail. We parked Yaris on a level clearing, grabbed our bags & hoped for some divinity to show us the way to the springs. The cool evening air pulled at my hairs, they stood to attention as dusk briskly settled in. A wash of grey saturated the valleys & crevices of the landscape, while the hard light gave its final burst of illumination before fading. We trekked on towards a distant steam cloud in hope we would find our geothermal saviour. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Approaching the shadow of the valley, </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">the crackle & scuff of loose gravel underfoot broke the silence of the eerie landscape, an escalating hiss of steam escaping from the wheezing earth confirmed that we had found our bearings, our little secret paradise. It's a very special location where a heavy flowing boiling spring meets a fresh water stream, the water mixes & is eventually is cool enough to bathe in </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">down stream</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCSDVM7XJO49hsaF5sHpI4vZRJqgbj4Wmh4nDl87MIVpPXJBq-uob2oFa6aKnB5RRBuG-Z3OHMdKeJ2RRZImgV949oluJX0Y3ppqmbXaDniC4ZB2C55ZfUDr9i5_fcsyyPrVTeoy5c4E/s1600/668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCSDVM7XJO49hsaF5sHpI4vZRJqgbj4Wmh4nDl87MIVpPXJBq-uob2oFa6aKnB5RRBuG-Z3OHMdKeJ2RRZImgV949oluJX0Y3ppqmbXaDniC4ZB2C55ZfUDr9i5_fcsyyPrVTeoy5c4E/s1600/668.jpg" /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBinE1yefnp2hv0jSU5S7H-_AYpEidgnDKqlm8-klBYtVYnQjtkFKrsygJ9HeTDU0s8TYwwwJSrielgu_8l-1N3OGzQOv8DlM_gk2uaKqJz_OtFQL1GZP-r-ev4ClDYHiRw4aYIdLIOs/s1600/675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBinE1yefnp2hv0jSU5S7H-_AYpEidgnDKqlm8-klBYtVYnQjtkFKrsygJ9HeTDU0s8TYwwwJSrielgu_8l-1N3OGzQOv8DlM_gk2uaKqJz_OtFQL1GZP-r-ev4ClDYHiRw4aYIdLIOs/s1600/675.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We bathed our weary bones for hours, until our flesh nearly dropped from its bones. Leaving steamy vein we trekked back over mounds of volcanic rock, earth & moss under the moonlight, watching other distant hot springs bellow smoke into the air, I had the acute feeling that I was a tiny creature on the surface of an enormous living beast.</td><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUMzl5u_r5uPLuHvrRENAKWE3em7kgp1X3-17vD-UJX9xSXFpkJtYhqmi2yVqy_oC95t6KHiH550O2cM9tUUUXPNGZlXRHiXUoQc1sMrMadZMcGRNTbLxu0fH6CskoDfJZKz9fy7pTNEI/s1600/P1010716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUMzl5u_r5uPLuHvrRENAKWE3em7kgp1X3-17vD-UJX9xSXFpkJtYhqmi2yVqy_oC95t6KHiH550O2cM9tUUUXPNGZlXRHiXUoQc1sMrMadZMcGRNTbLxu0fH6CskoDfJZKz9fy7pTNEI/s1600/P1010716.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Don't think that all of this soaking in hot water was going to mean a casual dinner of beans on toast, oh no. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>When we got home it was straight into the kitchen to whip this together.</i></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxI16FVJZVQ-LzFEgsPWLWn2P0BOmudZ6KwgwEcwsgVg5qOHWmkcqz9CL1Uhx85FnLLRD2rSnsllkJDB24uqNUs2iBHaDLvYVbfsdHgrYGEFOMKjUkMnWU8b0Eon1yoa9Y_cmMWoOYuts/s1600/P1010723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxI16FVJZVQ-LzFEgsPWLWn2P0BOmudZ6KwgwEcwsgVg5qOHWmkcqz9CL1Uhx85FnLLRD2rSnsllkJDB24uqNUs2iBHaDLvYVbfsdHgrYGEFOMKjUkMnWU8b0Eon1yoa9Y_cmMWoOYuts/s1600/P1010723.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnGvssqExyGD6z_j9N2I1mRzPIob5ePnXtO1JOOGHzUnJdmqOM3Y5lfVQW8L5BjNosnvYQpCD5_ATSuHUa_4Z3IElI22oDn6a4v-DIpNJdBPGo3hBzPoG1rCAVB8vAns4Xo_B3lDUFvY/s1600/P1010724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnGvssqExyGD6z_j9N2I1mRzPIob5ePnXtO1JOOGHzUnJdmqOM3Y5lfVQW8L5BjNosnvYQpCD5_ATSuHUa_4Z3IElI22oDn6a4v-DIpNJdBPGo3hBzPoG1rCAVB8vAns4Xo_B3lDUFvY/s1600/P1010724.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Icelandic cod baked in lemon juice & fresh coriander with baby tomatoes, new potatoes & diced shallots with white vinaigrette & rocket / baby spinach with lemon juice & hemp seed.</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our next excursion was to Gullfoss waterfall, or "golden falls" in English. We had been blessed with another crisp blue day, so it was picnic time we had in mind. On the way we stopped at a series of hotpools which are also the location of Iceland's two geysirs, Strokkur & Geysir. I hadn't realised that the word Geysir is Icelandic, and that all other geysirs are named after the one here. Strokkur, the smaller of the two erupts about every 8 minutes to about 30m in height, while Geysir perhaps only 3 times a day.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2lOxmy7RxaUB9II6KRVhunNhJ73T8-Zkh9wC0GFVi0LL3JrWSbT4kFRVRlcfWY4mxXgO5ya_dVM0BByeay7zFKLw0EKN9Q8SmfJ4RyNcH1tfhyphenhyphenUnnLsHK-B_E6M5TSj7TLE3BDZCLZU/s1600/P1010735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2lOxmy7RxaUB9II6KRVhunNhJ73T8-Zkh9wC0GFVi0LL3JrWSbT4kFRVRlcfWY4mxXgO5ya_dVM0BByeay7zFKLw0EKN9Q8SmfJ4RyNcH1tfhyphenhyphenUnnLsHK-B_E6M5TSj7TLE3BDZCLZU/s1600/P1010735.jpg" /></a><span style="text-align: left;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; display: inline !important; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><i></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Deep blue hot springs.</span></i></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENK0SibvtynTvC0dJEdYweIN1mNNaoYL4VLxZX7n-wWXJcXEFLJyUJbhypmL1YYfr4bPU6y0uNBhmmgQuQbYNVdah1Ir-iYUFh5hHZf7Yp_bwbiQleUXH29yVqSHktpbMsyMthXvKFVo/s1600/P1010740.jpg" /></span></span><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">T<i style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">his guy was standing around all casual, like he couldn't give a flying-fuck about the wonder of nature he was about to witness, but a split second before the eruption, he whipped his camera up & furiously snapped away. I guess he had his street cred to protect. Stay wild, Wild Biker Schönfeld.</span></i></span></span><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We arrived at Gullfoss downright starving, but we had plenty of sourdough, gouda, kale, rhubarb chard, tomatoes & hummus to end that problem, so a quick picnic was in order before a walk along the ravine edge to the mighty falls.</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENK0SibvtynTvC0dJEdYweIN1mNNaoYL4VLxZX7n-wWXJcXEFLJyUJbhypmL1YYfr4bPU6y0uNBhmmgQuQbYNVdah1Ir-iYUFh5hHZf7Yp_bwbiQleUXH29yVqSHktpbMsyMthXvKFVo/s1600/P1010740.jpg" imageanchor="1"><i style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"></i></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6O7y4Hw9Cam1rJ8k9cwApmNsbcLZ-TJyuq8W8Jb5JE3AWchMs0PcircZ69j0fdQ_mhBGloxSNDlfjNfdh3h8BPT1XE1b5K8kY6R8-M9p8mZGy8PMKb0QUf5H3vdzjldgVoxpJ48Ko-M/s1600/P1010745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6O7y4Hw9Cam1rJ8k9cwApmNsbcLZ-TJyuq8W8Jb5JE3AWchMs0PcircZ69j0fdQ_mhBGloxSNDlfjNfdh3h8BPT1XE1b5K8kY6R8-M9p8mZGy8PMKb0QUf5H3vdzjldgVoxpJ48Ko-M/s1600/P1010745.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULWm3A0NYstMwoEp7SEIbbPHmf0MoFjJodWMLl0bqEmIZ7AEiHGENe8vp9_mHGkn2i5J1e4yGKzuYCVKezcUTNr34xYNsUic6pAw1lORuVBKfLwp1jlFE_1yksxrDmt19vBQ7o5dFW9w/s1600/P1010749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULWm3A0NYstMwoEp7SEIbbPHmf0MoFjJodWMLl0bqEmIZ7AEiHGENe8vp9_mHGkn2i5J1e4yGKzuYCVKezcUTNr34xYNsUic6pAw1lORuVBKfLwp1jlFE_1yksxrDmt19vBQ7o5dFW9w/s1600/P1010749.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsbraxEvaWMzoM535r4DQMoHX4pH4V_1Ngfo2PXCAHBddujETOPPvcgA37T5dOaXuwFDGLfqw7rATLPH9QOfOPTWibTpjhn4HyOgK5MespGLcTm7aJvyr7qDd28AoNtira_hBlhcQ1-g/s1600/P1010753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsbraxEvaWMzoM535r4DQMoHX4pH4V_1Ngfo2PXCAHBddujETOPPvcgA37T5dOaXuwFDGLfqw7rATLPH9QOfOPTWibTpjhn4HyOgK5MespGLcTm7aJvyr7qDd28AoNtira_hBlhcQ1-g/s1600/P1010753.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJ5f4EkYb_6n936v_N8C_wmjnrgewEcbg8LfHFMDEY1WIu3GzRHNI6-S-CK71qmXkkEUGIzNZmyfDPyYsO5hPuDqifBD7MVU37d6dUH95WzJFwsUJs8l8o8lD29lFf20mGGy1lydbNos/s1600/P1010758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJ5f4EkYb_6n936v_N8C_wmjnrgewEcbg8LfHFMDEY1WIu3GzRHNI6-S-CK71qmXkkEUGIzNZmyfDPyYsO5hPuDqifBD7MVU37d6dUH95WzJFwsUJs8l8o8lD29lFf20mGGy1lydbNos/s1600/P1010758.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGX5AhLGjZ6jxIgvuBolCrQ6t5XEeaE_AcsHi2IWx55pEASC9ldw8vN92lvBe48ntfXk9xu2Tg3NEwt95VXTaGSDTKI1Z7x5Lu3GdTjWmTaAI6ZojvEGDdtnHi3TVHEbfedHxoIQ8mkg/s1600/P1010761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGX5AhLGjZ6jxIgvuBolCrQ6t5XEeaE_AcsHi2IWx55pEASC9ldw8vN92lvBe48ntfXk9xu2Tg3NEwt95VXTaGSDTKI1Z7x5Lu3GdTjWmTaAI6ZojvEGDdtnHi3TVHEbfedHxoIQ8mkg/s1600/P1010761.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It's mesmerising to watch this huge body of water continually fall, and difficult to comprehend the power of nature when we spend so much time living in cities in control of our light, our water, our heating - you almost expect there to be a tap to cease this flow. The most inspiring thing about Iceland for me is the lack of human interference with the land, you can drive for kilometres & see no other roads, no fences, no plantations, no farms & when you do encounter some kind of manmade construction, it's dwarfed by the immensity of the landscape, as you can see in these assorted pictured from the week below.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZgc_kM5Xnmsb6PkQLW0S4rtOp3AbI6dX_6Wcbj-od4YNBKliV3EnwLTBwcXFhEmyUZpU-q6vH2dVw5mUJtWWIz26ZDJhHfYD-cU1R9fXloy_0zTJ0GxWA3XtvuFxqp8KQgzuUEEaplE/s1600/525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZgc_kM5Xnmsb6PkQLW0S4rtOp3AbI6dX_6Wcbj-od4YNBKliV3EnwLTBwcXFhEmyUZpU-q6vH2dVw5mUJtWWIz26ZDJhHfYD-cU1R9fXloy_0zTJ0GxWA3XtvuFxqp8KQgzuUEEaplE/s1600/525.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-D5gJFeewqMsD0pS5-NWP4-pmTdhchTXH-yCVADnbPlXZGoG3xIaR1sJsRxG25UyPjriJmrMZuzkJO0z6NtC-If3x4qMRMI7MOZ8E8QC45S6F-wLmAOpfTx1PAg9chlSa8b4o-cBCwnk/s1600/537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-D5gJFeewqMsD0pS5-NWP4-pmTdhchTXH-yCVADnbPlXZGoG3xIaR1sJsRxG25UyPjriJmrMZuzkJO0z6NtC-If3x4qMRMI7MOZ8E8QC45S6F-wLmAOpfTx1PAg9chlSa8b4o-cBCwnk/s1600/537.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6ufDvEltYqJSUtpY0pWozj2tYGsT83bL_QAt-u7HeaejwwZMyVW-fAypfRQXnGh8X01iZQyWwO4-Nl5fRGnIpfLTnHeWNc0VMfBaaGSYD9d8iu_C3TLx3uozPCzz0J3aaecqaybhZ7M/s1600/564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6ufDvEltYqJSUtpY0pWozj2tYGsT83bL_QAt-u7HeaejwwZMyVW-fAypfRQXnGh8X01iZQyWwO4-Nl5fRGnIpfLTnHeWNc0VMfBaaGSYD9d8iu_C3TLx3uozPCzz0J3aaecqaybhZ7M/s1600/564.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kMIAK6iDWj9OGcGsAcyDounoflIMLwu5QE1F3RE3gxnLj9zoQ841pXyTvFixyyzpH0W3BKh88tf6bAkZC221sBHDrgE2jiNJiupORmQV1LFoQwvpYfZxDo2sb0J0rpLEaQ9cmWlXOVQ/s1600/P1010463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kMIAK6iDWj9OGcGsAcyDounoflIMLwu5QE1F3RE3gxnLj9zoQ841pXyTvFixyyzpH0W3BKh88tf6bAkZC221sBHDrgE2jiNJiupORmQV1LFoQwvpYfZxDo2sb0J0rpLEaQ9cmWlXOVQ/s1600/P1010463.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyMLbvBfiBXxcaV8rqnH2mslKUKTq1aRP5JqabUa6Je6xaMF8bOn6Ltg38PYL-uk3Hp6Z5MIucnPM2YMUIvD4PL-N8cjR4oBWeTgMGiiyxGl3L5RalaX1nJr6el8Twkh-IOLqCd8C_IE/s1600/P1010555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyMLbvBfiBXxcaV8rqnH2mslKUKTq1aRP5JqabUa6Je6xaMF8bOn6Ltg38PYL-uk3Hp6Z5MIucnPM2YMUIvD4PL-N8cjR4oBWeTgMGiiyxGl3L5RalaX1nJr6el8Twkh-IOLqCd8C_IE/s1600/P1010555.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJbm_XAIe5BJOpCMaVbGSMq-SyuDlFgMjYC5mYhra0QYm3S3HhlEUR9-94PmiwLcEFHsV4wQIT3cvOslju9MLBxZwCfocW5karpG-AeORYaiMrFSyG_5CoMq5eLOJpek0YrpRnbsJtn0/s1600/P1010565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJbm_XAIe5BJOpCMaVbGSMq-SyuDlFgMjYC5mYhra0QYm3S3HhlEUR9-94PmiwLcEFHsV4wQIT3cvOslju9MLBxZwCfocW5karpG-AeORYaiMrFSyG_5CoMq5eLOJpek0YrpRnbsJtn0/s1600/P1010565.jpg" /></a><span style="color: black;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The view from a hill we climbed in an unknown location.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VqjkY0eerE2okwHSHQ8pEg3DZdhNcfIOStq7SPeFjNG-TCi28Qq9dz_7SI7SyPfJRQrdjqQ2kCnXNBHdtJJ2hI-Es7cP7LzeMOss42ZicXfUbGdnpugsbfuZA2iCfaMSHGOBP1oeeFk/s1600/574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VqjkY0eerE2okwHSHQ8pEg3DZdhNcfIOStq7SPeFjNG-TCi28Qq9dz_7SI7SyPfJRQrdjqQ2kCnXNBHdtJJ2hI-Es7cP7LzeMOss42ZicXfUbGdnpugsbfuZA2iCfaMSHGOBP1oeeFk/s1600/574.jpg" /></a><i style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><i style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Well deserved nap on the hilltop.</span></i></i></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw50iKLcoELP-so-XxrP69uy9BPavPWsGCLk49IEQ_5dli2QqWGPWL-VDXFhEAUrnR6RkcKDo9MqKCoETAFS6JXhRt3zQm2vwJ8KAiSdIWcl-u2WjyZ9jPoJoEtskFHDLebv5uxAnn4HA/s1600/P1010552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw50iKLcoELP-so-XxrP69uy9BPavPWsGCLk49IEQ_5dli2QqWGPWL-VDXFhEAUrnR6RkcKDo9MqKCoETAFS6JXhRt3zQm2vwJ8KAiSdIWcl-u2WjyZ9jPoJoEtskFHDLebv5uxAnn4HA/s1600/P1010552.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Wild blueberries were everywhere on the way down!</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I just want make an aside to talk about a guilty pleasure in Iceland, and that's candy. I really ate way more chocolate and licorice than anyone should in a two week period, but part of the charm was the amazing packaging. It is so fantastically time-warp-retro, it really delighted my sensibility for 1960's graphic design and illustration. Now don't get the impression that this is some company's engineered attempt to sell in a retro style to a young generation pining for some mark of authenticity. No, it's purely because these confectionary companies haven't changed the look of their packaging for 30 years, and I love them for it.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1EsFNxRYGHPunbM1NlEAh8lN96ukNxeHW5LP4JRQxqa-gxW9XGrACZf4l-3JZrZWKCF-4m-BfZ74p1tVxBFxUs9rUT07fPZ5buYKY1Tk1yavhWbl4_m-wF1_i7tsxtn4k2hYWHEnfo0/s1600/P1010522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1EsFNxRYGHPunbM1NlEAh8lN96ukNxeHW5LP4JRQxqa-gxW9XGrACZf4l-3JZrZWKCF-4m-BfZ74p1tVxBFxUs9rUT07fPZ5buYKY1Tk1yavhWbl4_m-wF1_i7tsxtn4k2hYWHEnfo0/s1600/P1010522.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcgGprOAu5myF1dJTYcufVumo7ukVYN19_PVVYvNDbG8n9VcmwYcgNu3E3gONH4uFJ1bOmjy9nvpqn7n7Nj5KloZ-THfvhoYg2PYyH4cehtViXBa-AtPYOWfWeTpXLlU_GTM-aoONsyI/s1600/P1010523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcgGprOAu5myF1dJTYcufVumo7ukVYN19_PVVYvNDbG8n9VcmwYcgNu3E3gONH4uFJ1bOmjy9nvpqn7n7Nj5KloZ-THfvhoYg2PYyH4cehtViXBa-AtPYOWfWeTpXLlU_GTM-aoONsyI/s1600/P1010523.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYo4r5JCWijwKB9e9yHGqMdmOCDTByjwc_zC0TnyhF2FR_DnYcNPwDKStwaBmIywk7UizPgs2BZ96XBsPpSa8_tv7mzcQD2aZBDrZSP6zjpjUOP4IbGd-V8AY4imL7ISCUoMqMRtWoOM/s1600/P1010524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYo4r5JCWijwKB9e9yHGqMdmOCDTByjwc_zC0TnyhF2FR_DnYcNPwDKStwaBmIywk7UizPgs2BZ96XBsPpSa8_tv7mzcQD2aZBDrZSP6zjpjUOP4IbGd-V8AY4imL7ISCUoMqMRtWoOM/s1600/P1010524.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There was just one of these chocolate bars (unknown) that I found so utterly obscene, I couldn't help but make fun of it. It basically looked like a ribbed, veiny, chocolately mutant cock - at least that's exactly what I looked like when I put it in the zipper of my jeans...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBpS1qbqAIjXj6kQAYkwr_Fb2hmptXYmxXkjCDzWtXBsGTMVhTnmduL_pgJn-s_O53gHkXt_UBS9Pu12HWH-fgMhdTovx2kuFsqPN5ECoKD3YFh_qQtYZtrHaPk10pXIuki_Qpx5X5nQ/s1600/P1010605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBpS1qbqAIjXj6kQAYkwr_Fb2hmptXYmxXkjCDzWtXBsGTMVhTnmduL_pgJn-s_O53gHkXt_UBS9Pu12HWH-fgMhdTovx2kuFsqPN5ECoKD3YFh_qQtYZtrHaPk10pXIuki_Qpx5X5nQ/s1600/P1010605.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Birta returned mid-shot, horrified that I'd managed to stage this photo in the 2 minutes she had left me alone in the car. I say she was horrified, but probably not as much as the 8 year old kid in the car next to me, who <i>might</i> have seen this. If he did, good luck to his parents figuring out why their child now screams uncontrollably when granddad asks if he'd like a chocolate bar.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We spent the last days in Iceland in a very special part of the country, in an even more special house. "<i>Bakki"</i> in Snæfellsnes is one of the studios & holiday homes of the artist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dieter_Roth" target="_blank">Dieter Roth</a> & his family. It was a privilege to stay in the space of such an influential artist, you could really feel the energy & vision still resonating in the space. There was a pared back simplicity & pure functionalism to everything in this house. The austerity of decoration & orderliness that is typically Swiss, combined with the obsessive collection & documentation of this avid artist. Birta's Auntie Vera is Dieter's daughter, which is why we were lucky enough to borrow this little haven out of the city. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It was absolute bliss to get away from Reykjavik for a few days, with no internet, surrounded by books, the ocean & enough drawing materials to sink a ship. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Snæfellsnes is right beside a glacier, unfortunately the weather had turned a little sour so the glacier was constantly hiding behind low grey cloud, but that didn't matter, we were away from civilisation with a fully stocked studio, a fridge full of food & ocean views - it was as close to heaven as I could be.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPuoPCKjMA1BjqVBUkmM-sKs53Z-uaHMNf4-BirPzrxUNTzFW_lpjm7ni42Cae3jZptboWXP-_FwVxgpbHYGZoaY_qBJ7QieNRvxdeMGKTwuPeypZIRCDUQqPkA7MQ366AZGM5e-MeIc/s1600/P1010831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPuoPCKjMA1BjqVBUkmM-sKs53Z-uaHMNf4-BirPzrxUNTzFW_lpjm7ni42Cae3jZptboWXP-_FwVxgpbHYGZoaY_qBJ7QieNRvxdeMGKTwuPeypZIRCDUQqPkA7MQ366AZGM5e-MeIc/s1600/P1010831.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9VoCbLEtZa6Kd73gP12VLTbOx-JG3NnOoTGdsEieAUXArFaKJhyphenhyphenbuVcQD3-XB70XzbWZAYzJZoBGgzJ830x49Tt5gf1mlY7jn1CYcjDbX4oDFQupUhXC5XgFOiMMV8iM_PL7SLwTFmE/s1600/P1010925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9VoCbLEtZa6Kd73gP12VLTbOx-JG3NnOoTGdsEieAUXArFaKJhyphenhyphenbuVcQD3-XB70XzbWZAYzJZoBGgzJ830x49Tt5gf1mlY7jn1CYcjDbX4oDFQupUhXC5XgFOiMMV8iM_PL7SLwTFmE/s1600/P1010925.jpg" /></a><i style="text-align: left;"><i></i></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="text-align: left;"><i><i style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Studio table at Bakki.</span></i></i></i></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-23KEsIJygVxRg1ChNYChgAfWKwd9gJG01N4xxQlSviKBp3hoScu6HnF9UwPZ-vPCWjutuQt9Oc6DTQruU-9JgCKj0JdSZZhyphenhyphenhTY1D2oePJBd5hGpiwUVbnKerj14H6EgJ-FtLcSAXo/s1600/P1010928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-23KEsIJygVxRg1ChNYChgAfWKwd9gJG01N4xxQlSviKBp3hoScu6HnF9UwPZ-vPCWjutuQt9Oc6DTQruU-9JgCKj0JdSZZhyphenhyphenhTY1D2oePJBd5hGpiwUVbnKerj14H6EgJ-FtLcSAXo/s1600/P1010928.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBAOxR3ErBhtqOe_nQ1la6ZICmQB8WHR5zZuDMWOk-mO3F2h5aEiR-S4EmHFy0XbY_SL5zck-iO3E3rEKD47BnR5V63wN_S1v5queM4uDENJ_SfzdevZZgeo9zhlDcw8ybzDiTs3SL4o/s1600/P1010937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBAOxR3ErBhtqOe_nQ1la6ZICmQB8WHR5zZuDMWOk-mO3F2h5aEiR-S4EmHFy0XbY_SL5zck-iO3E3rEKD47BnR5V63wN_S1v5queM4uDENJ_SfzdevZZgeo9zhlDcw8ybzDiTs3SL4o/s1600/P1010937.jpg" /><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPkR-NG1tCmAxKso-ojIt7EtWTbbMdf9LYEkhRc30lkBq4fB3Tk9S7iWEffNkCJ7bk6EhCUV-OEbkE_LAOr880F7U7w-aGrOsBWgtx3F0qYmBf_2VDtePWT58N8gSJhwfMcUMJrUOI3E/s1600/P1010797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPkR-NG1tCmAxKso-ojIt7EtWTbbMdf9LYEkhRc30lkBq4fB3Tk9S7iWEffNkCJ7bk6EhCUV-OEbkE_LAOr880F7U7w-aGrOsBWgtx3F0qYmBf_2VDtePWT58N8gSJhwfMcUMJrUOI3E/s1600/P1010797.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3QGcV_I7OUuiX_sc0vM_xTW4S_uPu36TJz1qLyBp3cWvaX8o5A8DSO6a_j2QihwX9ME1q799T7xGjjIWPRs_sCo_EGsu_ZplZKNUbEwc7qFnYsEmpb3GtJgwpHoIlQDST94eNxEqDqs/s1600/P1010798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3QGcV_I7OUuiX_sc0vM_xTW4S_uPu36TJz1qLyBp3cWvaX8o5A8DSO6a_j2QihwX9ME1q799T7xGjjIWPRs_sCo_EGsu_ZplZKNUbEwc7qFnYsEmpb3GtJgwpHoIlQDST94eNxEqDqs/s1600/P1010798.jpg" /></a><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cucumber, mint, red onion, feta & blueberry salad. Drizzled with red balsamic.</span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2W5BiHBxIlzliAKp6zVIP7pgqFVoZSpm3p-z_Jgy9wfmOpYD7jhC-yjf3nxBQQKLj7hyPvoY4QvYg5eWDkBG5ufGvpK6VZ1yCwRcQvCXy7pgMYzC3lSPalMV0XyiJ-0yH4k-clqppNIY/s1600/P1010795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2W5BiHBxIlzliAKp6zVIP7pgqFVoZSpm3p-z_Jgy9wfmOpYD7jhC-yjf3nxBQQKLj7hyPvoY4QvYg5eWDkBG5ufGvpK6VZ1yCwRcQvCXy7pgMYzC3lSPalMV0XyiJ-0yH4k-clqppNIY/s1600/P1010795.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Haddock baked with pepper, lemon & lime.</span></i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNz6DnIQgAbS0u6Ri1GAVIimZkaN4OdQlh90eekZuj1BOF7qMcBtOuYJ6WOiZmMDMR0jW4nFypXqWOwgnEUCUCfCLQLK_EOUsecOvV7dOj9qWiFvrlvEzy2viKQlbMbrHTfr9uUoY6gA/s1600/P1010799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNz6DnIQgAbS0u6Ri1GAVIimZkaN4OdQlh90eekZuj1BOF7qMcBtOuYJ6WOiZmMDMR0jW4nFypXqWOwgnEUCUCfCLQLK_EOUsecOvV7dOj9qWiFvrlvEzy2viKQlbMbrHTfr9uUoY6gA/s1600/P1010799.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitB1gPU1ioIhmSwXjk1tJC2g-10OFd63up3U8FNxapWY13JhoaEkvyYt9xNXUTMWOH_jivJ36bSpXi-XJa9-RMgAjaJZGxHyNYIDn9hE-z0SQ-HL1Lh2MF30MCR2g4Mb8LrNly3Q4xGzY/s1600/P1010830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitB1gPU1ioIhmSwXjk1tJC2g-10OFd63up3U8FNxapWY13JhoaEkvyYt9xNXUTMWOH_jivJ36bSpXi-XJa9-RMgAjaJZGxHyNYIDn9hE-z0SQ-HL1Lh2MF30MCR2g4Mb8LrNly3Q4xGzY/s1600/P1010830.jpg" /></a><i></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Haddock & mixed vegetables stir fried in chilli, coconut cream & lemon juice, with a side of brown rice & bananas covered in unsweetened yoghurt with fresh mint. </span></i></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvaei3EX0AACNCKS_0fCU0mC9VMH4jy5T-TT73gzIJ9dX6m7IEEcck6LDaua8KmafXtH6iq3X4muXx2aX_ZkKTndppi6-6fCoBu95kDI8Orob7UXcQRd9BsJ0zEeE7SuZUYy4rcIcm0U/s1600/P1010942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvaei3EX0AACNCKS_0fCU0mC9VMH4jy5T-TT73gzIJ9dX6m7IEEcck6LDaua8KmafXtH6iq3X4muXx2aX_ZkKTndppi6-6fCoBu95kDI8Orob7UXcQRd9BsJ0zEeE7SuZUYy4rcIcm0U/s1600/P1010942.jpg" /></a><i style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><i style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Egg, tomato, onion & parsley quiche on a spelt flour base with a radish, olive, paprika & leafy green salad</span></i></i></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZynjy_b9HpAfvo21H12u-MTc-BCAaWmgDEnzBeNWt19eMGF8cDuMsIE8BPx6kq9FeWF1tzxZh7EaGoJBCccxJ442DaGINUBTkzEDzTjQNLVlf-TnDDRXiKWuNI1vHUTBOQyZWirxluw/s1600/P1010792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZynjy_b9HpAfvo21H12u-MTc-BCAaWmgDEnzBeNWt19eMGF8cDuMsIE8BPx6kq9FeWF1tzxZh7EaGoJBCccxJ442DaGINUBTkzEDzTjQNLVlf-TnDDRXiKWuNI1vHUTBOQyZWirxluw/s1600/P1010792.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPAN8traAM6NLBvau1L_-Bb9DKk5FjCn6Gt9f3Q54hmbU6Ep6dNmcgdz8yEb4Y31IPOFk5JmYjRuRgJ5uqfeOZctH8oB4ADUU_Hj4KqGgQB8ycJcy_Ypw3nOW6bkvjADQLghbf03sSxeQ/s1600/P1010906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPAN8traAM6NLBvau1L_-Bb9DKk5FjCn6Gt9f3Q54hmbU6Ep6dNmcgdz8yEb4Y31IPOFk5JmYjRuRgJ5uqfeOZctH8oB4ADUU_Hj4KqGgQB8ycJcy_Ypw3nOW6bkvjADQLghbf03sSxeQ/s1600/P1010906.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIiXaZifiAKFovV7pYNLgBMWz6JCJyzyTRdMSfLFXGF_TQmqUbab4jgHrWdukpo-c5JiEjF9pJp3Hsb3fboZBZJ2mDtYTj1f7rL172KP9NA35oRcGkWtT4d4Dg3Y9JmPbr-otESL6qr0/s1600/P1010869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIiXaZifiAKFovV7pYNLgBMWz6JCJyzyTRdMSfLFXGF_TQmqUbab4jgHrWdukpo-c5JiEjF9pJp3Hsb3fboZBZJ2mDtYTj1f7rL172KP9NA35oRcGkWtT4d4Dg3Y9JmPbr-otESL6qr0/s1600/P1010869.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mossy lava fields.</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">After these peaceful days away, it was time to head back to the city, & then Berlin was calling. I never thought I'd be sad to return to Berlin, it's such a fantastic city (I say as I</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> sit in my Berlin apartment, having not been outside yet, writing this article all day, wearing yesterday's underwear, unshowered & barely nourished) yes it's a wonderful city, but I had grown so attached to Iceland. I wanted to stay in Bakki, so I could live a life of creative introversion as the hermit I am destined to become. I don't need the world's best techno clubs, I don't need currywurst (I really don't, that's a story for later). I need YOU Iceland, with your geothermal gasps & volcanic temper, your fiery/icy bi-polar elemental condition. I think it's time to get a job & start saving, I don't think I can go long without seeing you Icy baby. I miss you.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-21777949614933329082012-07-30T13:26:00.004-07:002012-07-30T13:29:51.781-07:00Iceland: Return of the FISKUR! Pt: 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have often wondered if I would ever make it to this little steamy rock in the Atlantic (well, it's actually the 16th largest island in the world - thanks for the trivia Iceland Express quiz). Anyone who visits this place, comes home with so many words like "amazing, indescribable, unbelievable" spewing from their mouth, like a geysir of hyperbole. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This would wear thin, if it wasn't for the fact that it's completely justified.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It must be said that so far I've only seen a glimpse of what's actually quite an enormous chunk of land, and in a way, I feel very homesick here. It's bizarre how much this place feels like New Zealand - an island in the middle of fucking nowhere, with a backbone of natural tourism, and a low density population. These wide open landscapes, and raw nature all seem strangely familiar, yet different. I'm currently staying in an apartment in downtown Reykjavik, and on these small undulating streets that roll down to the waterfront, I could almost mistake it for Queenstown, were it not for this bizarre Elvish language on everything. With a national population not even tipping 300,000, it's really special that this language is so well preserved and supported - but being an island always helps quell the influence of the <strike>white</strike> oppressors. (note to self: people here are <i><b>very</b></i> white; must ask mother if I am actually an Icelandic orphan who was abandoned in New Zealand?).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The night of my arrival, I was already wildly salivating for some FISKUR. We wasted no time in deciding that our first stop would be one of Reykjavik's newest and most successful restaurants, <a href="http://www.snapsbistro.is/">SNAPS</a> (not to be confused with the <a href="http://youtu.be/4rO1n8-SuNM">early 90's hip-house crew SNAP</a>; although they later made a guest stereo appearance during the Saturday night party warm up). I GOT THE POWWWWA!! Um, anyway. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to local experience, Snaps Bistro has really changed the face of the dining out crowd in Reykjavik, by shifting the perception of eating out as a rich person's/tourist hobby, to an accessible & affordable experience. It was a simple business model: deflate the usual exorbitant </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">restaurant</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> prices, and offer a simple but excellent quality menu, then build it, and they will come. The atmosphere here is a perfect balance between smart and casual - it's somehow the right place for a dinner with your parents, or just a nice night out with your friends. For example: the waiters are smartly dressed and attentive (usually the sort of thing that the elders will cream their pants for) but without</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> humourless pretension of many other chic restaurants (the kind of thing which makes me want to smash the waitstaff's fingers repeatedly with my pepper grinder).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUWnRqVj_b7OKtx1AB6ssnju2VDI8StQgF3T4JZFphe3_ZbL8QTEkF8yp4kBR6DdNagvD4WTpez16ANGFOuCQzn7_iovpgSjh-GogC5BpYWoY2G0uRJoRiTogi6i9kH6KZ1U7R-a4iUY/s1600/P1010351_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUWnRqVj_b7OKtx1AB6ssnju2VDI8StQgF3T4JZFphe3_ZbL8QTEkF8yp4kBR6DdNagvD4WTpez16ANGFOuCQzn7_iovpgSjh-GogC5BpYWoY2G0uRJoRiTogi6i9kH6KZ1U7R-a4iUY/s640/P1010351_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3n-0NYOrboqhNzV2yUax_iAdwFFhuulkY1kG1Xu-YFsfR8iuToeQAfsQTzEvzvMAa7FgPbqUIDK50wqkDmKRjHDmwAT8hK1sXLSok-p6Z0X9GUPj6g1l8nCnjRo-NStKDQByWwUU1aI/s1600/P1010356_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3n-0NYOrboqhNzV2yUax_iAdwFFhuulkY1kG1Xu-YFsfR8iuToeQAfsQTzEvzvMAa7FgPbqUIDK50wqkDmKRjHDmwAT8hK1sXLSok-p6Z0X9GUPj6g1l8nCnjRo-NStKDQByWwUU1aI/s640/P1010356_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0_Yav1dh_Zf4aDexLsn2Wdnb5Ac0qNUjdaK1zEnlYMaogau5dxNj7Dw2XAvSwbY2K1AuSPyjyOZlSUFZuAfnEMuqQDK1YyAiiex3-zoXfK23Acnk4iO3kVeAY1RU2krKJ0mluk9zi1s/s1600/P1010362_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0_Yav1dh_Zf4aDexLsn2Wdnb5Ac0qNUjdaK1zEnlYMaogau5dxNj7Dw2XAvSwbY2K1AuSPyjyOZlSUFZuAfnEMuqQDK1YyAiiex3-zoXfK23Acnk4iO3kVeAY1RU2krKJ0mluk9zi1s/s640/P1010362_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These amplifier-valve-like lightbulbs were all over the restaurant. #designboner</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPIQd97zbIuwivGB6mrFBa_5_2S7b_pc-WNvt3_UcedW-WB0vQi3SCFvTJrpotKwykdXRpwtnufIRV906dbI16xFMjQs2USRe4Upyf_jOvxhrg8DWcX8mZJVszCBRxqLJ5Q63sNmljok/s1600/P1010365_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPIQd97zbIuwivGB6mrFBa_5_2S7b_pc-WNvt3_UcedW-WB0vQi3SCFvTJrpotKwykdXRpwtnufIRV906dbI16xFMjQs2USRe4Upyf_jOvxhrg8DWcX8mZJVszCBRxqLJ5Q63sNmljok/s640/P1010365_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mfBRMxzQHt7D1AQpcFMsUc4U8skI-qhEROmBViobinJFBKcADGu4U2NIm-kiCvbzVRrVOKQE9NGrigwsdrmaIRCtf3Z5LdcDF_LbhxcKkaZyp2sIzNCYtCJDpX3Ang86EmPeXlKDTDM/s1600/P1010367_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mfBRMxzQHt7D1AQpcFMsUc4U8skI-qhEROmBViobinJFBKcADGu4U2NIm-kiCvbzVRrVOKQE9NGrigwsdrmaIRCtf3Z5LdcDF_LbhxcKkaZyp2sIzNCYtCJDpX3Ang86EmPeXlKDTDM/s640/P1010367_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_ryGUKpOT4EEADAOs_N6DSTZ2POXlb478_CwFhc59LzaCkDr-kY9HhsR9cxotSJwdLbzl21XaJ6g6a8848SF1nZGlGBX1jCwHdioHmkSqSlLjgegU2SXdlrvWBlTwl-USngGaLgw4Tg/s1600/P1010368_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_ryGUKpOT4EEADAOs_N6DSTZ2POXlb478_CwFhc59LzaCkDr-kY9HhsR9cxotSJwdLbzl21XaJ6g6a8848SF1nZGlGBX1jCwHdioHmkSqSlLjgegU2SXdlrvWBlTwl-USngGaLgw4Tg/s640/P1010368_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had the catch of the day, a delicious panfried cusk that was so very delicious and only lightly seasoned, as it should be.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAd5WwySIaGPGmXdxgh7GOhZhotP7F9FQlb9-qC4IrladdINnGzREG1G5ONoeRXH1W53O_8i9Vg3bJdNaCjmrL2IvfQGbt8tCb-ZnIuqRDPEn_4v9p1ZA_4_GHl3dxOq2jH_vyucicSP8/s1600/P1010369_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAd5WwySIaGPGmXdxgh7GOhZhotP7F9FQlb9-qC4IrladdINnGzREG1G5ONoeRXH1W53O_8i9Vg3bJdNaCjmrL2IvfQGbt8tCb-ZnIuqRDPEn_4v9p1ZA_4_GHl3dxOq2jH_vyucicSP8/s640/P1010369_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Birta had the mussels and friends with Aoli. I was pretty happy to see the generous helping of coriander #corianderfiend</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqXOFowM-Cc3OcX1KeYeoqdregxKberoMYCFtu_Jmz3vY7DAWl3NdpLTjmzq9jAXPyXa5QHZDgOLOazbcecLm9BMvUi0kDjnVm2REhsOIPpmustEUYh6BXKEeGzwhbOXzghrxdgI7sSI/s1600/P1010370_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqXOFowM-Cc3OcX1KeYeoqdregxKberoMYCFtu_Jmz3vY7DAWl3NdpLTjmzq9jAXPyXa5QHZDgOLOazbcecLm9BMvUi0kDjnVm2REhsOIPpmustEUYh6BXKEeGzwhbOXzghrxdgI7sSI/s640/P1010370_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhrl2DGs0zj0LiWFhWRsgoH4w7WBRPwn066wx5hI611lNe-uxWIOIrwt2ZuXF7FlDA7WGKSJfOFoBZ8L_hipkoTnpl31YevxPEhV2rqNpEVOMrN_Mp3bYKBMmdik7GEIDnGh_HTVCT-8/s1600/P1010372_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhrl2DGs0zj0LiWFhWRsgoH4w7WBRPwn066wx5hI611lNe-uxWIOIrwt2ZuXF7FlDA7WGKSJfOFoBZ8L_hipkoTnpl31YevxPEhV2rqNpEVOMrN_Mp3bYKBMmdik7GEIDnGh_HTVCT-8/s640/P1010372_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Transparency to the kitchen is something I always appreciate in a restaurant, just so I can be SURE nobody is wanking into my caesar salad #irrationalkitchenfear</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkGTpNEX06TZtqYo3kGBCzYVT3HDT1UvPADNiZaZZJZ11i5HMEGGx526vKQOEue3LPILgaeBAkJeiR6dYcpFN3ETSlGKbGqY_C9VsrV_xIkEfK5VdKhXpi1lWJtYubqt4Il5vD3MQG8M/s1600/P1010373_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkGTpNEX06TZtqYo3kGBCzYVT3HDT1UvPADNiZaZZJZ11i5HMEGGx526vKQOEue3LPILgaeBAkJeiR6dYcpFN3ETSlGKbGqY_C9VsrV_xIkEfK5VdKhXpi1lWJtYubqt4Il5vD3MQG8M/s640/P1010373_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br />Later in the day we went out to Birta's home place, Mosfellsdalur. It's not even an exaggeration to say her family basically run this place. I met 6 aunts and uncles in one hour at their local Saturday farmer's market. It's a beautiful and peaceful place, and after taste testing all of their local produce more than was polite to, we bought some trout & home made pesto & trekked up a small mountain.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9iC9IrjNVvc38YUTJ-FrbjlzUVWU6Fv66_gJE85YDVWviy75hEqPEB8o-kM_Xq2wn-kfzBknn0KsOJcahjHCXH-NkAsd40HEgl_MjPfX_RO-YdNksbKZ0eVK5eFUCscx2poHCtQEvTE/s1600/P1010393_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9iC9IrjNVvc38YUTJ-FrbjlzUVWU6Fv66_gJE85YDVWviy75hEqPEB8o-kM_Xq2wn-kfzBknn0KsOJcahjHCXH-NkAsd40HEgl_MjPfX_RO-YdNksbKZ0eVK5eFUCscx2poHCtQEvTE/s640/P1010393_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Left to right: Cream cheese with birch, Icelandic moss, & with angelica.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOii-9SVteV5Aajfdlmw8UsnAZNQ1uAkUl9cn_g2x1Lgi_LtDO5as2g9ITZYXbKMSst36GJhQiD5_HdVsqIpCdDZ4oViR519VL5BVBNXQQkOZ5QjApnonxzTezK0230CxqkGKk1zyU8iQ/s1600/P1010396_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOii-9SVteV5Aajfdlmw8UsnAZNQ1uAkUl9cn_g2x1Lgi_LtDO5as2g9ITZYXbKMSst36GJhQiD5_HdVsqIpCdDZ4oViR519VL5BVBNXQQkOZ5QjApnonxzTezK0230CxqkGKk1zyU8iQ/s640/P1010396_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chilli jam that was actually this vibrant, no Photoshop, honest!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmj-61ElgOGmnzYos-jwI_ivROmdKrGb0of_6Q6DvJ2TaEdm4pXM3WXJauS2uDXiUL8TKsunBoAWFGzPDmSwG5A-sM-B4NBkFnRfsCQuweIJEYCKG4sFAuB9TDcaS_YssK8AivBK-TTqQ/s1600/P1010397_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmj-61ElgOGmnzYos-jwI_ivROmdKrGb0of_6Q6DvJ2TaEdm4pXM3WXJauS2uDXiUL8TKsunBoAWFGzPDmSwG5A-sM-B4NBkFnRfsCQuweIJEYCKG4sFAuB9TDcaS_YssK8AivBK-TTqQ/s640/P1010397_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYU6nLVYIYJp26mMExPcTSvPhZAsAPGanZuCkSLuO7Fir1sxKid8fycBMlUCkJCD6DvHzDusWCwSjH4ABFzSlurtregP1ZQbAN2W-QX3F4tIoHTrwDgOiQSumjzAuoevjAq7pGN_fcK20/s1600/P1010400_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYU6nLVYIYJp26mMExPcTSvPhZAsAPGanZuCkSLuO7Fir1sxKid8fycBMlUCkJCD6DvHzDusWCwSjH4ABFzSlurtregP1ZQbAN2W-QX3F4tIoHTrwDgOiQSumjzAuoevjAq7pGN_fcK20/s640/P1010400_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tasty, tasty tomato pesto.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAOWGxgchoepkvPezIWatPs7vsIxJ_3nPcVnUrUwE92p8Ct0-4mNotc-pDDoiyg21kuEHUHU0jUJLbkyQKHwwKqRhBrSNsBlGSf_R0T09AppKllkJRjm6kRQiYkV61NmezxQwU-Vhgsw/s1600/P1010401_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAOWGxgchoepkvPezIWatPs7vsIxJ_3nPcVnUrUwE92p8Ct0-4mNotc-pDDoiyg21kuEHUHU0jUJLbkyQKHwwKqRhBrSNsBlGSf_R0T09AppKllkJRjm6kRQiYkV61NmezxQwU-Vhgsw/s640/P1010401_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-_vECTrNNtKL5HVKo1XNm58V6KGUJ7i8SLot11IsnCNTtm9VrZr60bJzkkJoryrU2U8iJzzal-vumEcHORxKIQCjKYSGDIjfsB6axKiseaZs_v4eIdkPzgye8NitpR0wi-r2VUX7_UU/s1600/P1010404_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-_vECTrNNtKL5HVKo1XNm58V6KGUJ7i8SLot11IsnCNTtm9VrZr60bJzkkJoryrU2U8iJzzal-vumEcHORxKIQCjKYSGDIjfsB6axKiseaZs_v4eIdkPzgye8NitpR0wi-r2VUX7_UU/s640/P1010404_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clint Eastwood sells vegetables here in the Summer time.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcE3WyunyqSeUOOkfypUIZ0SYT4Oo-B5ipDDXFMOfChl5MNsFUUevAiAP2AWJCyQchL4hVWRoov3Lp6fxWS8Wx1Mdv6WNfDmOArFAjIYj-J99H831WX3Y-giC8Y-nKfX6EOZGr5YQHtU/s1600/P1010405_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcE3WyunyqSeUOOkfypUIZ0SYT4Oo-B5ipDDXFMOfChl5MNsFUUevAiAP2AWJCyQchL4hVWRoov3Lp6fxWS8Wx1Mdv6WNfDmOArFAjIYj-J99H831WX3Y-giC8Y-nKfX6EOZGr5YQHtU/s640/P1010405_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDk8ehy9sWcXa5CsCkTg0j-EN9xDIjhm8Jy_9BL6q3wqL-YttJH75MHqsZQY9K5BE9VHNzz1Wg61Grr9k6sbqzaZZzWnPqu2xW7EQpkM27xOJxxqzHri3sLg6E1CYMLECxawAI2TfBdEQ/s1600/P1010414_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDk8ehy9sWcXa5CsCkTg0j-EN9xDIjhm8Jy_9BL6q3wqL-YttJH75MHqsZQY9K5BE9VHNzz1Wg61Grr9k6sbqzaZZzWnPqu2xW7EQpkM27xOJxxqzHri3sLg6E1CYMLECxawAI2TfBdEQ/s640/P1010414_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heaven, with the flat peaks of Esja on the horizon. Feeling homesick, but feeling at home, all in the same weird little package.</span></div>Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-53709295261549736012012-07-22T08:02:00.001-07:002012-07-22T13:53:41.619-07:00La Marzocco: Out of the Box. Latte Art Jam<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Drawing with milk. Could there be anything harder than drawing with one semi viscose liquid into another another? Perhaps painting with a bloody stump? Drawing with a pencil held only by your mouth or toes? Yeah ok, all of those are all pretty difficult, but this latte art thing is with a jug! I mean sure, Jackson Pollock painted with a jug, but he had the freedom to drip and splatter like some uncontrollable ejaculation. There's definite credit in the control required for well crafted latte art, which was why I was intrigued to check out the La Marzocco: Out of the Box Latte Art Jam in Tempelhof yesterday. The Italian Espresso machine manufacturer hosted a trade show from the 20th - 21st of July in Berlin which included the World Espresso Tasting Championship (which sadly I couldn't attend) as well as a fun Latte art competition for those baristas with Michelangelican free-pour finesse.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The general method to achieving a nice piece of latte art, is to first make a good canvas, i.e - a well pulled shot of espresso with nice <i>crema</i> (this is the kind of foamy layer of coffee that's in the espresso). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, it's steaming the milk to a good <i>microfoam</i> consistency (I've been told it should look quite glossy, and have no big bubbles - this is why you'll often see baristas bang the milk jug a few times before they begin pouring). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then begins the pouring, often with cup in one hand, jug in the other. The pour begins with the cup on an angle and the jug close to the surface. The milk goes in steadily and goes initially slips under the crema, until you have a solid base and the milk breaks through the crema to the top as pure white, this is the point where you can start drawing. It's mainly squiggly shapes like rosettas, ferns and hearts that are achievable with the free pour technique. If you want to get super-anal you can get in there with a pointy object and start drawings, but meh, whatever.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The competition was to try and draw two identical drinks with points awarded for symmetry, contrast of coffee to milk, style and likeness.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was nice to be at a venue with people passionate and excited about coffee, there was a competitive but friendly atmosphere, I spotted baristas from Gothenburg, Nürnburg, Bern, as well as native Berliners. At the end of the day, I wasn't there to publish results, just to enjoy the fruits of labour, and enjoy some good coffee.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_NEzmvuYWB7MAlzfGvrOpWTgtQ4153XXN_BVp8_vKS9b30B4GyOTPJvZJLycWWfqm5hKNIkhgMS48GQandnrjglF6G0F3Ugu5w9eFBXSle-XdY0BL6qluTeU3blwzThb2dLq6Wa-450/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_NEzmvuYWB7MAlzfGvrOpWTgtQ4153XXN_BVp8_vKS9b30B4GyOTPJvZJLycWWfqm5hKNIkhgMS48GQandnrjglF6G0F3Ugu5w9eFBXSle-XdY0BL6qluTeU3blwzThb2dLq6Wa-450/s640/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdCVPNgBpeo7I7TgqokaFySQ1elrp7rAJY-wUPM7t96gqX2PEkp2asCz1tJsFryOJG-6lWRF38YHwoSEzM2p0odL2z95PUC5jk4AaQ6v0ga80ZGKV4hbAnYFNYJJfF_uYnqZgNEOtaMg/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdCVPNgBpeo7I7TgqokaFySQ1elrp7rAJY-wUPM7t96gqX2PEkp2asCz1tJsFryOJG-6lWRF38YHwoSEzM2p0odL2z95PUC5jk4AaQ6v0ga80ZGKV4hbAnYFNYJJfF_uYnqZgNEOtaMg/s640/2.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdCVPNgBpeo7I7TgqokaFySQ1elrp7rAJY-wUPM7t96gqX2PEkp2asCz1tJsFryOJG-6lWRF38YHwoSEzM2p0odL2z95PUC5jk4AaQ6v0ga80ZGKV4hbAnYFNYJJfF_uYnqZgNEOtaMg/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Two very focused judges.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVGtedChcHYR9U4AXVLSeuAOAmDeUL9a6ykKCRJnmd70VSRMbduQ95z3exjI1khc49jXsUGClA9A6MGRba0HNFr2UxTm1aqx304izJdyrPvmaNfHZVVO9vgA1VBid9x_Yo58B0bfHny8/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVGtedChcHYR9U4AXVLSeuAOAmDeUL9a6ykKCRJnmd70VSRMbduQ95z3exjI1khc49jXsUGClA9A6MGRba0HNFr2UxTm1aqx304izJdyrPvmaNfHZVVO9vgA1VBid9x_Yo58B0bfHny8/s640/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1zWWfTWd8XGAddEVxMp_F7k0ScKQDe8n-jwa5cMCKsUkJ13zW070fk4_iQHY-As9M3mwxT06_ep7zlVxTfqwOoRxy4DeocUheesXnj71_SCwKKNDUWRI-2ttz8WoMsBTUJdE2js-kRk/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1zWWfTWd8XGAddEVxMp_F7k0ScKQDe8n-jwa5cMCKsUkJ13zW070fk4_iQHY-As9M3mwxT06_ep7zlVxTfqwOoRxy4DeocUheesXnj71_SCwKKNDUWRI-2ttz8WoMsBTUJdE2js-kRk/s640/4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaqZtCpTGbAvAoWyTOF_Er5hQgoHUkwKNNsXf0BWO0xGRYrq8s-fMRvMHguGghKG-k0dr8iPaJ3pkMzpnh7vpCd-ngvsJeigHXlhG7TtTjcqA8EUTXEDu8dlvWDqswNJ0BeU2ZHSnUbI/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaqZtCpTGbAvAoWyTOF_Er5hQgoHUkwKNNsXf0BWO0xGRYrq8s-fMRvMHguGghKG-k0dr8iPaJ3pkMzpnh7vpCd-ngvsJeigHXlhG7TtTjcqA8EUTXEDu8dlvWDqswNJ0BeU2ZHSnUbI/s640/5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyUVVbywXc_qZmzQl1s9VlTz56kIGB2S8Mdt9xvEVNY3tB-dHtHZd3TNptJ0SSsnRXmI1VWoyYVUn4KqpIM50aPjA1croyB3qQI5OoOvZOivB60B_OriVY9xd6isrO2L_WlXXbeUXnFg/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyUVVbywXc_qZmzQl1s9VlTz56kIGB2S8Mdt9xvEVNY3tB-dHtHZd3TNptJ0SSsnRXmI1VWoyYVUn4KqpIM50aPjA1croyB3qQI5OoOvZOivB60B_OriVY9xd6isrO2L_WlXXbeUXnFg/s640/6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf87bf4rKG6THcuQR0guKF0I-16SBUqejNTxxIhvbbd7BwoCCdiaNZ1THM578sTCOlakeakG9Pn3cQBKLSwcUalmRcqsw8jd4Ab1tLxIUIbJaneC842Fds207m3HEgIMJFXvRI3U8Q6IU/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf87bf4rKG6THcuQR0guKF0I-16SBUqejNTxxIhvbbd7BwoCCdiaNZ1THM578sTCOlakeakG9Pn3cQBKLSwcUalmRcqsw8jd4Ab1tLxIUIbJaneC842Fds207m3HEgIMJFXvRI3U8Q6IU/s640/7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdqtAGKcXhuy13LXy5QWzAuugykGyMegIc5fLzzAAObAkM5HesAbAwYmZfpYa_K8Nrp1hg-ASg43NlJmSDCc9N1z5X4lJuKLlvnnvT8WVOcYC3OZuUiK4homJfipw4bsO29Mr4bV-XuE/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdqtAGKcXhuy13LXy5QWzAuugykGyMegIc5fLzzAAObAkM5HesAbAwYmZfpYa_K8Nrp1hg-ASg43NlJmSDCc9N1z5X4lJuKLlvnnvT8WVOcYC3OZuUiK4homJfipw4bsO29Mr4bV-XuE/s640/8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoNuO_FDXMKH4dWnGRGEGufJ1u7PV1wGxVX0IuzPhe-JTYZBbMq4HGPp2r6oVpLrL4IWve2gixPr5vXeGewRjuciNZe6mI7gX5B5fjpmsyGbWIqVXkbc9fVatnBscev6PfT3TUCJsqEw/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoNuO_FDXMKH4dWnGRGEGufJ1u7PV1wGxVX0IuzPhe-JTYZBbMq4HGPp2r6oVpLrL4IWve2gixPr5vXeGewRjuciNZe6mI7gX5B5fjpmsyGbWIqVXkbc9fVatnBscev6PfT3TUCJsqEw/s640/9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrDN2hFIqDW5k9aN2J21KyKF7cZyNAJTSCsENOgpqbVKxKE-QvvIU1IVc7_vG-A5beBaFzMXntKficdGcYPKF0mMu4ZYKKYiHOFBdIGCfCC71ma3FM-jjPmQwytyNbHsgVQ7KKPh4Q8GM/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrDN2hFIqDW5k9aN2J21KyKF7cZyNAJTSCsENOgpqbVKxKE-QvvIU1IVc7_vG-A5beBaFzMXntKficdGcYPKF0mMu4ZYKKYiHOFBdIGCfCC71ma3FM-jjPmQwytyNbHsgVQ7KKPh4Q8GM/s640/10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEctkO_j65Ob3nu-p5eKEU1-7ju3bv9fZxQ_EwJLp8zGN0Ui372kY9oxC_VoiFtgHGa3ywlc1My_mle8wcnJYAK9J7BbdmW0uC2t58nvdV0na4VT7RXsvv2sVMTwNYeLjvpP9je884SM/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEctkO_j65Ob3nu-p5eKEU1-7ju3bv9fZxQ_EwJLp8zGN0Ui372kY9oxC_VoiFtgHGa3ywlc1My_mle8wcnJYAK9J7BbdmW0uC2t58nvdV0na4VT7RXsvv2sVMTwNYeLjvpP9je884SM/s640/11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwKqprHeql2MXMoWI4QMW19GrFA-KaiXIbkJ13AitIW4A_c7x-g8pVoZvPGQmIo6J3iErcZPQbK_X-6IdYBqeW3pw5b_gIIR3sw4BfPQx_1UGXQrVLXzAVyjqSVxY6d7ygYGb8Ohmy4Q/s1600/12+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwKqprHeql2MXMoWI4QMW19GrFA-KaiXIbkJ13AitIW4A_c7x-g8pVoZvPGQmIo6J3iErcZPQbK_X-6IdYBqeW3pw5b_gIIR3sw4BfPQx_1UGXQrVLXzAVyjqSVxY6d7ygYGb8Ohmy4Q/s1600/12+.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGodzUA4bjDQTkRaH4PIoGylsO345btLIO5meUuFr2R_UGI4srIAZJiqmmy2IGXGgThQ52bABOXQQsi6P3kI3YA4IUWvFzQomhroANsDputku0lO4h4lDWCjJ_TgyDkS9NtNnA8i5-u1s/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGodzUA4bjDQTkRaH4PIoGylsO345btLIO5meUuFr2R_UGI4srIAZJiqmmy2IGXGgThQ52bABOXQQsi6P3kI3YA4IUWvFzQomhroANsDputku0lO4h4lDWCjJ_TgyDkS9NtNnA8i5-u1s/s640/12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5o4yuIBGsWodDuqY0FjOKFgymD5xNDpVqMeqoe76Fn-UeGUWPwMODrgTmbhHX73fjdYGkHEF_3HX5slQpTkQuLwKKbSA1KGOa-aUfWy1iukWotiKtTzXxI3lRW0fiFiu8igg8h7VeLo/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5o4yuIBGsWodDuqY0FjOKFgymD5xNDpVqMeqoe76Fn-UeGUWPwMODrgTmbhHX73fjdYGkHEF_3HX5slQpTkQuLwKKbSA1KGOa-aUfWy1iukWotiKtTzXxI3lRW0fiFiu8igg8h7VeLo/s640/13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsq3_klwd7GAdtehOyiXNmHMqVTW2mP-8ox9D23nto436AWhdCATg0-RztH4kGNZzA-tJkqHd67cxwak8_zvboaFn4YD1mi4RPiIryTLEwa9u66hwAMRDCE1vNvXRFhb_lNLyZ_pAgcc/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsq3_klwd7GAdtehOyiXNmHMqVTW2mP-8ox9D23nto436AWhdCATg0-RztH4kGNZzA-tJkqHd67cxwak8_zvboaFn4YD1mi4RPiIryTLEwa9u66hwAMRDCE1vNvXRFhb_lNLyZ_pAgcc/s640/14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpY_IiQ0LyYhGojujp4PqzTzLH8XFFsl3fGl9Ahs7wDOFtUDKf25V4qPjCmTwBeox71L1RS9eZtovQN7xFDaW3B0Vi96eSYTBqHy6Es7fLPignWVsrXCam-unH7sxc7PbkrT0ghuTpMU/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpY_IiQ0LyYhGojujp4PqzTzLH8XFFsl3fGl9Ahs7wDOFtUDKf25V4qPjCmTwBeox71L1RS9eZtovQN7xFDaW3B0Vi96eSYTBqHy6Es7fLPignWVsrXCam-unH7sxc7PbkrT0ghuTpMU/s1600/15.jpg" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"> </span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5gcZ_f_pXQzJQ8zTZngXuP1GC-9fDpwNBCw2TJhDZwoEHHxR2v74qMRkqLiTEyQfiDlD9UXu4vKKquX_xvPkGne7_AYw__p4v5QoMQ95yHL1ezK0jBGFPH64uGdgV5oXLtjKrT0p2EY/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5gcZ_f_pXQzJQ8zTZngXuP1GC-9fDpwNBCw2TJhDZwoEHHxR2v74qMRkqLiTEyQfiDlD9UXu4vKKquX_xvPkGne7_AYw__p4v5QoMQ95yHL1ezK0jBGFPH64uGdgV5oXLtjKrT0p2EY/s640/16.jpg" width="640" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"> </span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5o4yuIBGsWodDuqY0FjOKFgymD5xNDpVqMeqoe76Fn-UeGUWPwMODrgTmbhHX73fjdYGkHEF_3HX5slQpTkQuLwKKbSA1KGOa-aUfWy1iukWotiKtTzXxI3lRW0fiFiu8igg8h7VeLo/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5o4yuIBGsWodDuqY0FjOKFgymD5xNDpVqMeqoe76Fn-UeGUWPwMODrgTmbhHX73fjdYGkHEF_3HX5slQpTkQuLwKKbSA1KGOa-aUfWy1iukWotiKtTzXxI3lRW0fiFiu8igg8h7VeLo/s640/13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZ1jlNSmh-5QHpkwk5tKdNe7DHHkP-avTvF5qdIRkz9VWhA3EfKXmqlBodICrLDxjbfamdrygPF5NMnt8yuVtc5DJ2OpAzs6bH7HBdgo6C2ozA20culQX3RJ4oKBofYeXkRloeG84lOs/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZ1jlNSmh-5QHpkwk5tKdNe7DHHkP-avTvF5qdIRkz9VWhA3EfKXmqlBodICrLDxjbfamdrygPF5NMnt8yuVtc5DJ2OpAzs6bH7HBdgo6C2ozA20culQX3RJ4oKBofYeXkRloeG84lOs/s640/17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-73301878674022743922012-07-10T20:10:00.000-07:002012-07-11T11:45:49.354-07:00København - Copenhagen - hej hej - bye bye<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This city feels like a port to me, well IT IS, but in the sense that I only ever visit it to farewell people. It's a place that in my mind is tangled in the ticker tape of hello and goodbye festivities. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is actually purely coincidental, it's not a transient city at all, and the people who leave are escaping after loooong periods of living here, it's all in my head - still, it does nothing to break the impression. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This weekend, I made the visit to celebrate/mourn/party with several legendary people, a few of who are leaving to far away lands. In alphabetical order:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kzbvoYgjy_A/T_y_a2GtbmI/AAAAAAAATorfi%20%C3%9E%C3%B3r%20TorfasonAZw/G-qWysX76mE/s1600/P1010066+copy_small_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9HnvyO2siGPCEUj9ryv0iaHd7OX1upQRXNOsTUJnLBWDCotw4o0j8kynwM_TUJLVwnyrZEOmhZP4HS0tPZ29YGZN-Wc347LhMh-qmazXCtTNT2klHIl7m4tLKj9nL0pTDBH9wOeVXmk/s1600/P1010066+copy_small_2.jpg" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Birta Fróðadóttir:</span></h2>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An Icelandic polar bear hunter* by trade, Birta is soon heading to Canada to focus her attention on hand to hand combat with wild Kodiak bears, so we celebrated her pending departure in style, with the finest brut €5 can buy.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Before you call PETA, she's actually an Icelandic stArchitect who is moving to Toronto to embark on an interdisciplinary masters degree at OCAD university. Smart AND good looking I hear you say? Yes, some people are complete jerks like that.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLtDPASpKDqRppJIdMa6bfHc7-Ak8X_yr5WatvAYxeiZdALBn5yjkSVH-WBiUQOFnPT16Hwo0jLsElQtcbDCKUtHG1oWydQ6UfZS8Eed4fxUiJzg0sA1qDj9R0JFo9ZM-fu1NKzAU2UVg/s1600/P1010071+copy_small.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLtDPASpKDqRppJIdMa6bfHc7-Ak8X_yr5WatvAYxeiZdALBn5yjkSVH-WBiUQOFnPT16Hwo0jLsElQtcbDCKUtHG1oWydQ6UfZS8Eed4fxUiJzg0sA1qDj9R0JFo9ZM-fu1NKzAU2UVg/s1600/P1010071+copy_small.JPG" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Erich Gerlach:</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sweaty, strawberry-blonde American architectural giant who infamously coined the popular phrase "I like you more than 2 litres of cumshots" (true story). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An absolute demon on the dancefloor, and a stalwart in the underground crap-rap scene, he is departing to New York since his bloody VISA has bloody expired. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bloody hell, I know how that one goes. I have a feeling some of us will see him again soon though :)</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzhB4JxVtkRBbuSwSRHykKi79lDnDKaHPLQodM27lFbcf3tr-vWPuenCsZnibG7p0RME_Tnvy6gGZZThbo2-P1249AIUULytily2VCk2fhCIVuG5ts6kz8R-ku0s69kZrRnyf2dDDj9Q/s1600/P1010063b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzhB4JxVtkRBbuSwSRHykKi79lDnDKaHPLQodM27lFbcf3tr-vWPuenCsZnibG7p0RME_Tnvy6gGZZThbo2-P1249AIUULytily2VCk2fhCIVuG5ts6kz8R-ku0s69kZrRnyf2dDDj9Q/s640/P1010063b.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Johanna Goodlife:</span></h2>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last but not least I was there for the birthday of Johanna; the cute-as-buttons curator of Copenhagen's mini-Roskilde Festival. While most of Copenhagen's residents were at the actual Roskilde festival (which probably sucked walrus cock in comparison), Johanna organised her own under a shelter in a public park. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The line-up included one damned good violinist & two complete strangers who were very-decent (although very stoned) blues guitarists. She found them getting high and practising songs down the other end of the park, and a</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">lthough the individual components perhaps sound a little shady, the outcome was mind-blowingly good!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, what follows is a blow by blow account of my holiday with the people who matter, and</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> more photos than is decent for a blog post.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kv2vAMXTiiuO7i7mEvsNIpSqMy8R868EVtii8TdLw0CTntphJb_46aignCuCNIsqbZtDYAvoWLRvSX9HV_sT1JDgigu74Vv8EO3eNnL5rcBVHxuXNSYUnv553qO10XEeA8ro8VnzUBY/s1600/P1000951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kv2vAMXTiiuO7i7mEvsNIpSqMy8R868EVtii8TdLw0CTntphJb_46aignCuCNIsqbZtDYAvoWLRvSX9HV_sT1JDgigu74Vv8EO3eNnL5rcBVHxuXNSYUnv553qO10XEeA8ro8VnzUBY/s640/P1000951.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Firstly, I was welcomed into Copenhagen with open arms (and an open fridge) for breakfast by this dear girl, who served up a banquet of fresh fruit, and the most delicious (and also expensive) bread I've ever eaten. At 60 Kr per loaf, this would convert to about $12NZD - maybe this is why the danes are all so thin...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPz37nTUE_JCq9hDSQgyEu2Qs18PuE0l5QoFp-V7q-WTI71VBWKwcR3kJ-sPsPbytiQlhx_kRlcAMyMQDaGcA4GENFuqT7fbn9-V0p4hWNJRJG3xzvCQM0U3f56pr5WKyUrFl-4Xca6s/s1600/P1000952+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPz37nTUE_JCq9hDSQgyEu2Qs18PuE0l5QoFp-V7q-WTI71VBWKwcR3kJ-sPsPbytiQlhx_kRlcAMyMQDaGcA4GENFuqT7fbn9-V0p4hWNJRJG3xzvCQM0U3f56pr5WKyUrFl-4Xca6s/s640/P1000952+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On top of this, we had home brewed lattes and a freshly juiced fruit/vege combo, with apples, carrot and mango (i think). I actually felt like I was drinking liquid energy, so good!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SYw88SEhyphenhyphen3xv5DeI2Z-AG3BUpn0pdT58GiGqbpsnIt0JPzWyd4hpUyxgZqcM9dBezs_rLMSV7ycHnuyXRIDGrS2eO2XfeHWJVTkBADCB2ZfyDcujCj9bEleqeKXSweeX-zinhcSNq3w/s1600/P1000954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SYw88SEhyphenhyphen3xv5DeI2Z-AG3BUpn0pdT58GiGqbpsnIt0JPzWyd4hpUyxgZqcM9dBezs_rLMSV7ycHnuyXRIDGrS2eO2XfeHWJVTkBADCB2ZfyDcujCj9bEleqeKXSweeX-zinhcSNq3w/s640/P1000954.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also think I'm probably going to hell for finding this spastic logo <strike>kind of</strike> hilarious. Handicup!? OH COME ON.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63GyLxusz_4KkJNf1SiJ_kbWINaOshD9Ik9uHjf-2A5MJDsb5lCpprX6Hrm8Crbi-m_zpadafffiDQWD2zpDek4zxJX4otBuQ3VgSEnhpSAC7OE9echKCZX-STSeiuqr7Rj6_ZNTZ85Y/s1600/P1000953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63GyLxusz_4KkJNf1SiJ_kbWINaOshD9Ik9uHjf-2A5MJDsb5lCpprX6Hrm8Crbi-m_zpadafffiDQWD2zpDek4zxJX4otBuQ3VgSEnhpSAC7OE9echKCZX-STSeiuqr7Rj6_ZNTZ85Y/s640/P1000953.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today was Johanna's birthday party, and she asked everyone to bring a dish to eat. Birta decided a</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">focaccia bread and a watermelon, parsley, feta & sunflower seed salad would be welcome dishes; I couldn't have have agreed more. A</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">fter mixing together the focaccia dough, we covered it up and made a trip to Torvehallerne market at Norreport Station to pick up some Rosemary and olives which we'd use to flavour our bread. It's a very slick indoor market with stores selling everything from fresh vegetables and herbs to high end chocolates & truffles, & many other things in between.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2kj_EnPEt2srugRC92NeqsTIWSmfRdpY6yi2pmPfstxMor7Jgm-ekSz5zJtfm0HOnLrGDrxiPe5ALx_Yv2HDpRU_-CifCkkLxtt5lGMiEgnPneWqsK4O2_R0NZQ66DeF6cgZsykGQCs/s1600/P1000960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2kj_EnPEt2srugRC92NeqsTIWSmfRdpY6yi2pmPfstxMor7Jgm-ekSz5zJtfm0HOnLrGDrxiPe5ALx_Yv2HDpRU_-CifCkkLxtt5lGMiEgnPneWqsK4O2_R0NZQ66DeF6cgZsykGQCs/s640/P1000960.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Speaking of sweet treats, I was drawn into trying this Danish specialty from master chocolatiers at <a href="http://www.anthonberg.com/Home.aspx">Anthon Berg</a>, it's called Flødebolle! It's a sweet chocolate shell with a foamy creamy filling resting on a marzipan base, quite original, and definitely tasty. It's worth mentioning that the Danes are absolute perverts when it comes to marzipan, they would drown their own mother for a block of good quality marzipan chocolate, and the high quality stuff is definitely quite a different experience from the only crap that I'd tried before this trip.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lBj8xvqb-O3No2ScJuVVu-T1H_eYmMheO2yYHUHOtPF_jsnRx0qP8cQi0L0munQjERmnLDyqiL0hl79snmFz5nYrw45uAikdVR5A_9dl5gQG6tu8hKWfCHBc4TaTweLoLhUZ7Jnh7co/s1600/P1000973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lBj8xvqb-O3No2ScJuVVu-T1H_eYmMheO2yYHUHOtPF_jsnRx0qP8cQi0L0munQjERmnLDyqiL0hl79snmFz5nYrw45uAikdVR5A_9dl5gQG6tu8hKWfCHBc4TaTweLoLhUZ7Jnh7co/s640/P1000973.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One stall that particularly got my attention was that of ASA; an ethically sourced and socially conscious spice market run by director Julian Amery. After working for over 3 decades in the restaurant industry, in 2008 Julian embarked on a 2 year solo journey traveling east. During his voyage he traversed some truly magical territory, and befriended many expert producers of fine flavours. For his full story, and company vision (accompanied by awe inspiring photography), <a href="http://asatrading.dk/english/thestory.html">go here.</a> I also recognized the ASA branding because I'd seen it on Behance by designer </span><a class="breadcrumb-link" href="http://www.behance.net/peterorntoft" style="background-color: #cfcfcf; border: 0px; color: #1769ff; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 11.111111640930176px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Peter Ørntoft</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-3axbMuwznhYUGd039o6qyGDOqPwHuvoDQDkQ4iOduZwGl5OvGSo2GaXVe3VZephJTMoBQYF_FfDzIOFEF6fBU39IXoCkT5uGud-eFiASNOBPIrQo1V7pisc-tVWTLXfPPzwhZKve_M/s1600/P1000974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-3axbMuwznhYUGd039o6qyGDOqPwHuvoDQDkQ4iOduZwGl5OvGSo2GaXVe3VZephJTMoBQYF_FfDzIOFEF6fBU39IXoCkT5uGud-eFiASNOBPIrQo1V7pisc-tVWTLXfPPzwhZKve_M/s640/P1000974.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucJKL5_UJ-RXSvqrcGJtIoh7z29i7ijgjcoJmRFVw4ngOOk_FB0WC4TvJ49S_Lj1WOmXidQtIjwnI3Z98PiE05OWec6Va1gwW0tcrGnbsCSLIR9KvFukz-jE7DnPJsndSqjTuFZR9MI4/s1600/P1000975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucJKL5_UJ-RXSvqrcGJtIoh7z29i7ijgjcoJmRFVw4ngOOk_FB0WC4TvJ49S_Lj1WOmXidQtIjwnI3Z98PiE05OWec6Va1gwW0tcrGnbsCSLIR9KvFukz-jE7DnPJsndSqjTuFZR9MI4/s640/P1000975.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also really just loved the display cabinet with all of its asymmetrical lines.<br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59p4f7RsqP5-VFhN_om19UNxWsNg9T37G9RmGg9CyHubG0nV71K7eyvZ5pjeCR17RFQ8BaaTad8vsP1F5R2s-zhwCYM9ZpLlov1v1usaVpDARF8uoqu8VdBnZttdWZbIYsD5h3SvYWbQ/s1600/P1000989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59p4f7RsqP5-VFhN_om19UNxWsNg9T37G9RmGg9CyHubG0nV71K7eyvZ5pjeCR17RFQ8BaaTad8vsP1F5R2s-zhwCYM9ZpLlov1v1usaVpDARF8uoqu8VdBnZttdWZbIYsD5h3SvYWbQ/s640/P1000989.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I couldn't very well go on a trip to the markets and not talk about FISK. Yes, they have FISK everywhere in Denmark.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxECU3nOzwV6tz6WJs46aZ_14lxi7yMgIeUml2-wlhDuLYVnSzDR9AQZAVJWzWpimQPBz36cwcK-g12LMCLXCibSLZohFFupfT6FcqEqjPJJk0ERyWyDpEwvdtBOADSh9UlXKM575mvI/s1600/P1000985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxECU3nOzwV6tz6WJs46aZ_14lxi7yMgIeUml2-wlhDuLYVnSzDR9AQZAVJWzWpimQPBz36cwcK-g12LMCLXCibSLZohFFupfT6FcqEqjPJJk0ERyWyDpEwvdtBOADSh9UlXKM575mvI/s640/P1000985.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's some FISK.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkmuUJ_EW6JcEsg0tKN_emOqFcyTnP5w1qoKmKkAG6RlCTbP5EujBoIJlGy9KaDbF2bY1MTW21CjW-H1LQqVKQw5WjOKnVM8_oQiz8SXrDmuGfd6fdj8b5lVf0Zb6Q5Qb06r8bG9Qt6A/s1600/P1000986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkmuUJ_EW6JcEsg0tKN_emOqFcyTnP5w1qoKmKkAG6RlCTbP5EujBoIJlGy9KaDbF2bY1MTW21CjW-H1LQqVKQw5WjOKnVM8_oQiz8SXrDmuGfd6fdj8b5lVf0Zb6Q5Qb06r8bG9Qt6A/s640/P1000986.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This place definitely sells FISK.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadTZnsbWPMUPDifRTlsnw0GH2FKOyHL1crgYHboVwfiVcv4EaElspbj5QwAfVf2cF4JSHRtIXwAB8cEfNdFJMuekGXtorh8BLDtIVqvOVhWmT_2NFSx_XkRGyYTCoJd05u8Hwd-WqJXA/s1600/P1000991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadTZnsbWPMUPDifRTlsnw0GH2FKOyHL1crgYHboVwfiVcv4EaElspbj5QwAfVf2cF4JSHRtIXwAB8cEfNdFJMuekGXtorh8BLDtIVqvOVhWmT_2NFSx_XkRGyYTCoJd05u8Hwd-WqJXA/s640/P1000991.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These FISK are having a singalong.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstIiicKhFJgBSiCzDbVW_EkUwChvahTPv_5o3NjYBQgUKK0xdpS8_55A3KrT2JkOJX31FgNwOc4zvPczdxhQpYxtNsCbf_nvGneax2fErnBwa1jEXanpbEf-QyhXhu4QkmZ2VLd0xm0E/s1600/P1000979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstIiicKhFJgBSiCzDbVW_EkUwChvahTPv_5o3NjYBQgUKK0xdpS8_55A3KrT2JkOJX31FgNwOc4zvPczdxhQpYxtNsCbf_nvGneax2fErnBwa1jEXanpbEf-QyhXhu4QkmZ2VLd0xm0E/s640/P1000979.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This place only serves boutique FISK. But the guy working there loves FISK, his tshirt says so.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFsJgL-og-hrF_xemIFstx9kR9sQ4DqwSVlwlGuk9DjyEXicvz3ZPkNeuxYSCmQd4QtklquxE-RyKW1AsIVGJlw9OYpWoza-Xv8WWNPOfGc46WOmH5NFx0pnDwMRicj6teQd_44zoW-c/s1600/P1000992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFsJgL-og-hrF_xemIFstx9kR9sQ4DqwSVlwlGuk9DjyEXicvz3ZPkNeuxYSCmQd4QtklquxE-RyKW1AsIVGJlw9OYpWoza-Xv8WWNPOfGc46WOmH5NFx0pnDwMRicj6teQd_44zoW-c/s640/P1000992.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That might be a dead RABBIT hanging there, but these guys are definitely all about the FISK.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4hn-_j8iZNlaMm-n0lfxGxjLlFnEj9nXkeZxrjmPxIkjjdfjwJrD_TLdO94mkVNOVe1tIA9T0iQaXjMOocQesZl8HoLyYtw-sy8WsKr8bjiNzhiJ7VAxgVsFFsrC6uAi6qoPomZ4WaE/s1600/P1000978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4hn-_j8iZNlaMm-n0lfxGxjLlFnEj9nXkeZxrjmPxIkjjdfjwJrD_TLdO94mkVNOVe1tIA9T0iQaXjMOocQesZl8HoLyYtw-sy8WsKr8bjiNzhiJ7VAxgVsFFsrC6uAi6qoPomZ4WaE/s640/P1000978.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This old FISK probably loves a good FISK.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GsdPabbC4ywDzciz-xzDeneW8xCP3SvdTQVKnfzWLUsQ_7MR4XHoBJUUl9hSuCPKZtGL2ARjI2LXW95GIhDMhcygQva5Y8ys3d1hfv3yUJk5P6cp4xeWze-4t0eaMvBoHSJXWtpr3OU/s1600/P1000998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GsdPabbC4ywDzciz-xzDeneW8xCP3SvdTQVKnfzWLUsQ_7MR4XHoBJUUl9hSuCPKZtGL2ARjI2LXW95GIhDMhcygQva5Y8ys3d1hfv3yUJk5P6cp4xeWze-4t0eaMvBoHSJXWtpr3OU/s640/P1000998.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After all the excitement of the market, I was ready to murder a coffee. Thankfully, Birta is a coffee-monster, and is friends with Denmark's 2012 Barista Champion, Torfi Þór Torfason (friends in high places, also a bonus)</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. So we went to his workplace, the world famous Coffee Collective. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I don't know the science or technique for making good coffee, or really what constitutes it, I just sure as hell know when I am, or am not drinking it.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapQjRhCp5ruwRAouWOQQFd95n7DKv-Tv9LX8rM08Aeb9uWiNIOde1we5InSIMDrVpx6XCUxpuAabSLDt5DzV36WSk3-rXM3r_OsPYXXUWjelz-i2X9GPPhl4icIA_HB8VWdd4QM7azC8/s1600/P1010003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapQjRhCp5ruwRAouWOQQFd95n7DKv-Tv9LX8rM08Aeb9uWiNIOde1we5InSIMDrVpx6XCUxpuAabSLDt5DzV36WSk3-rXM3r_OsPYXXUWjelz-i2X9GPPhl4icIA_HB8VWdd4QM7azC8/s640/P1010003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRe-cSVHxldzWXjqbESPh3IWIcHgmU1vuyw6r3kSZfymikAmtMRdSt-Fsekk2CunuG4qzjDWFnyKkf7lMUPrWrJmwo-r6dWfpSHvlQbFpyHhgXIzsVVPqegIvjeh7oknqKsyrIbTEpU0/s1600/P1000999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRe-cSVHxldzWXjqbESPh3IWIcHgmU1vuyw6r3kSZfymikAmtMRdSt-Fsekk2CunuG4qzjDWFnyKkf7lMUPrWrJmwo-r6dWfpSHvlQbFpyHhgXIzsVVPqegIvjeh7oknqKsyrIbTEpU0/s640/P1000999.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UWwR0I5VVsn1_MB7WpYttxdqkqVrRv2-G6Ahk3tXSU5JF8GJj6ci5szmsi48sClXRonuRg4ejceC3UJy89W9L0y4ZCf1HrYCub2zT4LD1R0-E5IDzQQCNWNDVfFiJ7ITstauZWBXvng/s1600/P1010007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UWwR0I5VVsn1_MB7WpYttxdqkqVrRv2-G6Ahk3tXSU5JF8GJj6ci5szmsi48sClXRonuRg4ejceC3UJy89W9L0y4ZCf1HrYCub2zT4LD1R0-E5IDzQQCNWNDVfFiJ7ITstauZWBXvng/s640/P1010007.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was definitely a REALLY GOOD coffee.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfb9yjsrYVl8lDR1rF-ZR0MpvSRElATskdIC_awEX2DPiPz_ZtqQDsf2G-a6L_Fs6rXUgVknxDrkL8m9q1NiJLnkcf3JCCmUfR3MUlkofand84SiO0b0k9SoUMbEhZQGEnTPMp6ZXKDA/s1600/P1010009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfb9yjsrYVl8lDR1rF-ZR0MpvSRElATskdIC_awEX2DPiPz_ZtqQDsf2G-a6L_Fs6rXUgVknxDrkL8m9q1NiJLnkcf3JCCmUfR3MUlkofand84SiO0b0k9SoUMbEhZQGEnTPMp6ZXKDA/s640/P1010009.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Caffeine-content aubergine and ham legs.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kESTyrzIi2bbL9rNHReI1u8YI7fcDfzMHtT-Dz1dEHFlZlyQkdmoZz8ds7lNCf6jRPOLl4ff7noVVQ9NgxCEaPwGw-GDfuMb0uo6W0t9YXRTJ5Jp-kBTEX-74oS32FKuW0x2b9QIBTo/s1600/P1010010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kESTyrzIi2bbL9rNHReI1u8YI7fcDfzMHtT-Dz1dEHFlZlyQkdmoZz8ds7lNCf6jRPOLl4ff7noVVQ9NgxCEaPwGw-GDfuMb0uo6W0t9YXRTJ5Jp-kBTEX-74oS32FKuW0x2b9QIBTo/s640/P1010010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we got home, it was time to check on the foccaccia dough. It was starting to resemble something from Aliens, which is always a good sign.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7juiE3WGHNQQoDPZFN28taQt5CCJ6EHisrlBrr-z7Vs2XvWmE8Gid54K3YI5EoH8KY-ToVHz_ka44ru1_BeB6w7NlTRP3sGVefL1CcA-MWWTcVVCtOpm_1DA4oo0tS68Hc56UohsB0XI/s1600/P1010012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7juiE3WGHNQQoDPZFN28taQt5CCJ6EHisrlBrr-z7Vs2XvWmE8Gid54K3YI5EoH8KY-ToVHz_ka44ru1_BeB6w7NlTRP3sGVefL1CcA-MWWTcVVCtOpm_1DA4oo0tS68Hc56UohsB0XI/s640/P1010012.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also don't have the recipe for this foccaccia (sorry), because it was from a Scandanavian cookbook, and I wasn't going to waste my time transcribing, or translating it. It's worth mentioning that it was a really fast recipe, and surprisingly simple. Look one up!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Tp7o8hVRGY-DtBGM2hlrOVb21mBpRLoNklgTfNKRErGHfjnwLS1_QhNfe2_1BOTjqI09jFwCP4lIe-SKdeYY-sJ2eikkHiaaRiT-HlTbpZtW_2IYCnROsXQHhmDyaVnEG-ECTCNdXps/s1600/P1010013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Tp7o8hVRGY-DtBGM2hlrOVb21mBpRLoNklgTfNKRErGHfjnwLS1_QhNfe2_1BOTjqI09jFwCP4lIe-SKdeYY-sJ2eikkHiaaRiT-HlTbpZtW_2IYCnROsXQHhmDyaVnEG-ECTCNdXps/s640/P1010013.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYIRsPvdj-rwDDemZ8IefJejVDFU5NLG-1J1k4IDgp6FEBMjRgmrqw6EmsSF_ZRbEs7VwlY89mEBsbx71_1ZQGs2B9yQFVsdbNfBpypCEDEwqTwK-uitWK-eJVKMalmrxr9ZnehtQcL0/s1600/P1010016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYIRsPvdj-rwDDemZ8IefJejVDFU5NLG-1J1k4IDgp6FEBMjRgmrqw6EmsSF_ZRbEs7VwlY89mEBsbx71_1ZQGs2B9yQFVsdbNfBpypCEDEwqTwK-uitWK-eJVKMalmrxr9ZnehtQcL0/s640/P1010016.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Clx6JSBgj3-kFsmJCEf8VOj3VAGkrXh0XqhD9Y3QNNUmX_r7x09JtgSmIHO-GqohRFWROupPa4eBW2k3ZUEFcPMTNsmPfPPudVebOcPkkABnmdQ0XJQkY_4NbtCjXcckIZ7uH36UUiQ/s1600/P1010020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Clx6JSBgj3-kFsmJCEf8VOj3VAGkrXh0XqhD9Y3QNNUmX_r7x09JtgSmIHO-GqohRFWROupPa4eBW2k3ZUEFcPMTNsmPfPPudVebOcPkkABnmdQ0XJQkY_4NbtCjXcckIZ7uH36UUiQ/s640/P1010020.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAz0Y40fEfQg4KuFegwq_VzWdReK4-Xqt04TIEnHRoHFphiD-_JEjRIPaFZAZg7tfe6p8jXan5cEk1Nx3-KC3vBNUYNAkYpv3TG5ygfQZChrhp9G8yMZFAkW1YZnbdbLDzS49XAkicvrw/s1600/P1010021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAz0Y40fEfQg4KuFegwq_VzWdReK4-Xqt04TIEnHRoHFphiD-_JEjRIPaFZAZg7tfe6p8jXan5cEk1Nx3-KC3vBNUYNAkYpv3TG5ygfQZChrhp9G8yMZFAkW1YZnbdbLDzS49XAkicvrw/s640/P1010021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vsFR3qCHl-JJ3grI4nbPOGzavriQAF09ODd9WD6C2TfwOoMLuUs2Fqy8jl4lwV_eBA6y37s336Eknv0BUgJEG_xpymp_6pVHGLtKt0GWdArkOPlBBMnkrYSI8kDic3LOXoPMHBMMqyY/s1600/P1010043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vsFR3qCHl-JJ3grI4nbPOGzavriQAF09ODd9WD6C2TfwOoMLuUs2Fqy8jl4lwV_eBA6y37s336Eknv0BUgJEG_xpymp_6pVHGLtKt0GWdArkOPlBBMnkrYSI8kDic3LOXoPMHBMMqyY/s640/P1010043.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ARGHHHH, god that bread was so good. I want it back in my face, NOW! Next up we have the super tasty watermelon salad, it was simply watermelon, red onion, sliced feta (or similar creamy goats cheese), flat leave parsley chopped, with toasted pumpkin seeds. It is the best salad I've had since the mango soba noodle one a few posts back.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkjPYfSRiqTXK3hJfBl08loCZeT9-ucoCvDMnJP7x1xunNElIhxQAyzquC3PMK8pyETroc9uvUFp4VtDDNYrfkksUWlulzOk0l0PnV7YXWnNhZPZKR4QDbvd6YhhrfZ4pJHCwcbgMpdI/s1600/P1010034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkjPYfSRiqTXK3hJfBl08loCZeT9-ucoCvDMnJP7x1xunNElIhxQAyzquC3PMK8pyETroc9uvUFp4VtDDNYrfkksUWlulzOk0l0PnV7YXWnNhZPZKR4QDbvd6YhhrfZ4pJHCwcbgMpdI/s640/P1010034.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSCiqngdxp_Zi-vU4qIlsms7l9w8YMVHTfc-E1lCdF2SlPgCFgBG7CM_9we_ITSXGyNDu2xZZIXejctGmydLuODOO8ncp38i4AnB89LZ5gy1bTPP2LTPzq22FelQx1ck5L223JK9hR7g/s1600/P1010036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSCiqngdxp_Zi-vU4qIlsms7l9w8YMVHTfc-E1lCdF2SlPgCFgBG7CM_9we_ITSXGyNDu2xZZIXejctGmydLuODOO8ncp38i4AnB89LZ5gy1bTPP2LTPzq22FelQx1ck5L223JK9hR7g/s640/P1010036.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVOH6uJNHQi9JLstf5gQ_hzGzVAZicwd4Cdv2egxIcyoTYeh3RTmimJQ8iRWKTsEQ6lHW8y5WxPrMlaQlUKdX3yF72Y_0A2TL-q7-q5aUQNTQUHawoVo71wPOXSdsXfY1dzl1HUEQVaU/s1600/P1010041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVOH6uJNHQi9JLstf5gQ_hzGzVAZicwd4Cdv2egxIcyoTYeh3RTmimJQ8iRWKTsEQ6lHW8y5WxPrMlaQlUKdX3yF72Y_0A2TL-q7-q5aUQNTQUHawoVo71wPOXSdsXfY1dzl1HUEQVaU/s640/P1010041.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwaFbrcCIdHuWNz03USHW5hozJW527xzivgoxcyHLA9BgLuqm6rCtvx2z6Aybz4t22kIQ-IaThNomSUkzGlr_kmd_F_PL-gDrK0f1pkBT05MVx7f91fltBVpv0e8N__jOO-Pl_PBaum0/s1600/P1010042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwaFbrcCIdHuWNz03USHW5hozJW527xzivgoxcyHLA9BgLuqm6rCtvx2z6Aybz4t22kIQ-IaThNomSUkzGlr_kmd_F_PL-gDrK0f1pkBT05MVx7f91fltBVpv0e8N__jOO-Pl_PBaum0/s640/P1010042.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">t was time to head to Johanna's birthday party, the weather was juuuust holding it together, only ever so slightly threatening to rain. When we arrived, the dishes were already laid out and looking mighty tempting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBBH9hmqfxhpz1jt-Ciib9ozE-TgkQWW6qGtE5QafNQqGYekHot679rXhGjl1nFgQcgnlAEp0hxObka0wtGvjhPpeoaoejxXufN7pDL5nW-0Em87KuZLLMKompZfNSEnV_gz06zRyyv8/s1600/P1010047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBBH9hmqfxhpz1jt-Ciib9ozE-TgkQWW6qGtE5QafNQqGYekHot679rXhGjl1nFgQcgnlAEp0hxObka0wtGvjhPpeoaoejxXufN7pDL5nW-0Em87KuZLLMKompZfNSEnV_gz06zRyyv8/s640/P1010047.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Top Right clockwise: Potato salad with radish, basil and watercress. Watermelon, feta, red onion and parsley salad. Foccaccia with rosemary, unpitted olives, coarse sea salt. Unknown pie. Chick pea salad with harrissa, chilli, coriander and garlic.<br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWk0Sg4bRLwgUfJUHIA866tBiFWKfQEi646LMC2qkE1ZgllHVJkRXrI5ImvJ-_ms4L8rPLU2r16SM4MsqeHptmaTVJWPHC6uQVm9DlnOrTxV2aSwNLOxo8XyU2QKXP6IIsToImqXM3_0/s1600/P1010048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWk0Sg4bRLwgUfJUHIA866tBiFWKfQEi646LMC2qkE1ZgllHVJkRXrI5ImvJ-_ms4L8rPLU2r16SM4MsqeHptmaTVJWPHC6uQVm9DlnOrTxV2aSwNLOxo8XyU2QKXP6IIsToImqXM3_0/s640/P1010048.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Raw food sushi, made with hummus, carrots, cucumber, baby spinach, pickled ginger and sesame seeds. Greek salad.<br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZD8eTMSL5tU8gvyTlZZkDAqfbtAi_ukTAZuwsQlBFNmmsH2aXQrc3xs1S2CzBcYPabXT35uAuwwU7yCvnF2gxFyynHnOVLWl6FwRQ9_RxEnZ4d481_AonHQtaGuELOKedkfQ-_EExsE/s1600/P1010049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZD8eTMSL5tU8gvyTlZZkDAqfbtAi_ukTAZuwsQlBFNmmsH2aXQrc3xs1S2CzBcYPabXT35uAuwwU7yCvnF2gxFyynHnOVLWl6FwRQ9_RxEnZ4d481_AonHQtaGuELOKedkfQ-_EExsE/s640/P1010049.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Mixed nut and chocolate cake, with kiwifruit and strawberry. DAMN,<br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlh-v-Wnq47-Zja3ZQn_9XBVSr_3LYIWrsz9xyjJCICZaIfWPbhZ9KcHhnirz47twt-BdZCv3tMrKxLD08bz2HOIHLvZWKcX4xF5QGFSKwBL8UFzbWDnuIUaJ_X37hSZveT6l-lok_KqY/s1600/P1010065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlh-v-Wnq47-Zja3ZQn_9XBVSr_3LYIWrsz9xyjJCICZaIfWPbhZ9KcHhnirz47twt-BdZCv3tMrKxLD08bz2HOIHLvZWKcX4xF5QGFSKwBL8UFzbWDnuIUaJ_X37hSZveT6l-lok_KqY/s640/P1010065.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A big old plate of all things heavenly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOTqXvSIfJaK1ezKI7q0CtLcPRPc9JKlii4nqzNKmmBVrosEdbcuEjFqPXTNza3xML0rq7mUm7RdslJJgXUX6tYlR7S4rNIMicm80FE97YFWeHKwj5-4F62v5_29qr45CGIOEv3rQiIs/s1600/P1010072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOTqXvSIfJaK1ezKI7q0CtLcPRPc9JKlii4nqzNKmmBVrosEdbcuEjFqPXTNza3xML0rq7mUm7RdslJJgXUX6tYlR7S4rNIMicm80FE97YFWeHKwj5-4F62v5_29qr45CGIOEv3rQiIs/s640/P1010072.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was a little late arrival, smoked trout from Iceland. Not just smoked, SHIT SMOKED. Yeah, apparently it's smoked in sheep dung, but it was a very mild flavour. I loved it, it sure put a shit-eating grin on my face.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWGJfu5hoKYEKhm7cGP240HRhmrOrXdBOOm81_YN0dSiDqeyF6MXf-l6NPkfAtQhrDfMtsvndhAdxJKRYpmcD4oFu1iMHbIWgZ19kw51JLQF9PlavYO7yqx2aD50kixi3jnxFWrErQ8g/s1600/P1010056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWGJfu5hoKYEKhm7cGP240HRhmrOrXdBOOm81_YN0dSiDqeyF6MXf-l6NPkfAtQhrDfMtsvndhAdxJKRYpmcD4oFu1iMHbIWgZ19kw51JLQF9PlavYO7yqx2aD50kixi3jnxFWrErQ8g/s640/P1010056.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaFRyRx8MzXoh-IgzIw2vXNO2QlxWY9kKmByl3QQLx75S-lmomGBZRmw6kOWT6bdFirldLKhbydkbelzWlROv-IlOhBr4sKXAdWHW9ERzb9qYffsSleDckurPulKZfmgyiZCBFwyZreQ/s1600/P1010062copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaFRyRx8MzXoh-IgzIw2vXNO2QlxWY9kKmByl3QQLx75S-lmomGBZRmw6kOWT6bdFirldLKhbydkbelzWlROv-IlOhBr4sKXAdWHW9ERzb9qYffsSleDckurPulKZfmgyiZCBFwyZreQ/s640/P1010062copy.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKCyUEhA_Jei63R6BIhu4v85pNEoTCeI0MGAX8aYrbN4GhhsZj_Fon4Iy61nj8QnousqPdmsaZjz1SK20RsAORNfY8Spz8O2M18W78tgUlwnyp4P4Ti5SoDcJ1cXb29GzEUmzGwTfcTw/s1600/P101007+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKCyUEhA_Jei63R6BIhu4v85pNEoTCeI0MGAX8aYrbN4GhhsZj_Fon4Iy61nj8QnousqPdmsaZjz1SK20RsAORNfY8Spz8O2M18W78tgUlwnyp4P4Ti5SoDcJ1cXb29GzEUmzGwTfcTw/s640/P101007+7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQs1VONbAFV3mV2a0FkO9ECFqON_eboZFfKyAT5QVgCMumfOWQXTkgrCZziX0VLuH8Mrg0A1EB1hjOaqhlzSUKgfM7wXRZpxQS12FO9df3KBcg8ZHkWW6Dnj-jw6HlqI3C-jJCaLaspY/s1600/P1010070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQs1VONbAFV3mV2a0FkO9ECFqON_eboZFfKyAT5QVgCMumfOWQXTkgrCZziX0VLuH8Mrg0A1EB1hjOaqhlzSUKgfM7wXRZpxQS12FO9df3KBcg8ZHkWW6Dnj-jw6HlqI3C-jJCaLaspY/s640/P1010070.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Despite the fact that this was also a goodbye party for loved ones, everybody was in high spirits, and happy to be in the moment with that person. We all drank, played limbo, jumped rope, banged on drums, fiddled with violins, blew on recorders, sang songs & told stories. It was one of the best parties I've ever been to, and I really only captured a glimpse of it. A handful of us ended the night drinking and sweating up a storm on the dance floor of the bar Gefährlich, to a couple of young babes playing a plethora of post punk, it couldn't have ended better really.<br /></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zjyRg0QLiTOjBxAat5_pBY-KA26QBnFpiLMZv6tN1d8XbG-_VrXlaij35hLII6jchygOQiNu6_iqvZ2IFvy0MzcaR-6IZ3AmuXxRCIHGKdIZ-AKKjeF1jfmhbMtLvNvIeGEZxO7MgJQ/s1600/P1010087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zjyRg0QLiTOjBxAat5_pBY-KA26QBnFpiLMZv6tN1d8XbG-_VrXlaij35hLII6jchygOQiNu6_iqvZ2IFvy0MzcaR-6IZ3AmuXxRCIHGKdIZ-AKKjeF1jfmhbMtLvNvIeGEZxO7MgJQ/s640/P1010087.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9osj6hruS0vDR5TZLmJZxFioA0C45pq_uhiWm8sXBKPTQhHaidysIBNhIYEj3ejnIrzQvw7yx2ChHWKeRpZkvOZ_jq0MJWth_4XCsYYv9rkxXNr5yomv5qbrzJnd7IfAjk-vbFS9jj1A/s1600/P1010112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9osj6hruS0vDR5TZLmJZxFioA0C45pq_uhiWm8sXBKPTQhHaidysIBNhIYEj3ejnIrzQvw7yx2ChHWKeRpZkvOZ_jq0MJWth_4XCsYYv9rkxXNr5yomv5qbrzJnd7IfAjk-vbFS9jj1A/s640/P1010112.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The following day, after a good sleep in, we basked in Copenhagen's sun, who wore his Sunday best, a glorious blue robe of sky as far as the eye could see. After a swim in the canal, we were to lounge around until my time came to farewell these Icelandic faerie children. The sadness finally sets in, you remember once again that the love affair you have with a city, is actually with its inhabitants, and that no amount of marzipan or expensive bread can fill the holes that these people leave when they pack their bags. Thank you all for coming together with open hearts, we'll see each other in the next place called home.</span></div>Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com0Copenhagen, Denmark55.6760968 12.568337155.604469300000005 12.4104086 55.7477243 12.726265600000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-9775069655365188312012-06-24T15:05:00.004-07:002012-06-24T15:11:03.576-07:00Sunday Roast Brazilian Style?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Sunday roast was never a big thing in my family. I mean, growing up in my house, it was just me and my mother, and if you want to get into sexist New Zealand stereotypes, the Sunday roast was traditionally a family dish to prepare the working man for his week of hard labour, and to provide fast fillings for sandwiches for the next five days. It just never made sense for the two of us to have such a tradition, and besides, I was a fussy little cunt when it came to eating cold meats anyway! We definitely had roasts from time to time, but there was never any rule that it would be on Sunday, it could pop up at any day of the week - I liked that spontaneity! Today I was invited to my classmate Ana's house for a "Brazilian dinner". I was pretty excited, I really didn't know what to expect, other than I was pretty sure that rice and beans would be part of the equation (I wasn't wrong!). Ana's from Sao Paolo, her father is Brazilian and mother Italian - as soon as I found this out, I told her she had to show me how to make something typically Brazilian, as I'm all about the food exchange!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While we were waiting for the dinner to cook, Ana told us of her problems trying to source the ingredients for this dinner, and strangely enough it was acquiring the beef rump that was most problematic. I mean Germans LOVE meat, almost as much as they love dairy, pickled vegetables, and getting naked in public - so I was surprised to hear that she actually had to <i>order</i> it specially from the local supermarket. Before ordering was even possible, actually figuring out the German word for this particular cut was challenging - with one online translator transcribing "roast beef" as "titty-ficken" (yes that really means titty-fuck). Can you imagine a girl approaching a butcher and politely telling him that she wants a titty-fuck?! What would you do if you were that butcher? Probably lock up the shop, call your your wife and tell her not to wait for you tonight, because something has just COME UP...</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other ingredient that I was able to help source was black beans. For some reason, nearly every other kind of bean or lentil is super common in Berlin, just not black beans. I happened to have found a Turkish supermarket that actually sells them, as not many do. Good for everyone, black beans are awesome.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The thing that really surprised me was is that even though New Zealand and Brazil are worlds apart geographically our traditional Sunday dinners are not! it was essentially roast beef flavoured with bay leaves, surrounded with potatoes, carrots, shallots & yellow peppers, then served with rice and black beans. I mean sure, you have to swap a few things out; we don't typically have yellow peppers or rice and beans with a roast, and any good English colonial would be shocked by the absence of our beloved gravy, or perhaps the non-crispy style roast vegetables, BUT, it is still very similar. There was a weird sense of nostalgia eating this dish, and since their were seven of us dining, it definitely had the atmosphere of a traditional Sunday family dinner (apart from the fact we were drinking Caipirinhas...I can't remember that ever happening at home). I really enjoyed the whole experience, black beans & basmati rice are definitely always welcome in my mouth (I also love the blue/black broth the beans make when you boil them), and those soft roast vegetables really soaked up the beef flavours and gentle herby accents of the bay leaves, I found myself pecking at them more than my stomach could accomodate. I should also add that Ana made some pretty tasty looking stuffed aubergines for the vegetarian guests as well - I didn't get a picture of them when they came out of the oven, but they were wearing a layer of grilled cheese by that stage.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiir8cETLmYDQAWmztiDAY2bW63idqTUp3usW79OItEPY610bnxDqkm8_HScJ6vRt2l2A3BcaBPm21-5dFJHx0ckhpAIjSvuCxeV2-SVZfm_hTuTsoU0mMzUNgec4jzJo429Fjauxbwn1A/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiir8cETLmYDQAWmztiDAY2bW63idqTUp3usW79OItEPY610bnxDqkm8_HScJ6vRt2l2A3BcaBPm21-5dFJHx0ckhpAIjSvuCxeV2-SVZfm_hTuTsoU0mMzUNgec4jzJo429Fjauxbwn1A/s640/1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHpW6dWfEZZEK4A070BcJYI2wsXLkI4tvYtsTjB8txGAVaBy9zPT8zZFMXUg-lhZ3zbS4-UaJWa4yVqdTpd8K4o6EmqESJN7gBVULCm1o3rER07HKfblQ53wvNhhc1kbqSUwGJqayvGY/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHpW6dWfEZZEK4A070BcJYI2wsXLkI4tvYtsTjB8txGAVaBy9zPT8zZFMXUg-lhZ3zbS4-UaJWa4yVqdTpd8K4o6EmqESJN7gBVULCm1o3rER07HKfblQ53wvNhhc1kbqSUwGJqayvGY/s640/2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-xPDfW6Nnedm3TJMTSUxMhmZ2SJzhwdjLLKYVY_C-Qv4hDlAb-X-mFOdqWzU9RQK2swy2_Svi0P0qAPxnBzJUNvEHM6nOIC4Y6UE0-WFdVWq05q3MVFbKRc9dXL7HyGlgDi_MyA7yDo/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-xPDfW6Nnedm3TJMTSUxMhmZ2SJzhwdjLLKYVY_C-Qv4hDlAb-X-mFOdqWzU9RQK2swy2_Svi0P0qAPxnBzJUNvEHM6nOIC4Y6UE0-WFdVWq05q3MVFbKRc9dXL7HyGlgDi_MyA7yDo/s640/3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoty6UwP_LPNxfp7REmyDMM4RHma3GHf7JSQx35JtIhBoKaT3J5YV3QTOSHJPjPyL9tEzKi1VYgIcECWjWoVkF0KSMYHzqFVqYWGgVCE_Kf-tGWtVKjOqngWdrguiw26Fg68a86rtMUY/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoty6UwP_LPNxfp7REmyDMM4RHma3GHf7JSQx35JtIhBoKaT3J5YV3QTOSHJPjPyL9tEzKi1VYgIcECWjWoVkF0KSMYHzqFVqYWGgVCE_Kf-tGWtVKjOqngWdrguiw26Fg68a86rtMUY/s640/4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKt-Jdc-_3mLoMW_0qI6pak1htupGXLGI1kDljxAI8ymy-ZTyko_jBCIDYVpzIQhNuaozIkrrZKn9AJOGsusFQchBunz7fdKX1r19FDOnaoiuuFKcq3WCV06W46ARy5qg4B14fD2Vilw/s1600/5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKt-Jdc-_3mLoMW_0qI6pak1htupGXLGI1kDljxAI8ymy-ZTyko_jBCIDYVpzIQhNuaozIkrrZKn9AJOGsusFQchBunz7fdKX1r19FDOnaoiuuFKcq3WCV06W46ARy5qg4B14fD2Vilw/s640/5.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-9798303622604276422012-06-23T06:02:00.001-07:002012-06-23T12:04:21.973-07:00Asparagus Feta Filo Fucker<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've nearly been in Berlin two months already, when you have all the time in the world, it still seems like not enough time to do the things one would like to. I think as humans, we are mislead to believe that we should be exceptional at everything. Renaissance people; capable of indulging all of our ambitions, mastering every one of our crafts, excelling in all hobbies, being more incredible than our neighbours, and still having time to spare for a normal life. <i>Bigger, better, faster, stronger, more efficient, higher yields, greater income etc etc.</i> I'm not saying that it's impossible to juggle loads, or that ambition is at all a bad thing. On the contrary, I think ambition is one of the most venerable human qualities; </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm just trying not to beat myself up about not being a Master of the Universe (yet). </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the other hand, I realise I do have to try harder, set goals, make deadlines and stick to them in order to get the most out of life. I also am trying to be less passive, chasing things that make me happy, and trying to dial down my empathy for others a bit, because sometimes I put other people's feelings too far ahead of my own, & am not honest about my own thoughts or feelings. Let's call this a mid year resolution. I need to get over the idea that I'm forever letting people down or hurting their feelings...unless of course it's true...</span><br />
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There has been so much change in the air, forks in the road, forks in my heart, forks in my mind; my life sometimes feels like a cutlery drawer falling from a second story window, fucking forks everywhere! Right now I'm sitting by the window of my third story room in a quiet North Friedrichshain apartment. It's a very quiet back street location in the former GDR of East Berlin. It's a very peaceful & unassuming neighbourhood; not at all touristy. I'm looking at two new green friends I bought for my window sill. Yep, living and breathing plants. I love green space, and living things. I was pretty excited in May when Berlin was flooded with an influx of grün Spargel, or "green asparagus" as we say in English. I fucking love asparagus (someone once told me it's an aphrodisiac, but I never checked the legitimacy of that fact). I wish I'd taken advantage of it more while it was readily available, as it was only €1 a bunch! Phenomenal, when in London it was usually about £3.50. Berlin is good like that, really close to Brandenburg where there are many farms and orchards bringing in fresh seasonal produce.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before all of the asparagus disappeared, I managed to try something new with it. I thought with all of the filo pastry floating around Berlin (in the Turkish neighbourhoods at least) and that I could try a twist on the typical spinach & feta filo - instead trying an asparagus/spinach, nutmeg, feta & lemon filo pie. I was surprised that this isn't a common dish, because it's a really good filling for filo. The only problem with it was that I par boiled the asparagus & then soaked it in lemon juice before I put it in the pie. This is a great way to soak up the flavour, but obviously you're soaking up the juice as well, which isn't great for your pastry which needs to crisp up. I made the rookie mistake of forgetting to cook the base of the pie on the stovetop first, so the bottom was a bit soggy and fell out in places. I tried it a second time cooking the base, and it worked better with a few extra leaves of filo on the base as well as COOKING IT OVER THE STOVE. I think If I were to try it again, I might just use lemon zest and a little bit of lemon juice.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I won't bother including a recipe because it's basically the same as <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-1314837/Jamie-Olivers-30-minute-meals-Spinach--feta-filo-pie-cucumber-salad-tomato-salad-coated-ice-cream.html">any other spinach filo pie.</a> Time for a cup of tea I think :)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKFgXV1ilI3FHxoQM7QRDXSo-0l8dw4ALUrFITOZzn2XrZ14-4WOzHidBD03aAG9mMaTaZS3qGiUrVxgojTXqxZLUJ_dNzndSNXJanskxXLL6p2ZTSeo7jzwNOMC3VrbNvTZT0p4Id1A/s1600/P1000878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKFgXV1ilI3FHxoQM7QRDXSo-0l8dw4ALUrFITOZzn2XrZ14-4WOzHidBD03aAG9mMaTaZS3qGiUrVxgojTXqxZLUJ_dNzndSNXJanskxXLL6p2ZTSeo7jzwNOMC3VrbNvTZT0p4Id1A/s640/P1000878.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOfghsX_VK0iF6kFJm4pnJ4oNQXpDmrsK1V4UcA5EtEUl9RyIjA4APgTggY-lJJ530BfjNjxBmeccq6RtysypIpoEoATA3ENPeFQl-P0t_1IdfiRMfgLV2tyrBFNu5f8F86Cz61Oa0Yg/s1600/P1000696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOfghsX_VK0iF6kFJm4pnJ4oNQXpDmrsK1V4UcA5EtEUl9RyIjA4APgTggY-lJJ530BfjNjxBmeccq6RtysypIpoEoATA3ENPeFQl-P0t_1IdfiRMfgLV2tyrBFNu5f8F86Cz61Oa0Yg/s640/P1000696.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQq9rH5-Sin0RcdaqiVke_8nSs8yNtvWQPGfHyR5rb79UtyF2z1apHPZjWHsAkJurf8PeMoEeKl7Dkm51uzIHZJDr8o-Val4akNxXu8bvC_ocQd3pVwZ4OjWPqKitraVTlbMKs0J7ERI/s1600/P1000699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQq9rH5-Sin0RcdaqiVke_8nSs8yNtvWQPGfHyR5rb79UtyF2z1apHPZjWHsAkJurf8PeMoEeKl7Dkm51uzIHZJDr8o-Val4akNxXu8bvC_ocQd3pVwZ4OjWPqKitraVTlbMKs0J7ERI/s640/P1000699.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbi-oX0gAArL0Um12EuVk4yWh_nrV42i9sV6mnceXVzG_zAwk9630PNSdmfu2ok3hi6XYSD9MofRysMjkprHkTtVHd16U1gwi2yEWrMIf9Slw-MIdwMqjV5A7CzKiWVGQrabclXGv0V0/s1600/P1000700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbi-oX0gAArL0Um12EuVk4yWh_nrV42i9sV6mnceXVzG_zAwk9630PNSdmfu2ok3hi6XYSD9MofRysMjkprHkTtVHd16U1gwi2yEWrMIf9Slw-MIdwMqjV5A7CzKiWVGQrabclXGv0V0/s640/P1000700.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5aHK-eO3CflKtiPmKoxe9zqq-n33PZw82Q6jv5McDMfS_Mu1JPul-RpOgCxr91lgNK0WVMbTLBNg6M55plIJurOqY4K1AwPrUXU4CVmgk69tayYeZ_N0xeZowwCcgpNr1LNRYJv1pXjs/s1600/P1000704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5aHK-eO3CflKtiPmKoxe9zqq-n33PZw82Q6jv5McDMfS_Mu1JPul-RpOgCxr91lgNK0WVMbTLBNg6M55plIJurOqY4K1AwPrUXU4CVmgk69tayYeZ_N0xeZowwCcgpNr1LNRYJv1pXjs/s640/P1000704.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5aHK-eO3CflKtiPmKoxe9zqq-n33PZw82Q6jv5McDMfS_Mu1JPul-RpOgCxr91lgNK0WVMbTLBNg6M55plIJurOqY4K1AwPrUXU4CVmgk69tayYeZ_N0xeZowwCcgpNr1LNRYJv1pXjs/s1600/P1000704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5aHK-eO3CflKtiPmKoxe9zqq-n33PZw82Q6jv5McDMfS_Mu1JPul-RpOgCxr91lgNK0WVMbTLBNg6M55plIJurOqY4K1AwPrUXU4CVmgk69tayYeZ_N0xeZowwCcgpNr1LNRYJv1pXjs/s1600/P1000704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5aHK-eO3CflKtiPmKoxe9zqq-n33PZw82Q6jv5McDMfS_Mu1JPul-RpOgCxr91lgNK0WVMbTLBNg6M55plIJurOqY4K1AwPrUXU4CVmgk69tayYeZ_N0xeZowwCcgpNr1LNRYJv1pXjs/s1600/P1000704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5aHK-eO3CflKtiPmKoxe9zqq-n33PZw82Q6jv5McDMfS_Mu1JPul-RpOgCxr91lgNK0WVMbTLBNg6M55plIJurOqY4K1AwPrUXU4CVmgk69tayYeZ_N0xeZowwCcgpNr1LNRYJv1pXjs/s1600/P1000704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5aHK-eO3CflKtiPmKoxe9zqq-n33PZw82Q6jv5McDMfS_Mu1JPul-RpOgCxr91lgNK0WVMbTLBNg6M55plIJurOqY4K1AwPrUXU4CVmgk69tayYeZ_N0xeZowwCcgpNr1LNRYJv1pXjs/s1600/P1000704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, and if you could make strings from my guts today, their symphony would sound like this.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kGxdDMRfGYQ" width="420"></iframe></span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-39722839776947052542012-05-24T05:44:00.000-07:002012-05-24T06:02:34.480-07:00Ottolenghi Soba Noodle Mango & Aubergine Salad & Lao Larb encounters<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The problem with going on benders with your friends, is that you always talk a load of shit, and make huge promises of how you're going to do all of this awesome stuff together; like "Let's go on a 3 month road trip around Eastern Europe where we only take €30, and have to rely on our raw survival skills & irrepressible charm to get by. We can hitch cargo trains from town to town, swim naked in the lakes, hunt bears, fashion couture from their pelts & become mountain children who live in log cabins", or even "When this crazy bender is over, let's cook dinner with each after only 2 hours sleep" (equally unrealistic). The nice thing was that this week, after postponing a day for recovery, we managed to come together to make really delicious dinner that we promised on one of those nights of excess. Oh rapture!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The initial proposition was that we were going to do some American style BBQ pork ribs, but this plan fell apart, like so much tender meat, when we weren't able to find a decent or affordable butcher. Berlin has quite a few Turkish butchers, but since pork is like Muslim Kryptonite, it wasn't such an easy find. Roll on plan B. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finbar called me up and said since it was so stinking hot outside, he was thinking of making a Lao dish - chicken <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larb">larb</a>. This was my introduction to Lao cuisine, & larb is one of their most common dishes. It's a salad, that's usually mince-meat based and mixed together with fresh herbs & raw vegetables, citric juices, chilli & a side of sticky rice. The result is a mouthwateringly salty, sour, spicy but fresh combination. People from Laos are commonly referred to as the "children of sticky rice" and their food is eaten without cutlery, most dishes are made fit to bundle together by hand. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I bought along a Soba noodle mango salad that was originally put together by Yottam Ottolenghi, but I borrowed a modified version by <a href="http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/ottolenghi-soba-noodles-with-aubergine-and-mango-recipe.html">101 cookbooks</a>, and then further mutated it myself. It contains raw mango, coriander, basil, boiled soba noodles, fried tofu, fried aubergine, fresh basil & coriander, & a dressing made from brown rice vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, chilli, ginger, lime, peanut oil & sesame seeds. It was the perfect counterpart for larb, not worlds apart in flavours or ingredients, but sweeter & fruitier than the saltier meatier dish. We left out the sticky rice & just ate the larb wrapped in full iceberg lettuce leaves, as the mango salad already had noodles for the carb factor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKDooOvf9KBMQcUu-JGIp8qJpdfi5-g70IPE935UN00e5Zu3P2LwZL2knjHfWLl4fGyH0vPk9Ga-ykIK2ZSI7SrTKOCTC61rzMo-G2y8zPW-gJR7i0sFPRbqMNJz38cfaN0Y76-d3XGY/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKDooOvf9KBMQcUu-JGIp8qJpdfi5-g70IPE935UN00e5Zu3P2LwZL2knjHfWLl4fGyH0vPk9Ga-ykIK2ZSI7SrTKOCTC61rzMo-G2y8zPW-gJR7i0sFPRbqMNJz38cfaN0Y76-d3XGY/s640/1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghX-Nyp7eoOdGiTh_pZ2tMq3iU_L4sZd6IRJq2EV6PU7JIBGm_3fSrvPVnhSlvgTCBfHuE4a8thxzSoOoIY4djpzkADA1TO1DC-1TsZj98I5sQghNrGhaVihvvF85FW30rWNG2HPwQ9vI/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghX-Nyp7eoOdGiTh_pZ2tMq3iU_L4sZd6IRJq2EV6PU7JIBGm_3fSrvPVnhSlvgTCBfHuE4a8thxzSoOoIY4djpzkADA1TO1DC-1TsZj98I5sQghNrGhaVihvvF85FW30rWNG2HPwQ9vI/s640/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzex-fPVPhwytvnNSJ1i_0ROhouiiYj3MaIlpx7DCLuif-XhQAHhjwjdXPufcO66OeFAD9sA_haXpVDcnmovPFrY5fzcOay5WlC1X5tgFcLC3h_G5HpH1uWj6iJlaFVRN5lODkIxVEXTs/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzex-fPVPhwytvnNSJ1i_0ROhouiiYj3MaIlpx7DCLuif-XhQAHhjwjdXPufcO66OeFAD9sA_haXpVDcnmovPFrY5fzcOay5WlC1X5tgFcLC3h_G5HpH1uWj6iJlaFVRN5lODkIxVEXTs/s640/3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhJQ7qLDlpXDs4R9kO6KxL4427Rqz6D8qH1IS-D6QYpLuWvnbpAPCRi0IU78L4m2edDmV9vbX6Hn4m4riGmCSIk8tTdrHWrZ811LXbF1cl-IH_6GwEz2KB8k3S8v7G_tJgLDwG9OaSiQ/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhJQ7qLDlpXDs4R9kO6KxL4427Rqz6D8qH1IS-D6QYpLuWvnbpAPCRi0IU78L4m2edDmV9vbX6Hn4m4riGmCSIk8tTdrHWrZ811LXbF1cl-IH_6GwEz2KB8k3S8v7G_tJgLDwG9OaSiQ/s640/4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHQH7XY5GvCnrFMDa-B8Rk8sPAk8L6Gx3dIbz9YeVK_V6hyphenhyphendzs4zhMOTVkuJ_PkPwO6fNvYChik3N_gTnQhdvTHh2L-El45tezC2t_RQpoUyE4ZZy_5lBInrzHwZcKNNWDkiylI_0kf8/s1600/5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHQH7XY5GvCnrFMDa-B8Rk8sPAk8L6Gx3dIbz9YeVK_V6hyphenhyphendzs4zhMOTVkuJ_PkPwO6fNvYChik3N_gTnQhdvTHh2L-El45tezC2t_RQpoUyE4ZZy_5lBInrzHwZcKNNWDkiylI_0kf8/s640/5.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNSGa6ltzmDW-_rK-0h3MG6aExSFzcrgBdoGwvb3RRWs95VGleU12Z9B_AUXlbWJncy29d6G1bztzHFjz0TlASvzafSDq0dgwGjf3swRwJnVHrHCeoD5OGILOAKJiZ8zkOjzNB4Pjc1Q/s1600/6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNSGa6ltzmDW-_rK-0h3MG6aExSFzcrgBdoGwvb3RRWs95VGleU12Z9B_AUXlbWJncy29d6G1bztzHFjz0TlASvzafSDq0dgwGjf3swRwJnVHrHCeoD5OGILOAKJiZ8zkOjzNB4Pjc1Q/s640/6.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtzUKJ5ffMhp7sFbwCcie4XA9NTi7bAXP3IB1cjM3RjQMpirZ-5fYiXtjUJoBBF8dsCMIh1QPhyphenhyphenX51ZpjIrE6KRpJ63g6eSVVbiJv8vNGbB7fI4L93ZaOzWj9ZdmRCjs4OcNBEafURHQ/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtzUKJ5ffMhp7sFbwCcie4XA9NTi7bAXP3IB1cjM3RjQMpirZ-5fYiXtjUJoBBF8dsCMIh1QPhyphenhyphenX51ZpjIrE6KRpJ63g6eSVVbiJv8vNGbB7fI4L93ZaOzWj9ZdmRCjs4OcNBEafURHQ/s640/7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPl-cHF6zx6aaRfXjSgowtyjTki6m3_-pNd-mg_AmC1uBW5gIXbrXxf_kjUOi0Do2x_bkknsvKJKBmBRcdV0K0_ZuMlzGdJ2Inrp-VCksEV8V31ae_sBlBAO_kyaDrj1-txpQ4750zUnw/s1600/8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPl-cHF6zx6aaRfXjSgowtyjTki6m3_-pNd-mg_AmC1uBW5gIXbrXxf_kjUOi0Do2x_bkknsvKJKBmBRcdV0K0_ZuMlzGdJ2Inrp-VCksEV8V31ae_sBlBAO_kyaDrj1-txpQ4750zUnw/s640/8.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiv9KH0mze5tYhS53W1zENsm7v4_EmVICBYKFOl8JhWyjZAqZEusQsX41uo6SUeLTBU72Vj16F3ylxLoPRiroPS_DQRaLVV8BS2C_MaBkX_UNrIqiWDhlF3fYHRrcB57-3AqZHHIsfMI/s1600/9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiv9KH0mze5tYhS53W1zENsm7v4_EmVICBYKFOl8JhWyjZAqZEusQsX41uo6SUeLTBU72Vj16F3ylxLoPRiroPS_DQRaLVV8BS2C_MaBkX_UNrIqiWDhlF3fYHRrcB57-3AqZHHIsfMI/s640/9.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">It was a perfect end to a scorching hot Berlin day, eating in the abandoned lot by the Spree with Simon, Finbar, Justine & Lisa.<br /><br />And Finbar made a dog-friend!</span></h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIqnf7RMyTqXAs9-0yvY1RnOrEzR95PASoGkh3jwtnihgL86eoRidhmDa67wGOGF-vAeYb6ZkB68qynABK4ZD0-RYXxRc53gMPFU7prmQ-psAJlMpW9HWJOYWIxGVPpN1TO8xxjAQN9w/s1600/10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIqnf7RMyTqXAs9-0yvY1RnOrEzR95PASoGkh3jwtnihgL86eoRidhmDa67wGOGF-vAeYb6ZkB68qynABK4ZD0-RYXxRc53gMPFU7prmQ-psAJlMpW9HWJOYWIxGVPpN1TO8xxjAQN9w/s640/10.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Or a dog-foe...?</span></h3>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtXjXIcw42_nUKsUE3NwragWPi51VGn75ykHNXoVg4YYCmyplb9WdtaJsTGR_scaiq1iUoSVyI0gCS1DV07a_f2eRZgSoDdFl-CJdz5AeUGxiOgsVEABfDeWEESiqVOIU_yfCWzJpj0M/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtXjXIcw42_nUKsUE3NwragWPi51VGn75ykHNXoVg4YYCmyplb9WdtaJsTGR_scaiq1iUoSVyI0gCS1DV07a_f2eRZgSoDdFl-CJdz5AeUGxiOgsVEABfDeWEESiqVOIU_yfCWzJpj0M/s1600/11.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mango Soba Noodle Salad Ingredients:</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup / 120 ml brown rice vinegar</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">scant 1/3 cup / 1.5 oz / 40 g fine-grain natural cane sugar or brown sugar</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes or 1/2 fresh red chile, minced</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil (I substituted this for peanut butter oil & added a few teaspoons of sesame seeds)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">grated zest and juice of one lime</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/3 cup / 80 ml sunflower oil or olive oil</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 medium eggplant/aubergine 3/4 lb / 12 oz, cut into 1/2-inch / 1cm chunks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8 ounces / 225g dried soba noodles</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 large ripe mango, cut into small chunks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8 ounces grilled or pan-fried tofu (I cut it into really tiny cubes & cook it till it's almost chewy for a complementary texture in the salad)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 medium red onion, very thinly sliced</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a handful of basil leaves, slivered</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a handful of fresh cilantro / coriander, chopped</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Directions: (Stolen from 101 Cookbooks)</span></h3>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While you are prepping the rest of the ingredients bring a large pot of water to a boil.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the meantime, make the dressing by combining the vinegar, sugar, and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, for up to 1 minute, or until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and add the garlic, red pepper flakes or chile, and sesame oil. <br />Allow to cool, then add the lime zest and juice.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heat the sunflower oil in a large skillet and shallow fry the eggplant/aubergine in three batches, until deeply golden. Transfer to a large plate lined with paper towels and sprinkle with a generous pinch of salt.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cook the soba noodles in a large pot of boiling salted water, per package instructions, or until just tender. Drain and rinse under cold running water. Shake off as much of the excess water as possible, then leave to dry in the colander or on a tea towel. If you're not using the noodles soon, toss with a tiny splash of olive oil to prevent the noodles from sticking to each other.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a large mixing bowl toss the noodles the dressing, mango, tofu, eggplant, onions, and most of the herbs. You can now set this aside for an hour or two before serving topped with the remaining herbs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serves 4-6.</span></div>Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com0Berlin, Germany52.519171 13.406091252.209997 12.7743772 52.828345 14.037805200000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-10090352808063962512012-05-11T10:24:00.001-07:002012-05-11T10:24:14.070-07:00Alles Gute zum Geburtstag! Happy Birthday Gemma!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the most part, getting old sucks. Sure, we pretend that we are all getting wiser with age, and that with maturity comes fulfilment and clarity; but the reality is that there's a generation of younger, more technically abled & mercilessly intelligent children, nipping at our heels, ready to pounce & replace us as pack leaders the very second we show any sign of weakness. The weight of our fate at the hands of these usurpers is a terrible burden on the conscience; for this very reason we will do anything to forget our age when it's birthday time, the most common being getting drunk and burying our heads in food. On Wednesday night we did exactly that for Gemma's birthday, and it's a lucky thing all of her friends are brilliant in the kitchen, because it made for one hell of a potluck dinner (It was less of a "pot-luck", and more of a "pot-everything-is-gonna-be-fucking-awesome").<br /><br />Everything was vegetarian, so naturally a panoply of salads were on offer; including a Mediterranean alphabet pasta salad with sundried tomato, olive, basil & feta. A beetroot, apple, tomato & spinach salad, & a lentil, cherry tomato, red onion, feta, cumin, lemon & coriander salad which I bought along. <br /><br />Everything was of really high standard, but even so there were a couple of stand out dishes, including a sweet/savoury crumble (I'm not even sure what to call it), with an almost butter-biscuit like crust, caramelised red onion base & cherry tomatoes. Kind of like flammekueche I suppose. DAMN, it was good. The dish that bought be back three times was Ruben's chick-pea stew. I didn't catch the recipe, but I know it had a tomato base, and it was cooked for several hours until two whole aubergines disintegrated into the broth. The end result was a rich, thick, peppery melt in your mouth stew. I am going to chase the recipe for this and post it in the comments when I have it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If our future lives as humble slaves to indigo-children is a grim prospect, then at least we can all live in moderate ease that we have approximately another decade of these birthday feasts before they take over.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDNAcPCgisp8zhtpOCibP_le7Zkg-MsfXGN01THjqFxUeJzaZS-8wEFfiFvvGnP6Usk-R0xwRgExS5EWnTu4p7O1PBamNuau2FSKxfqvQh49Q4fHE8CF9wBNxtIXyp8_BgVbVy4TbZcc/s1600/P1000665+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDNAcPCgisp8zhtpOCibP_le7Zkg-MsfXGN01THjqFxUeJzaZS-8wEFfiFvvGnP6Usk-R0xwRgExS5EWnTu4p7O1PBamNuau2FSKxfqvQh49Q4fHE8CF9wBNxtIXyp8_BgVbVy4TbZcc/s640/P1000665+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2ZI2hm6f2oI3og84xrSHmH1X09IXEwa82-zAa8dXlF3MoHLhKW6NfudnTJD6zU5ynfSKRHgYQGEN1o0p1TFPEqGxfWZIF2WubOfPoj1cqdMBctbFWQchyphenhyphenmwqyEBVK9rTyYv53un7aXE/s1600/P1000668+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2ZI2hm6f2oI3og84xrSHmH1X09IXEwa82-zAa8dXlF3MoHLhKW6NfudnTJD6zU5ynfSKRHgYQGEN1o0p1TFPEqGxfWZIF2WubOfPoj1cqdMBctbFWQchyphenhyphenmwqyEBVK9rTyYv53un7aXE/s640/P1000668+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZcWj9vPodMGPOqQq8EGGjLhdiJ4r6SFrvSTiGx1GxQPF8-bI8Wal88yvXBjZFwZnrLOwNucJCGCJFzgn35NqxCfoWV80f0XF0ltoxRHOpYxCW31fi9qB5hgihd-Z1VqYPzAX__xOSKY/s1600/P1000666.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZcWj9vPodMGPOqQq8EGGjLhdiJ4r6SFrvSTiGx1GxQPF8-bI8Wal88yvXBjZFwZnrLOwNucJCGCJFzgn35NqxCfoWV80f0XF0ltoxRHOpYxCW31fi9qB5hgihd-Z1VqYPzAX__xOSKY/s640/P1000666.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjT03wFHBScf0BcYD2vrVGGLZdpXsBR1vfNSdesGrQWKhSQn32M7S48e6uvqBjfeKi_fjfZz3N356HFNqMKksFDDWnKAuNVSSYq27ZCiTb6GN0uIvLRX74d6gvsIrDvvAP_lQDjxnccCk/s1600/P1000671+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjT03wFHBScf0BcYD2vrVGGLZdpXsBR1vfNSdesGrQWKhSQn32M7S48e6uvqBjfeKi_fjfZz3N356HFNqMKksFDDWnKAuNVSSYq27ZCiTb6GN0uIvLRX74d6gvsIrDvvAP_lQDjxnccCk/s640/P1000671+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgEdM8tr9vYzKPempHcjbS_z6fPAChkq6-itBVcD0Yz4TEJv0V_yyszTBkwLIzBfxR-Hp64-g01aDoPxPihennzqzpFrNeWpawsZNdSRg-J5-8lyuv4a6wTs2FnA_2vzAQfopqbUYpaE/s1600/P1000667+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgEdM8tr9vYzKPempHcjbS_z6fPAChkq6-itBVcD0Yz4TEJv0V_yyszTBkwLIzBfxR-Hp64-g01aDoPxPihennzqzpFrNeWpawsZNdSRg-J5-8lyuv4a6wTs2FnA_2vzAQfopqbUYpaE/s640/P1000667+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4a1u0qbHJNx8IwOzWyATywyUznGCVjIpBLvzfLu6lsJ0kL6zrEnt2H5_LrP1BxFlq7SDv1S-x4OyMqxDIAYI9HlyNq1ssT1O6FCGoUe4L39OKd5SpZ3R7J3wTYCmGRh7unXNfz-zvTA/s1600/P1000672+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4a1u0qbHJNx8IwOzWyATywyUznGCVjIpBLvzfLu6lsJ0kL6zrEnt2H5_LrP1BxFlq7SDv1S-x4OyMqxDIAYI9HlyNq1ssT1O6FCGoUe4L39OKd5SpZ3R7J3wTYCmGRh7unXNfz-zvTA/s640/P1000672+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnNDRQBMzHrnubNREMt7R9CZMVIOuI5uIk8P1cdokPShnYw3bP6BzLEfVXBFMMDTNZ4J2T_G8OIbZluuVj5_8XqiyVZmQdOyCwrwHOja2nC6eQD_ymltasHD1POAVetdhPwNyFNq9NOU/s1600/P1000675+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnNDRQBMzHrnubNREMt7R9CZMVIOuI5uIk8P1cdokPShnYw3bP6BzLEfVXBFMMDTNZ4J2T_G8OIbZluuVj5_8XqiyVZmQdOyCwrwHOja2nC6eQD_ymltasHD1POAVetdhPwNyFNq9NOU/s640/P1000675+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Feta, Lentil & Coriander Salad</span></h3>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ingredients:</span></h4>
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">200g feta cheese, cut into chunks<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">250g green or black lentils (or puy lentils)<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">200g cherry tomatoes, halved<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 red onion, halved and sliced<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 garlic clove, crushed<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 lemon, juiced<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 large handful of coriander leaves</span></li>
</ul>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Method:</span></h4>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Simmer the lentils for 20 minutes until tender.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Drain and dress with 3 tbsp olive oil, the lemon juice and garlic while still warm.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cool to room temperature then pile into a large serving dish and stir through the rest of the ingredients.</span></li>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></ul>
<br />
</div>Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com0Berlin, Germany52.519171 13.406091252.209997 12.7743772 52.828345 14.037805200000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-4587225190320862222012-05-08T11:05:00.000-07:002012-05-08T11:05:19.432-07:00Super Verdant Sopa de Verduras<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This little dish has been a favourite of mine for awhile now, I always make it when I feel poorly or, like my body is screaming for vitamins, it's just <i>so damned fresh. </i>If you're one of those people who doesn't like coriander, I pity you FOOL (sorry mum), because it's a key flavour here. I acquired this recipe from Natalia Escobar, a friend of my flatmate who stayed with us for a week in London. She is from Bogota, and one sunny afternoon I had the pleasure of trying this Columbian soup with her for the first time. It uses two jacket potatoes (or a handful of baby new potatoes), spinach, brocolli (if in season), coriander, lemon or lime, onion, salt, pepper, paprika, cumin & avocado.<br /><br />Whenever I describe this soup, nearly every person turns their noses up when I mention adding avocado; "Avocado? In a soup? Really!?". Yes, really. Dick. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my version, I've started using lime instead of lemon (who in their right mind choses lemon when you can have LIME?) and adding bean sprouts as well, which with the coriander and lime, makes the dish start to feel like it's in Vietnamese territory.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the first time I've cooked something in my new kitchen in Kreuzberg, and despite the fact I REALLY fucking miss having a gas hob, the soup eventually turned out perfect as it always does. So thanks Natalia!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0WeJCyJfZcDCE259PrXKbIgUXqw6WDfOTuaTQGIEYDHkaAkf1HWeCQWQhMyvXF7NIgQfys0eR2SYpeDUXoGR9-MmbzII3FIevWBK5FwJkSy6xTKP_8l3FDfUCbIcP5J8RLUxz5ifwb0/s1600/P1000648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0WeJCyJfZcDCE259PrXKbIgUXqw6WDfOTuaTQGIEYDHkaAkf1HWeCQWQhMyvXF7NIgQfys0eR2SYpeDUXoGR9-MmbzII3FIevWBK5FwJkSy6xTKP_8l3FDfUCbIcP5J8RLUxz5ifwb0/s640/P1000648.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwEiThhx2NsHBa2vDa7jsWzuBWlfsAsymaeA4s5CoNf8UNSOo_cjEdMLXR8k8VY6ONc2TKUORzYE0Ipcc4cSP9nVvFsFaLHlI2DUo9_QGHU1bZQzdlU_CyExRk4RtOdnttjz9ot7pc1No/s1600/P1000657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwEiThhx2NsHBa2vDa7jsWzuBWlfsAsymaeA4s5CoNf8UNSOo_cjEdMLXR8k8VY6ONc2TKUORzYE0Ipcc4cSP9nVvFsFaLHlI2DUo9_QGHU1bZQzdlU_CyExRk4RtOdnttjz9ot7pc1No/s640/P1000657.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KOtJRuHp4f0hFAFc_Wkf1vwvwWArd-hSS9er51Vy9EXimDCyKdfxIecKjC8Hc_6oNQz1TOvdYjrOToy2_SqIhO3w8tRdxuhNCl87XLf4HW_7LH_tGkssNEP6yuxMKic-dGltsoVkfFs/s1600/P1000658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KOtJRuHp4f0hFAFc_Wkf1vwvwWArd-hSS9er51Vy9EXimDCyKdfxIecKjC8Hc_6oNQz1TOvdYjrOToy2_SqIhO3w8tRdxuhNCl87XLf4HW_7LH_tGkssNEP6yuxMKic-dGltsoVkfFs/s640/P1000658.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00bbMhwdXblzvdpdJeMztikEOCkWHGbtvGvCuXOe_JHcWksXoiPad-2gWQOwAHqNTQ6RfdOI6C50avtxVKPcnFSbh4m6nC4AugyKP2QbZLdL6W1uBjquRkbq2vVfJRl3W6Wv87hQslXk/s1600/P1000663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00bbMhwdXblzvdpdJeMztikEOCkWHGbtvGvCuXOe_JHcWksXoiPad-2gWQOwAHqNTQ6RfdOI6C50avtxVKPcnFSbh4m6nC4AugyKP2QbZLdL6W1uBjquRkbq2vVfJRl3W6Wv87hQslXk/s640/P1000663.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8_ZNTkoTbQLSzcYjUBMkeJlZhKe4FxtEvqrFcTaK-9IxwjirIcTyYZYrHCiNc2uYJnllpTTXVXnDOYlFtd9f9lrfxP9w5XqIaPJqSttHKeWxnFhcWTZ0no5CtCZjxmNcEovGMGTsQ-k/s1600/P1000664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8_ZNTkoTbQLSzcYjUBMkeJlZhKe4FxtEvqrFcTaK-9IxwjirIcTyYZYrHCiNc2uYJnllpTTXVXnDOYlFtd9f9lrfxP9w5XqIaPJqSttHKeWxnFhcWTZ0no5CtCZjxmNcEovGMGTsQ-k/s640/P1000664.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com0Wrangelstrasse52.519171 13.406091252.209997 12.7743772 52.828345 14.037805200000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-92023924289792552762012-05-07T14:57:00.000-07:002012-05-07T15:01:36.384-07:00Alles klar in Berlin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All my life in the last week has consisted of wandering, wonderment, loneliness, self assuredness, surprise, intrigue, alienation, miscommunication, my heartbeat.<br /></span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/AYv3TqwCle4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br />Becoming familiar with new territory comes faster to some than others, but I've wasted no time trying to the crux of Berlin. On Sunday I went to one the city's largest (if not THE largest) fleamarket in Mauerpark, north Berlin. It was a huge breath of fresh air after experiencing the absolute commodification of anything vaguely antique or second hand in London. Generally, these flea markets have far less mediation & sorting from their stand holders than in many places, which means there are bargains for those who are looking with the right set of eyes!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I spent the day processing all of the visual input, enjoying people watching & searching for my own little trinkets to take home. Of course this post wouldn't be going anywhere without me consuming some form of food, and I have to say I had one of the best burgers of my life (and perhaps this was aided by the fact that it was only €3.50) made by Sun Day burgers.<br />Their burgers are completely vegan, and packed full of healthy ingredients & mouth watering flavours. It's basically a sunflower seed bun filled with fried tofu marinated in ginger & soy sauce, lettuce, capsicum, tomato, beetroot, fried onions, fresh coriander, alfalfa sprouts & sauced up on chipotle chilli chutney (or there is the option of peanut sauce or mango chutney as well). <br /><br />I asked the the lovely staff if I could take a photo for my food blog, I sensed a little disappointment when the lady serving asked if I was a vegan and I said no, but she kindly said I could have a job as soon as I become vegetarian. I was flattered, & even though I am not a huge meat eater (ignore the last post) & do enjoy vegetarian food a lot, I don't think I would ever want to be totally vegetarian, I just believe in meat in moderation. <br /><br />The bad news is that means I will never be employed by Sun Day Burger, but the good news is that they also have a shop in Kreuzberg at EisenBahn Strasse 42/43, Kreuzberg (at Gorlitzer Bahnhof), so I can eat there till my heart is content.</span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfn4aygF5EbTsHrQg_3MbxI2uqQpGvy5qLoKhkoQwcym9BNbfqGLv4dlyuoNe5qadK-uVgfT8d4NhJy4_RexGSX3pxC7pTbZrFs45Ez-_BauBB9rB4X3VtKEdtWBAYNwnkZga3FslAzbE/s1600/P1000610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfn4aygF5EbTsHrQg_3MbxI2uqQpGvy5qLoKhkoQwcym9BNbfqGLv4dlyuoNe5qadK-uVgfT8d4NhJy4_RexGSX3pxC7pTbZrFs45Ez-_BauBB9rB4X3VtKEdtWBAYNwnkZga3FslAzbE/s640/P1000610.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Sun Day burger</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXR6GjMKToh9dlULQLyjcMpvJm8O7b0cdN-f576hdxaDz3Z5g0FnjgTC4QHuUmCCSimZ97rxy5roq1bFLI0LuHp2B7_5HYsuz5jLEX6qBXk65he1D-2AfBcd9JO7BZdtli6ewG8sAopDY/s1600/P1000612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXR6GjMKToh9dlULQLyjcMpvJm8O7b0cdN-f576hdxaDz3Z5g0FnjgTC4QHuUmCCSimZ97rxy5roq1bFLI0LuHp2B7_5HYsuz5jLEX6qBXk65he1D-2AfBcd9JO7BZdtli6ewG8sAopDY/s640/P1000612.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sun Day Burger stand with suspicious customer</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8FE2qxqz_MtOO_xVwathTN4qrwqkSAlidWOfqOT5KCzGcdSmzDZeoGae_TRHdNIL2K79eWPgDuCJ1_HDZc2F4Tsq2u16ctWxnQnIvDn6a-Q0dt537nKqRW9tqZfxY19mDqi6RtA2GtTI/s1600/P1000613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8FE2qxqz_MtOO_xVwathTN4qrwqkSAlidWOfqOT5KCzGcdSmzDZeoGae_TRHdNIL2K79eWPgDuCJ1_HDZc2F4Tsq2u16ctWxnQnIvDn6a-Q0dt537nKqRW9tqZfxY19mDqi6RtA2GtTI/s640/P1000613.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy burger makers, no dead animals here!</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZILk6yj1tZYWY9X-yMYheHwFfHfpDQOfw7NHMibutBtnZnJP9X70m5gfeXYz6C0_lA7a_K4L09vib2Z7OX9Z0kBXRxEX9tUCPCeYAYEyf3CFDu9wLcToJ9D_aGWK9wUOE4df7NSkrP0/s1600/P1000630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZILk6yj1tZYWY9X-yMYheHwFfHfpDQOfw7NHMibutBtnZnJP9X70m5gfeXYz6C0_lA7a_K4L09vib2Z7OX9Z0kBXRxEX9tUCPCeYAYEyf3CFDu9wLcToJ9D_aGWK9wUOE4df7NSkrP0/s640/P1000630.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ohh, lots of dead animals here...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvE8sJyALW56jsatGzHC_ri0v0osjidqAmAlKjxRi80JeVvegpGT6mPnIbHvekio0sDVkcivl2u9VsiAIvqiT4Y_ZTJ1nphWJd20k-oTdQ4gKT-sVyU0eXVkywK1THku6xlGhyphenhyphenp1qlMQ/s1600/P1000615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvE8sJyALW56jsatGzHC_ri0v0osjidqAmAlKjxRi80JeVvegpGT6mPnIbHvekio0sDVkcivl2u9VsiAIvqiT4Y_ZTJ1nphWJd20k-oTdQ4gKT-sVyU0eXVkywK1THku6xlGhyphenhyphenp1qlMQ/s640/P1000615.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQt6n10ws7i1rwYI9N8JN-PIgb3q-xyLZNRpYvc3isJS3x0rkTRaxb3FjYCURoDHom1wwvJVbI2ytJ6_k0cfRu0XMCVlQdIJeOwDW2VmIy_Gd2hf40AIUrfN38_IPqYg_C0t_WgRxE4U/s1600/P1000616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQt6n10ws7i1rwYI9N8JN-PIgb3q-xyLZNRpYvc3isJS3x0rkTRaxb3FjYCURoDHom1wwvJVbI2ytJ6_k0cfRu0XMCVlQdIJeOwDW2VmIy_Gd2hf40AIUrfN38_IPqYg_C0t_WgRxE4U/s640/P1000616.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4CrWDoCe_Ccb3sPBC3haAB3LiyDPrTYyU9q85qCYuuNPaOIsGQJaTkvttgInv6OvzKjXIJF0D7jw1K2yeCy14GnGt-8S_vKAUVwcKuf3vIXeHKLj5bLlH4nkTrvqSg2xa2sTi1x9qQU/s1600/P1000618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4CrWDoCe_Ccb3sPBC3haAB3LiyDPrTYyU9q85qCYuuNPaOIsGQJaTkvttgInv6OvzKjXIJF0D7jw1K2yeCy14GnGt-8S_vKAUVwcKuf3vIXeHKLj5bLlH4nkTrvqSg2xa2sTi1x9qQU/s640/P1000618.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBquD9FtnUe6inPoA3RAg2be9PVKwuh7d10SDdMHO3Kjb-nYCXJ0CVRMmCCgKCSBTWzjVYnA2UajQTl8FyUyNXj7WqI1j4ZQ09jx0t2NEEzVYRHRU4hYP57OOBzx8EppMn6Wtf8KwQG4/s1600/P1000621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBquD9FtnUe6inPoA3RAg2be9PVKwuh7d10SDdMHO3Kjb-nYCXJ0CVRMmCCgKCSBTWzjVYnA2UajQTl8FyUyNXj7WqI1j4ZQ09jx0t2NEEzVYRHRU4hYP57OOBzx8EppMn6Wtf8KwQG4/s640/P1000621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv494NxfVdzMXCQVqXetCAOQm0ObcSiPdP3KEOwjNN3h5XinVxmCAR3Drl7HSXCHMsUJ46XjW3C569V5d6m4yy4YbIGUFR7QARO5gY-F2bXeGkaWuxfC4FIihoLh7-NduvsjIEF4WkCQ/s1600/P1000624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv494NxfVdzMXCQVqXetCAOQm0ObcSiPdP3KEOwjNN3h5XinVxmCAR3Drl7HSXCHMsUJ46XjW3C569V5d6m4yy4YbIGUFR7QARO5gY-F2bXeGkaWuxfC4FIihoLh7-NduvsjIEF4WkCQ/s640/P1000624.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGb_LxX2hoZtimk5lsW20s5o4km55U8ltxteONArkas34rEHz1aR3ydbYLO9iWmgC_xvnibwY7AdCE1LRotVT8EnZ7SRpQI0umhgIXeL_474OGqpo5fO-Dy7umu_pgdzndPnmK0Isggo/s1600/P1000625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGb_LxX2hoZtimk5lsW20s5o4km55U8ltxteONArkas34rEHz1aR3ydbYLO9iWmgC_xvnibwY7AdCE1LRotVT8EnZ7SRpQI0umhgIXeL_474OGqpo5fO-Dy7umu_pgdzndPnmK0Isggo/s640/P1000625.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAZ6LZbPnXDr9YPUauGCp01tsN4XiTZCwlUbZCRP1SooleaPOJUKrvsiGbKDgcucmkcQ4ypfxEeAAG_cit2nDxOzig9rLAwN1NNfL-C2QrFbXm_0LMnX7YjdxHJ-bVTWjojswY3pRHGo/s1600/P1000626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAZ6LZbPnXDr9YPUauGCp01tsN4XiTZCwlUbZCRP1SooleaPOJUKrvsiGbKDgcucmkcQ4ypfxEeAAG_cit2nDxOzig9rLAwN1NNfL-C2QrFbXm_0LMnX7YjdxHJ-bVTWjojswY3pRHGo/s640/P1000626.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpo7FqAs4grSjp9z27YuHKUa-HJPjfhCNPfxmdaUEXwkPtlIrX_ohN9g9LuCTZkQlcGfgf4cUbaps5nMAf9Blgo_xudClgqMCCAZHD6twFB4_nmFjn60yO_6ZywwvpHZgs-P65p3j7jLI/s640/P1000628.JPG" width="640" /><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next off was Bonanza Coffee Heroes at Oderberger Strasse 35, Prenzlauer Berg. These guys do seriously good coffee, their latte is so smooth it's like supping on a soft, milky cloud; I doubt breast feeding is even this good....probably... I followed up with a Flat White which had a little more punch, it kind of gave me that "fuck yeah, COFFEE" feeling that I was after. I won't waste words trying to pretend I'm an expert at coffee characteristics, but these guys are roasting their own beans and the mere 3 metres that they have to travel from the roaster must make a shit load of difference, because this is some of the best coffee I've ever had.</span></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ujmvtLErsEhC7oKXal65DipGFRHAqtsE-yBsaUBZjUOqnNUxt-3EjCnGHO9yhVkDN0U5aXU0kdewR7P1BPjG4tmLzU5YMvoL1NovZa4AP5GIV_nStSkURMM78tS_XWwVnLSQuxSqOTQ/s1600/P1000636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ujmvtLErsEhC7oKXal65DipGFRHAqtsE-yBsaUBZjUOqnNUxt-3EjCnGHO9yhVkDN0U5aXU0kdewR7P1BPjG4tmLzU5YMvoL1NovZa4AP5GIV_nStSkURMM78tS_XWwVnLSQuxSqOTQ/s640/P1000636.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZILk6yj1tZYWY9X-yMYheHwFfHfpDQOfw7NHMibutBtnZnJP9X70m5gfeXYz6C0_lA7a_K4L09vib2Z7OX9Z0kBXRxEX9tUCPCeYAYEyf3CFDu9wLcToJ9D_aGWK9wUOE4df7NSkrP0/s1600/P1000630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dRA_OY03nd3XKjfynZ-HKNzHu17x0YZv0V0jnKoZs_zqoaiw8lJQv84bNDWWhWrzjR7e5X2OxMQv7A67U4EzbvI3MOSoosQXbAEzxUA2CyPAIXvwhw5niTQRIgPbC9C_0SeWjpH3BoE/s1600/P1000635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dRA_OY03nd3XKjfynZ-HKNzHu17x0YZv0V0jnKoZs_zqoaiw8lJQv84bNDWWhWrzjR7e5X2OxMQv7A67U4EzbvI3MOSoosQXbAEzxUA2CyPAIXvwhw5niTQRIgPbC9C_0SeWjpH3BoE/s640/P1000635.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4if1zVAq1I-eXDPIK6IsrQJmK7BcfuuRSFve3GcBbso6giOvJfK-QZYsXk7U0ocAa5ToVr_225XybOlAEtWCQ2KUCom_Usy2hMi9OWgv8j2fvKJb-xPO4-Fg64wFumiyat15bDEdjB0/s1600/P1000642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4if1zVAq1I-eXDPIK6IsrQJmK7BcfuuRSFve3GcBbso6giOvJfK-QZYsXk7U0ocAa5ToVr_225XybOlAEtWCQ2KUCom_Usy2hMi9OWgv8j2fvKJb-xPO4-Fg64wFumiyat15bDEdjB0/s640/P1000642.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-71558808137913266942012-05-07T13:28:00.001-07:002012-05-11T07:51:05.057-07:00Dylan's "Goodbye London: Farewellathon"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The time had come to leave the capital of capital cities. As I've made clear in earlier blog posts, I have really mixed feelings about London. In hindsight, it's so fantastic, but it's also extremely taxing. As I write this posthumously from my new home in Berlin, I am beginning to see London through rose-tinted spectacles, but equally, I am actually becoming acutely aware of the privileges of London, a lot of which I had mistaken as the uniform fabric of large European capital cities; not so!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was well aware of the cultural wealth of the city, in institutional terms. The Victoria & Albert Museum, The Natural History Museum, The Science Museum, The British Museum, The BFI, The Tate Modern/Britain, The National (Portrait) Gallery, The Saatchi Gallery, The Wellcome Collection...these are just SOME of the MAJOR players, not to mention any medium or small scale venues. It's actually quite mind boggling how much opportunity is at the fingertips of your average Londoner, and now I'm starting to realise it was the same with ingredients. I really took it for granted that my local off license had any variation of tinned bean, dried lentil, Chinese noodle, or Indian spice, not to mention the number of African vegetables that I don't see anymore (oh plantain, oh puna yam, where are you old friends!?).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't get me wrong, of course I knew that London has a unique level of multiculturalism, but perhaps because it's so commonplace & readily available, it ceases to amaze a new migrant eventually. I remember when I first arrived, that first walk through the corner shop was so extremely exciting; so many food products I'd never seen before, some raw, others already packaged & ready for consumption! Subconsciously, I was well aware that I was going to be leaving behind a great deal of convenience, which is why for my leaving party I was determined to put in some fucking effort & try make some dishes that I've never done before.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The star of the show was inspired shortly after going to <a href="http://www.pittcue.co.uk/welcome.html">Pitt Cue Co.</a> in Soho, which is basically providing down home American style cookin' (BBQ pulled pork, hot wings, pickled slaw, burnt ends and things of that nature). I decided to give pulled pork a go because it's so soft & delectable & I could make it in abundance for all of the guests. I did a dry rub with paprika, garlic powder, dry mustard, brown sugar & course salt - then refrigerated the meat overnight. In the morning, BAM, into the oven for 6hrs. Then some orgasmic BBQ sauce made from cider vinegar, yellow mustard, ketchup, brown sugar, garlic, cayenne pepper & black pepper. It was like a damned good ketchup on crack; I love vinegary things and this just made my taste buds dance for mercy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then we had a couple of salads which really complimented the salty vinegary meat well. There was strawberry & baby spinach salad with white wine vinegar, vege oil, paprika, sesame & poppy seed dressing. For the next salad we had fried plantain & watercress salad with a basic balsamic & oil dressing. Basic snacky tricks were catered for by some home made salsa & salted corn chips, boiled artichokes with a home made mayonnaise, some sweet potato chips, and pita bread pizzas which disappeared incredibly fast. A few of the favourite toppings were asparagus & spinach with blue cheese on a tomato base, and classic italian-esque numbers like baby tomato, brie with olive oil, oregano & fresh basil, guests were like birds of prey eyeing up these pizzas as they arrived.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As per usual, the task of hosting a party got the better of me, and I only managed to get a few rudimentary photos, but it serves as a reminder that it actually happened (even if the event itself lives on as being more legendary in my mind!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOH53LSCRMBCMiWHTTu1jNxBysSzEwPIzkmjFV2jSZeUkSYGGbjLCrffrct6SfPEg1uSQrmnZ-HO9cjfiYhDA17aVgvkJKSk7t4co4ftnfBLkrbqXc1AIsPsm9CTtSTJoj0NxoxJyeMys/s1600/P1000567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOH53LSCRMBCMiWHTTu1jNxBysSzEwPIzkmjFV2jSZeUkSYGGbjLCrffrct6SfPEg1uSQrmnZ-HO9cjfiYhDA17aVgvkJKSk7t4co4ftnfBLkrbqXc1AIsPsm9CTtSTJoj0NxoxJyeMys/s640/P1000567.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dem porks after 6hrs of roasting in their own juices.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0sTwENAFUJ7NtU3cxFKhnrexTn7njIhzF6A_2wjZ1tXgjgd-sxAhjepUpq94AO4gVs4zvvYrojGkzq_5f7Q5-0DDNWJ3fDUMRtNxZ-449tbp5_5CZLdt-y2hWWqOLdZY6uxBzWx68s8/s1600/P1000568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0sTwENAFUJ7NtU3cxFKhnrexTn7njIhzF6A_2wjZ1tXgjgd-sxAhjepUpq94AO4gVs4zvvYrojGkzq_5f7Q5-0DDNWJ3fDUMRtNxZ-449tbp5_5CZLdt-y2hWWqOLdZY6uxBzWx68s8/s640/P1000568.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pulling that pork to shreds!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxXCnUeQUxpecfuc1MRUU6A40h10Z1_stdiwdiZNDUjafMQn32hzudj59lXS-gT7qv6ddzN-oumV1UwG8fFMRqUfIeiosZMg_SyuZY3qHAY7jnPSepQBnWRv2adZ3nAGOT4cTAObUNEo/s1600/P1000569.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxXCnUeQUxpecfuc1MRUU6A40h10Z1_stdiwdiZNDUjafMQn32hzudj59lXS-gT7qv6ddzN-oumV1UwG8fFMRqUfIeiosZMg_SyuZY3qHAY7jnPSepQBnWRv2adZ3nAGOT4cTAObUNEo/s640/P1000569.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Captain Pork Puller & his table of salads</span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJvXY4YbHmMpvADhCG_U_g0_Hmz0W3oTgFMUB87gvaWHviEOSuM-aR_ws3LN3jyeCt5OCkbrs6M3JgDdkh3uLYaPboqxau57VYik4ExAGKvor2Dnfc1pAvF487uC9jKG4O0saTVUowr0/s1600/P1000574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJvXY4YbHmMpvADhCG_U_g0_Hmz0W3oTgFMUB87gvaWHviEOSuM-aR_ws3LN3jyeCt5OCkbrs6M3JgDdkh3uLYaPboqxau57VYik4ExAGKvor2Dnfc1pAvF487uC9jKG4O0saTVUowr0/s1600/P1000574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJvXY4YbHmMpvADhCG_U_g0_Hmz0W3oTgFMUB87gvaWHviEOSuM-aR_ws3LN3jyeCt5OCkbrs6M3JgDdkh3uLYaPboqxau57VYik4ExAGKvor2Dnfc1pAvF487uC9jKG4O0saTVUowr0/s640/P1000574.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boiled artichokes, home made mayonnaisse, fried plantains, sweet potato chips, & pita pizzas.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtOoECR9MpXYlzpEDaurPUqhzBROpWOTL-ozAM9UWKP7g0QYO3yx8eXsiSh47QBiVYVzJThUQYlWz4B6z39DUiraeQhSCmRFdJXzxI6x55XKANdYktba9X5Udy6WNj6BV0-rnpGq2eq8/s1600/P1000576.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtOoECR9MpXYlzpEDaurPUqhzBROpWOTL-ozAM9UWKP7g0QYO3yx8eXsiSh47QBiVYVzJThUQYlWz4B6z39DUiraeQhSCmRFdJXzxI6x55XKANdYktba9X5Udy6WNj6BV0-rnpGq2eq8/s640/P1000576.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Home made salsa & other salady-goodness.</span><br />
<br />
<img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhheCjT5D5tJvZWJ_QyCizkNngQO2XBY0agkU_boNM4e_WuINP0nXpHEofdt6YNx7HS_XOgcurX0SsqxMRmukr9NzJU7cfQjsSbqWodzqoKet4HwgWG39QPsWYpP_sV6AD_0BoJIEjvVW0/s640/P1000577.JPG" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vlada, getting a little excited by the tray of pulled pork...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzWiVUQ_yn8fcJ2hziyNeUYTgmdVlFVbRpEqJtCWuyWdRpw73812Z65PqE9hznEgj7mNZK2uyx1hBfzFnJftUxXCmb2oJy1krhrb3J0b2Weolhyv_4BF66DYb1QnfYto0rxLOYN6t54o/s1600/P1000577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzWiVUQ_yn8fcJ2hziyNeUYTgmdVlFVbRpEqJtCWuyWdRpw73812Z65PqE9hznEgj7mNZK2uyx1hBfzFnJftUxXCmb2oJy1krhrb3J0b2Weolhyv_4BF66DYb1QnfYto0rxLOYN6t54o/s640/P1000577.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The morning after the morning after spelled the end of my London chapter, some goodbye crepes in the morning, whose weeping faces bid a citrus soaked farewell to both me and themselves simultaneously as they hastily met my digestive tracts. <br /><br />It's a seriously weird feeling to leave a city by necessity instead of choice, it only adds to the complex panorama of emotions I experience when confronting this ancient, monolithic city. I'm eternally happy for the people I've met through living there, the friendships I've forged & the temporary chances with acquaintances, who will pass into dust & obscurity. I raise a glass for the present & future adventures; I have a feeling there are many more to come :)</span></div>
</div>Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-65551006762711349602012-05-03T17:03:00.002-07:002012-05-03T17:41:58.716-07:00What's a "squiche"?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This wasn't exactly the most successful encounter I've had in the kitchen, but it really was a learning curve. Basically, I was copying a recipe for vegetarian quiche, served in a roasted squash (hence squash + quiche = squiche!) which I'd found on <a href="http://aroundbritainwithapaunch.blogspot.de/2011/12/squash-quiche-squiche.html">Around Britain With a Paunch</a> This blog is by a mysterious food wizard called Jonathan. I don't know a lot about him other than he seems to travel a lot, mostly to really beautiful parts of the English countryside, and he has a partner or fiance or wife or imaginary friend called Cowie. Also, if this guy is ANYTHING other than a professional chef, then I'm going to just shoot myself in the face & call it a day, as his dishes are AMAZING.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I knew I was out of my depth when the first line of his instructions said "so mix a quiche as you normally would", and I'm thinking "I've never even made a quiche before, let alone a squiche :( </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ingredients were really great (wild mushrooms, garlic, capsicum, toasted pine nuts) but basically, all of the things that went wrong with my attempt at the dish were.</span><br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My butternut squashes weren't big enough to carry the quantity of quiche liquid as "bowls".</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pretty sure I lost a lot of the wild mushroom flavour by trying to rehydrate them in water.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The garlic didn't absorb into the squash enough, it lacked any strong flavour (I would make garlic butter next time, instead of loose garlic cloves.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I discovered I don't like the taste of tarragon, it's going with fennel onto the "don't like list"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I took it out of the oven too early, the squashes hadn't gotten to that super soft stage yet & their skin wasn't puckering (maybe par boiling them would've helped?)</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In any case, it was still a nice dish, & only really suffered from my execution. The saving grace was a little contrasting salad of cucumber, radish, red onion, mint & feta. I don't know if it was the right kind of accompaniment for this, but I enjoyed it & it was a hit with the guests.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytEqIjAfuWwEwhUop1IGtsnmXtNO3-CazLNvMd7kKWHd869iOufD9SC2JUY7apxIzkiN43vyAme0GHYGKYfoUL4FBErbIJh1FNendEMUKGj-Z5iIACiMv-bqj2jg2r3_yLC1X_i8UzPA/s1600/P1000471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytEqIjAfuWwEwhUop1IGtsnmXtNO3-CazLNvMd7kKWHd869iOufD9SC2JUY7apxIzkiN43vyAme0GHYGKYfoUL4FBErbIJh1FNendEMUKGj-Z5iIACiMv-bqj2jg2r3_yLC1X_i8UzPA/s640/P1000471.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-53079999057567856392012-05-03T16:20:00.000-07:002012-05-03T16:26:05.269-07:00The Deptford Project<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">London truly is the city of plurality. Never have I experienced a city so vast yet condensed, complicated & utterly contrary. It gives with one hand, and it takes with the other. It's a place of extremes, where the difference between the haves and the have-nots, is almost unbearable to think of. It has a wildly fascinating history, & it's sheer scale & ability to reinvent itself is enough to keep a mind busy for years. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had the fortune and misfortune of living and dying in London for two years, and one of the things that became obvious to me all to late, was that the real London is now in the South East. This is where the level headed people, the young, inspired, hardworking creative people with bright ideas are really making things happen. Away from the self-aggrandizing, "doing little / talking a lot" crowds of Dalston/Shoreditch, is a testimony to this </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">generation of doers/thinkers, in the form of Deptford's Carriage Cafe. When I was brought here for lunch by some friends living in Brockley, I realised this was the first time in ages I had been somewhere that had an air of authenticity about it. The staff were friendly, and probably because the success of their cafe is due to its actual merit, and not just because it had been turned into a bandwagon for trenders to jump on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Carriage Cafe is a superbly designed space (and this place makes great use of it), a gutted & refurbished train carriage with an outdoor elevated deck attached, seems like a great concept for a cafe, and it is. It offers great protection from the elements, but is also flooded by sunshine when it's there....you know....kind of like a train would.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The menu offers up hearty portions of vegetarian pies, frittatas, quiche, baked sweet potatoes all with a variety green salads on the side, and all for a good price. Every time I look back at these photos, I have a little sigh & wish I was eating there again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKdv0Oh1-_tPuBGO06-k76zr17ELxfEQKyIsGi8NRwbfXLWnqGamg2CgCs6EYcgNVQRh9O9XMwsmfran1ebcjwd62Uzkv1mAhlE8s43h5_kdjZNTsDQrfMNBgVaF84ZURZwucM7_ynUg/s1600/P1000496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKdv0Oh1-_tPuBGO06-k76zr17ELxfEQKyIsGi8NRwbfXLWnqGamg2CgCs6EYcgNVQRh9O9XMwsmfran1ebcjwd62Uzkv1mAhlE8s43h5_kdjZNTsDQrfMNBgVaF84ZURZwucM7_ynUg/s640/P1000496.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwySX1TArGLtIG5pKb5bA4xEcNJBKb2Ywln9J3GpgE2zekTjMiTZs_SQb21utcE4DJOczXJx3nD6R7lAnzfzxqb33o65I40aS8P9Eu8_sXHsnwjL5y6XUOLsN1gYykeN3990Um56pY-XY/s1600/P1000497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwySX1TArGLtIG5pKb5bA4xEcNJBKb2Ywln9J3GpgE2zekTjMiTZs_SQb21utcE4DJOczXJx3nD6R7lAnzfzxqb33o65I40aS8P9Eu8_sXHsnwjL5y6XUOLsN1gYykeN3990Um56pY-XY/s640/P1000497.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2DEyedF88gJFudmE7KvMYDGQEBGatLgel4NfXcospLnSdVEZCI5RsVKPlCpTVlCzDGkLNbZkR9tQVYh1TSNts-CNphd4TfVX2mf1G8WRYOzpBcJXh4J5qaaFNQdHz79Ie-WFAav8id4/s1600/P1000500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2DEyedF88gJFudmE7KvMYDGQEBGatLgel4NfXcospLnSdVEZCI5RsVKPlCpTVlCzDGkLNbZkR9tQVYh1TSNts-CNphd4TfVX2mf1G8WRYOzpBcJXh4J5qaaFNQdHz79Ie-WFAav8id4/s640/P1000500.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvZMhAEHufCACqp70tFimbfxDZBtkxrISr7aat7CmeSKZshjuck_Q9OjA_UKUE4G2_tVz1zLi2LBOWt6WJevryoUS8MMfe9fpYAUpGuuIinTNH5P4GnvsO6jLkPkBYQpjfrzEXOARdKk/s1600/P1000501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvZMhAEHufCACqp70tFimbfxDZBtkxrISr7aat7CmeSKZshjuck_Q9OjA_UKUE4G2_tVz1zLi2LBOWt6WJevryoUS8MMfe9fpYAUpGuuIinTNH5P4GnvsO6jLkPkBYQpjfrzEXOARdKk/s640/P1000501.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2opyD1x8s4NwJ7d96fULVqTy_4pjurcB0EjBHVbxM4oOh8bLz7Mfq4rVe37JV9CQvRK9mkxcOFa4-5Jcd7VrhdoWosLgL_gc1tPwZLDf9rqld6mS4Oo-RmtoIII-k_7_H1i9IzQiOW0/s1600/P1000503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2opyD1x8s4NwJ7d96fULVqTy_4pjurcB0EjBHVbxM4oOh8bLz7Mfq4rVe37JV9CQvRK9mkxcOFa4-5Jcd7VrhdoWosLgL_gc1tPwZLDf9rqld6mS4Oo-RmtoIII-k_7_H1i9IzQiOW0/s640/P1000503.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQV4Azw2ebcLeRid8MKd_bM78fpdCcVnFulmsVgYkhmgQyG5nd0hFToUAsXzyhn_pHb9l9TlMotSKl4PQ-lTPGqCcS7-t-VeXhcUeCNGjq87OOFzo-nHimtDOE3I94gU0cKf2AVcrWuRY/s1600/P1000505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQV4Azw2ebcLeRid8MKd_bM78fpdCcVnFulmsVgYkhmgQyG5nd0hFToUAsXzyhn_pHb9l9TlMotSKl4PQ-lTPGqCcS7-t-VeXhcUeCNGjq87OOFzo-nHimtDOE3I94gU0cKf2AVcrWuRY/s640/P1000505.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went for the baked sweet potato with mozzarella, basil & cherry tomatoes & a side of fresh peas, blanched courgettes & feta salad. I don't know how they managed to make the skin crisp & lift right away from the flesh with that sweet potato, but it was damned good.
</span>
</div>Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-88019015201040326842012-05-03T14:18:00.003-07:002012-08-18T08:56:04.686-07:00Ye Olde Panny-cakey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pancakes. You would have to be a complete asshole not to like them. What's not to like?! They are fluffy, friendly, sweet little circles of joy that can be embellished with anything from fruit to chocolate or yoghurt to ice cream. Ok, so if you don't like sweet things, you're <i>kind of</i> forgiven, not so much forgiven, but I'll at least understand your argument, and feign acceptance. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like to think of pancakes as being like one of the Latin European languages, and Latin as a metaphor for their ingredients. French, Italian & Spanish all have Latin roots; Pancakes, Crepes & Pikelets share the same base ingredients, and although they're distinctly different, they really are part of the same family.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had a go at making American style pancakes for the first time, which are much fluffier than the standard. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once complete, I finished them with bananas, strawberries, blueberries, icing sugar, Greek yoghurt & a drizzle of manuka honey for that distinctly wild New Zealand flavour. Perfection.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_HssYlQX_DTUCK4tEvxhD9G4wOykpQIfDyuxkR8CIAWGJ9_gl49473F0M1QW695sl9Ja6O9NIop_JA3wRc5_aJm0vB_wi21WwWlUMXzM-wtx7PZauUVK4kqH4BSmcXetgBFXLuBHTGo/s1600/P1000309_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_HssYlQX_DTUCK4tEvxhD9G4wOykpQIfDyuxkR8CIAWGJ9_gl49473F0M1QW695sl9Ja6O9NIop_JA3wRc5_aJm0vB_wi21WwWlUMXzM-wtx7PZauUVK4kqH4BSmcXetgBFXLuBHTGo/s640/P1000309_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also have to give a little thanks to my formerly local Hackney cafe; <a href="http://www.mousedelotz.com/">Mouse & De Lotz</a>, for inspiring me to make my own pancakes, because I was thrilled when they brought theirs out in this little cast iron skillet, it's just too cute. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_dNwzLPJwTEjl2xWM3LCVVKYRVmKKvoy_6cp7jUArfb5-bkbkBYaVeRAn6-JVFxg-SKOOKhBUXGjV7jBNd62oBOT-cOUeU1hETwqYuhWhhlaLU_CeyHQ7qVe3smdzh_cBJpRAzmvTDQ/s1600/photo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_dNwzLPJwTEjl2xWM3LCVVKYRVmKKvoy_6cp7jUArfb5-bkbkBYaVeRAn6-JVFxg-SKOOKhBUXGjV7jBNd62oBOT-cOUeU1hETwqYuhWhhlaLU_CeyHQ7qVe3smdzh_cBJpRAzmvTDQ/s640/photo.jpeg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSB0-RHkEmG1ASzX7k4lh700sPWOrlL9oZ6sstFwIUt73nC430G8THfXQASxUReR413fhmmPg6JNvimE1FeZC2c5Etbpb_m2ZJ72HDN6c6aM3A5gB1J7_p7B_Q6KlW1JAWD-80blumrqM/s1600/5ad8a834711411e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSB0-RHkEmG1ASzX7k4lh700sPWOrlL9oZ6sstFwIUt73nC430G8THfXQASxUReR413fhmmPg6JNvimE1FeZC2c5Etbpb_m2ZJ72HDN6c6aM3A5gB1J7_p7B_Q6KlW1JAWD-80blumrqM/s640/5ad8a834711411e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Another Hackney </span><span style="text-align: left;">café</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">(or Islington if you want to be über pedantic) that's making some sexxxy pancakes (and naturally, amazing coffee) is <a href="http://tinawesaluteyou.com/">Tina We Salute You</a>. I had the pleasure of rediscovering <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physalis">physalis</a> </i>berries<i> </i>via their pancakes, as it's the crown jewel on the cascade of fruit. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I had my own photograph of these pancakes, but my camera got stolen before I could download it, so this photo is borrowed from <a href="http://bit.ly/OwPcjW">City Owls</a>)</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">Upon receiving these pancakes, I rushed to the barista to ask if she knew what this mystery fruit was called, babbling and probably looking slightly maniacal, I explained that I was just excited because I had only ever seen physalis once when I was 8 years old on a summer holiday in Motueka, & it was extremely nostalgic to bump into what I had almost believed to be a figment of my childhood imagination. Strangely enough, she knew exactly what I was going through, as she also hadn't seen them for about 10 years until she started working at TWSY, but fondly remembers eating them a lot as a young girl when visiting her Grandma to South Australia. Stories about Grandmas and physalis. Better than Grandmas with syphilis. Definitely better.</span></span></div>
</div>
Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-9064171473324994172012-02-08T17:02:00.000-08:002012-02-09T05:19:31.729-08:00Glasgow - The Shitty that Shines.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I still don't understand why I travel, but maybe the answer is in the question? Perhaps I travel to figure out why I travel? Maybe I am actually defining what is important to me by evaluating it in a foreign environment? It could even be possible that I'm not cut out for traveling, & I just haven't figured it out yet. I hope not. One thing is for sure, I have discovered that most of my enjoyable travel destinations have owed more to the people encountered whilst visiting, than the actual resonance of the city. Of course both factors coincide, & it's fair to say that an amazing city can still be good without company, conversely, a piece of shit city can be fucking awesome if you are with the right crowd. I would like to reign in my critical slander right here, because Glasgow is actually not a piece of shit city. Parts of it are grand & beautiful, charming & spacious. Then there are just plenty of areas that are made of pure grimness. It can be grey, gloomy, downtrodden & depressing. What really redeems it are Scottish people, they are just so bloody lovely. During my trip I met a handful of really charming Scots, & my heart goes out to them. They exude a genuine kindness & hospitality which is long been bred out of many other cultures. I wish I'd had the opportunity to get to the bottom of what a proper Scottish meal is like, as I still have this rather awful impression that they survive solely on fried food & IRN BRU (which, by the way, I am kind of addicted to now). The one dish I photographed there was a homemade breakfast of French toast, because I'm completely post-modern & ironic. It was pretty good though.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_yq9EK2y8CIhYilgbSJBcvrflFYbVj9Crovu7_6F6xMDxaD1xKGSK5zWaqhb5lppfSTWshZQ_vDnEkCsRWfg7jZ1AZx-Edu4cgxilfwKBD4FMnsWEFQNeCwFivBd8waOH2NOetq5Ce8/s1600/P1000162+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_yq9EK2y8CIhYilgbSJBcvrflFYbVj9Crovu7_6F6xMDxaD1xKGSK5zWaqhb5lppfSTWshZQ_vDnEkCsRWfg7jZ1AZx-Edu4cgxilfwKBD4FMnsWEFQNeCwFivBd8waOH2NOetq5Ce8/s640/P1000162+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PvxExC6qdHm9OL2MkXZ2uCTj5ECxe5tDn1GR71EdZqQ1wUVoogOg41-7oTDaiVdWSHCZ4Pb95Uh9WuuYzcPLcjE7FK3MTorizYTCXM9nShVuM-H8-Zldf14caSRCgp3toDjOtRx0wIo/s1600/P1000182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PvxExC6qdHm9OL2MkXZ2uCTj5ECxe5tDn1GR71EdZqQ1wUVoogOg41-7oTDaiVdWSHCZ4Pb95Uh9WuuYzcPLcjE7FK3MTorizYTCXM9nShVuM-H8-Zldf14caSRCgp3toDjOtRx0wIo/s640/P1000182.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNksCxKv0oMGjIweMKImHypxe5TVIW0y8t2nG_793vthqewDmuYgATp4IiuEx09uiTJ2eaAjkl1NvLvUi_myX3kVvqS2rKFAgvwMDpIHWamTCP54JNS3csfXpgHplDotdbFBJxZp6fy1c/s1600/P1000187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNksCxKv0oMGjIweMKImHypxe5TVIW0y8t2nG_793vthqewDmuYgATp4IiuEx09uiTJ2eaAjkl1NvLvUi_myX3kVvqS2rKFAgvwMDpIHWamTCP54JNS3csfXpgHplDotdbFBJxZp6fy1c/s640/P1000187.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vVCx2VJ3EQg9pBjPed9ix6Kmv_psEF5wJAEHuiNUlNP90dLluZqqa3NGhsdm7znv8mRA1QszYZbz_7jmem-F1IRBHN1dvMjGxGJHWoDzlXyhbGytazi0m4vZcpEOiMjJdy2ZvpE6CJQ/s1600/P1000189+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vVCx2VJ3EQg9pBjPed9ix6Kmv_psEF5wJAEHuiNUlNP90dLluZqqa3NGhsdm7znv8mRA1QszYZbz_7jmem-F1IRBHN1dvMjGxGJHWoDzlXyhbGytazi0m4vZcpEOiMjJdy2ZvpE6CJQ/s640/P1000189+copy.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwuIyZkwDCFAoJ_j8Y0psrHu01yD52YYsf4-UwBb70Z26JF307dygkQ5tzQ7cRuozdvEHd_kZyB5JnAnvYAndiNNoM2VrfjayOrWAr6hTkKovACEvdqzsY0ppEiQv09dioN0fQFN6Beg/s1600/P1000201+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwuIyZkwDCFAoJ_j8Y0psrHu01yD52YYsf4-UwBb70Z26JF307dygkQ5tzQ7cRuozdvEHd_kZyB5JnAnvYAndiNNoM2VrfjayOrWAr6hTkKovACEvdqzsY0ppEiQv09dioN0fQFN6Beg/s640/P1000201+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKbV6D-7HQEz8KRcpUh4Ht8eowaMgi1i_9u4acrcncf1dEcO8SIaLHJNaet-t-ZMNfolTdzTydzj5Ncurkf_w7y_2Mo-73MRgcjP5VsGi5VgVH1vm5wsBQ63YFeDgwa_yvVGZfV9nCVE/s1600/P1000203+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKbV6D-7HQEz8KRcpUh4Ht8eowaMgi1i_9u4acrcncf1dEcO8SIaLHJNaet-t-ZMNfolTdzTydzj5Ncurkf_w7y_2Mo-73MRgcjP5VsGi5VgVH1vm5wsBQ63YFeDgwa_yvVGZfV9nCVE/s640/P1000203+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsO1h1N6BhMaO8w4rzH9olKRupqhpEEdAytm4zqSNjCsYe2IhmqFyDRMRkzNjvu4DMZ6JXlKR895VkFszHm1tw59ELapeGgQeBVGeBA5V-dg9MkSUSb-voj5N3MHVRRZHHOeHP_8gfrno/s1600/P1000217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsO1h1N6BhMaO8w4rzH9olKRupqhpEEdAytm4zqSNjCsYe2IhmqFyDRMRkzNjvu4DMZ6JXlKR895VkFszHm1tw59ELapeGgQeBVGeBA5V-dg9MkSUSb-voj5N3MHVRRZHHOeHP_8gfrno/s640/P1000217.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99ETWS98B9NEUu6LKz7mZf9qNbpimD39kjUJexAtmkjnV_ZNvWBkiFY7zRm0KWQR7cQHRfqAsQnhgWT074yJkS28nnuVT6pSIgAuS4c6ZTwR5NRLA0qE1FeY_eboXelSBuaY_Y_TvHJo/s1600/P1000219+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99ETWS98B9NEUu6LKz7mZf9qNbpimD39kjUJexAtmkjnV_ZNvWBkiFY7zRm0KWQR7cQHRfqAsQnhgWT074yJkS28nnuVT6pSIgAuS4c6ZTwR5NRLA0qE1FeY_eboXelSBuaY_Y_TvHJo/s640/P1000219+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3Kd4CDeZHeMJgWUaMSCnG3jASzGgzavYJrFOlFUXhScGBm0XAeBiE2DYYrH61xOwmPPTmBOdMun_po-JvwBgg8rQk0ssY_UTTF7AM86_NBjvNuzmqzVi1cyvkb7BR5-FMy9emw_QzMU/s1600/P1000242+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3Kd4CDeZHeMJgWUaMSCnG3jASzGgzavYJrFOlFUXhScGBm0XAeBiE2DYYrH61xOwmPPTmBOdMun_po-JvwBgg8rQk0ssY_UTTF7AM86_NBjvNuzmqzVi1cyvkb7BR5-FMy9emw_QzMU/s640/P1000242+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3zNrlL2Gzo-DJ0adjVwE8_E4Cd_Mq0TrPq-VBjLJQQpjOOmcAdSk4sq1AjPmFQPrn2LdwtP2BnzjQpTnSwbAP0bE5WYZWqdwNF-08N5WzxXFaXxEdrM2iAxwzcM7x8c-82IzeuG4V0o/s1600/P1000270+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3zNrlL2Gzo-DJ0adjVwE8_E4Cd_Mq0TrPq-VBjLJQQpjOOmcAdSk4sq1AjPmFQPrn2LdwtP2BnzjQpTnSwbAP0bE5WYZWqdwNF-08N5WzxXFaXxEdrM2iAxwzcM7x8c-82IzeuG4V0o/s640/P1000270+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLH1QnNrZH99dcjWZLGEQlfK40ySfuEoK7iI0zCXi0NYm1wWwPJv2jKwD_67bOfA3od56PyvOe7nD9pkV_-sE-F91XYDDjO7YJW7flmyk8ujYAoj7MiIxFdkEH0zqNtFgyrE5CaExgZms/s1600/P1000281+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLH1QnNrZH99dcjWZLGEQlfK40ySfuEoK7iI0zCXi0NYm1wWwPJv2jKwD_67bOfA3od56PyvOe7nD9pkV_-sE-F91XYDDjO7YJW7flmyk8ujYAoj7MiIxFdkEH0zqNtFgyrE5CaExgZms/s640/P1000281+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-74440022553413484112011-11-14T06:17:00.001-08:002011-11-14T16:06:03.219-08:00L.F.G.S.S UDON RUN 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
I've always been a keen cyclist, but I never really took a serious interest in the particulars of the sport, that is until I moved to London and discovered the whole community & subculture which surrounds it. All I had known of cycle culture from Christchurch, was the flocks of lycra-clad, carbon frame straddling battlers, who bust their guts out on climbing the painfully steep port hills (not my kinda fun). Other than that, being an urban cyclist in New Zealand exposes you to the usual abuse of boyracers, who would literally try to run you off the road, usually before throwing an empty beer bottle in your direction and shouting "FAGGOT!" or "HOMO". London is quite different, there is a different kind of appreciation here, as England has a richer cycling history. Getting your hands on a piece of cycling heritage is still very possible, as bikes from older independent frame builders & workshops are still floating around the market. Aside from history & tradition, the sheer population allows for a much deeper strata of appreciation groups, whether they be for touring clubs, collectors, track racers, or mountain bikers.
<br /><br />
One of the keystones of London's cycling community is the L.F.G.S.S, or London Fixed Gear & Single Speed community, whose online forum is the perfect meeting place for cyclists who are interested in mechanics, bike building, social rides, events or just open discussions. Last Saturday I met up with a group of 30-odd members from the forum for the first time to partake in a group ride/event called the Udon Run. Basically, think of a pub crawl, but on bikes, and in addition to beer, add Japanese food. Sound like a good idea? You can bet your left one it was. Not only was I getting the chance to experience a slew of Japanese cuisine, but also riding through parts of the city I'd never seen, all while taking over the road as a juggernaut of cyclists. Aside from the amazing food, I really enjoyed the feeling of community, the conviviality of people sharing a hobbie (you think I'm talking about cycling, but I'm actually talking about food!). I'm not going to waffle on about the what everyone ate & which restaurant was the best, this was more a more a milestone of meeting new people & breaking the old stereotype of Londoners being a cold & unfriendly breed. Thanks L.F.G.S.S, & see you soon!
<br /><br />
<h3>Our itinerary for the day was:</h3><br />
<ol>
<li><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/56944...oho/Ryo-London">Ryo</a>, Soho</li>
<li><a href="http://www.newfujiyama.com/">Fujiyama</a>, Brixton</li>
<li>Kyoto Garden, Holland Park (origami competition)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.bentocafe.co.uk/">Bento Cafe</a>, Parkway</li>
<li>Swain's Hill</li>
<li>The Flask, Highgate (Hype Haiku Workshop)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.akarilondon.co.uk/">Akari</a>, Angel</li>
</ol>
<br /><br />
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/1-10.jpg">
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/3-7.jpg">
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/2-9.jpg">
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/6-6.jpg">
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/4-7.jpg">
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/5-6.jpg">
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/7-3.jpg">
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/8-3.jpg">
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/9-2.jpg">
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/10-3.jpg">
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/11-2.jpg">
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/12-2.jpg">
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/13-2.jpg">
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/14-1.jpg">
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/15-1.jpg">
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/16-1.jpg">
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/19-1.jpg">Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-61172594068595264152011-11-14T02:54:00.001-08:002011-11-14T07:39:40.175-08:00Harro Kitty: Necco on Exmouth Market<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
Lately I have been kicking myself that I never took the opportunity to visit Japan while I was living in New Zealand. I had a three year window when a good friend of mine Josephine was living in Tokyo, so a holiday for me would've included free accommodation, local knowledge & undoubtedly a guided tour of every drinking venue within the local precinct. Well, let bygones be bygones, I missed that boat. However, I'm now discovering London has it's own little pockets of Japan, tucked away in secret places. I may have been living under a rock for the first year and a half I've been in London, as I'd never even heard of Exmouth Market until last month, despite being only a few blocks either side of two common commuting routes I cycle daily, but I was lucky enough to be guided along by my friend and fellow food blogger Doreen @londondear to the fairy light laden wonderland that is - Exmouth Market. The market is full of all kinds of cafes, restaurants & the like; from Antipodean eateries, to tapas & cocktail bars, but a cute little Japanese venue called Necco was our port of call for the evening.<br /><br />
It's a safe observation that Japanese are famous for not doing things in half measures. Aesthetically, they are a hyper-culture, a people who don't just take an idea & run with it - they take an idea, dismantle it, supercharge it, reassemble it more efficiently, paint it every neon colour ever seen by the human eye, give it a catchy jingle & then race it from 0-100mph in under 10 seconds. This kind of all-or-nothing attitude applies to the visual identity of Necco, which is the Japanese word for cat ("neko"), and seriously....everything in this restaurant is some kind of cute cat or butterfly related paraphernalia. The interior looks as though a bunch of school girls were let loose super-soakers filled with "liquid-cute", transforming every object into something twee (if Sailor Moon & Sailor Jupiter were real, they'd totally be found eating at Necco). Being a bit of an aesthetic snob, I really appreciate this attention to detail - I almost wish that the staff painted on whiskers & wore cat ears (perhaps that's just some sort of latent teenage <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hentai">hentai</a> fantasy I'm having though).
<br /><br />
The food here is affordable, well presented & from what I can tell, fresh & tasty. I had a sashimi platter & takoyaki (octopus balls), which come roped in a kind of bbq sauce & Japanese mayonnaise that's omnipotent in fried dishes like takoyaki & okonomoyaki (a kind of Japanese pancake/pizza/omelette). Josephine once told me of her faux pas of telling her new students in Japan that takoyaki is her favourite food, which is the western equivalent of telling your students that hot dogs are your favourite thing to eat...nice.<br /><br />
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/1-9.jpg">
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/2-8.jpg">
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/4-6.jpg">
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/3-6.jpg">
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/5-5.jpg">
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/6-5.jpg">
<br /><br />
Now I'm just itching to go back for some of their desserts, like their green tea cake which looks amazing.
<br /><br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bA41iuCmex4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com054 Exmouth Market, Islington, London EC1R 4QE, UK51.5261375 -0.108578851.523667499999995 -0.1135143 51.5286075 -0.10364330000000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-69529891341402316022011-10-26T16:07:00.000-07:002011-10-28T10:03:06.620-07:00Everything's Gone Green: Spinach Soup<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/1_small.jpg"><br />
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/2_small.jpg"><br />
<br />
<iframe width="459" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FaG9aj7Dqqg?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe>
<h3>Ingredients</h3><br /><br />
<ul>
<li>50g butter</li>
<li>1 medium onion , finely chopped</li>
<li>2 garlic cloves , finely chopped</li>
<li>1 medium potato , peeled and chopped into chunks</li>
<li>450ml chicken or vegetable stock</li>
<li>600ml milk</li>
<li>450g fresh spinach , washed if necessary and roughly chopped</li>
<li>finely grated zest of half a lemon</li>
<li>freshly grated nutmeg , to taste</li>
<li>3 tbsp double cream , to serve</li>
</ul>
<br /><br />
<h3>Method</h3><br /><br />
Melt the butter in a large lidded saucepan, add the onion and garlic and fry gently for 5-6 minutes until softening. Stir in the potato and continue to cook gently for 1 minute. Pour in the stock and simmer for 8-10 minutes until the potato starts to cook. Pour in the milk and bring up to a simmer, then stir in half the spinach and the lemon zest. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes until the spinach has completely wilted down. Allow to cool for about 5 minutes.
<br /><br />
Pour the soup into a blender (preferably) or food processor, add the remaining spinach (this will keep the soup bright green and fresh tasting) and process until silky smooth - you may need to do this in batches depending on the size of your machine. (The soup may now be frozen for up to 1 month. Defrost in the microwave or overnight in the fridge. The soup may lose some of its vibrancy on freezing, but the flavour won't be impaired.) Return to the pan and reheat. Taste and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. You may like to dilute the soup with a little extra stock if too thick. Ladle the soup into bowls and swirl in the creamDylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-6634179273654839702011-10-26T03:31:00.000-07:002011-11-04T03:04:45.282-07:00Ireland: Pt 2, Doolin, Cliffs of Moher.<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/1-8.jpg">
<br /><caption>Breakfast of champions</caption><br /><br />
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/10-2.jpg"><br />
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/11-1.jpg"><br />
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/12-1.jpg"><br />
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/13-1.jpg"><br />
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/14.jpg"><br />
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/15.jpg"><br />
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/16.jpg"><br />
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/175.jpg"><br />
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/17.jpg"><br />
My arrival into Dublin met all expectations, grey, grim & guinness. In true form, I managed to get sick just before my holiday, and to better the situation, Ireland was welcoming me with open, icy arms. I'm no stranger to cold or wet weather, my native Christchurch in New Zealand has formidable winters, & London isn't exactly sunshine & lollipops either, but my first day I was chilled to the bone, wearing 2 woollen jerseys, a heavy wool duffel coat, 2 pairs of socks, & wrapped in a wool blanket..I was inside a house by the way. My only real venture out of the house between sleeping in & warming up my bones was to Trinity College to see Ireland's national treasure, the book of Kells, which was produced by Celtic monks in approximately 800ad & is arguably one of the finest examples of western calligraphy, illustration & book design.<br /><br />
After geeking out on this for a few hours, I was done with Dublin. Liadain & I packed the car & took a road trip to County Clare on the west coast, 3 hours from Dublin, to a small town called "Doolin", which is a stones throw from the breath taking Cliffs of Moher, whose 214 metre sheer vertical drop plummets straight into the Atlantic ocean. Our first morning, we packed a lunch & set out on a 24km return walk around the cliff edge, what a magic experience it was. Maybe it was the country air, or just escaping the London rat-race for a few days, but my cold was a shadow of it's former self, despite the dewy air & blustery winds. As we walked along the cliff edges, through windswept pastures, the tussocks & grasses twisted & curled in unison, like the manicured fringes of 50's teddy-boys, ocean spray crept up the rocky face to lick our own. With misty rain as our constant companion, we trudged through creeks, around marshes, under & over fences to complete our journey. On the way, we passed a curious flock of horned sheep, who demonstrated the origin of the term "sheepish look" while I peered through my camera; perhaps they knew I had decided to eat their brethren later, as I was formulating plans for an Irish stew. After being exposed to the elements for a day, the idea of home made stew is absolute heaven, as nothing beats a salty, peppery, meaty, herby broth that thaws you from the inside out. The hostel we stayed in had an excellent kitchen & the manager, Karl so kindly asked his neighbour if she had any fresh herbs for our stew, she kindly delivered a fresh bundle of thyme, sage, parsley & rosemary tied up with a yellow marigold. We pretty much discarded the recipe we had, as we didn't have bones to boil.<br /><br />
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/18.jpg"><br />
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/19.jpg"><br />
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/20.jpg"><br /><br />
<h3>Ingredients</h3>
<br /><br />
<ul>
<li>1-1½ kg neck or shoulder of lamb/beef</li>
<li>Bouquet of parsley, thyme and rosemary</li>
<li>3 large onions, finely chopped</li>
<li>Salt and freshly ground black pepper</li>
<li>3-4 carrots, chopped into bite-sized pieces</li>
<li>3-4 parsnips, chopped into bite-sized pieces</li>
<li>Some small new potatoes, peeled and quartered, or large potatoes, peeled and chopped</li>
<li>75-100g hispi cabbage, shredded</li>
<li>Finely chopped parsley</li>
</ul>
<br /><br />
<h3>Method</h3>
<br /><br />
Remove the meat from the bone, trim off all the fat and cut into cubes. Keep the bones, place the meat in a pot, cover with cold salted water. Bring to the boil, drain and rinse the meat.
<br /><br />
In a fresh pot put the meat, bones, bouquet of herbs, onions, seasoning, carrots, leeks and turnip and cover with water. Simmer gently for one hour. Skim off the foam as it rises. (this is very important for the final flavour and appearance of the stew.)
Add the potatoes and continue cooking for 25 minutes. For the last 5 minutes add in the cabbage. When the meat and vegetables are cooked remove the bones and bouquet for herbs. Stir in the chopped parsley and a dash. Serve in deep bowls with soda bread.
<br /><br />Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388768600021179254.post-26955162121051793542011-10-25T16:24:00.000-07:002011-10-25T16:27:16.326-07:00Ireland: Pt 1, Mulligans, Dublin.The Irish. We love those chirpy little leprechauns. I just visited Ireland for the first time recently to catch up with my old friend Liadain who lives in Dublin. Of course, while I was there, I had to make a mission to sample some local fare. Ireland isn't a country renowned for gifting the world anything groundbreaking in terms of its culinary contributions, but like many countries who are often accused of having a dull repertoire of national recipes, it's experiencing a resurgence in traditional dishes executed with high quality, locally produced ingredients.<br /><br />
I would be selling my first host short if I said they weren't inventive or curious with their menu, because I personally felt like most meals had an extra factor to their ingredients to pique my curiosity. The host I speak of is <a href="http://www.lmulligangrocer.com/">Mulligans</a>, a hopped up Gastro-pub on the North side of the Liffey in Dublin, with an enviably long beer list, probably longer whisky list, & tantalizing menu. There's no need to harp on about how tasty everything was, because I'm tired, and I think the photos are ample proof that I waddled home fully stuffed & content with the start of my Irish holiday. The dishes we had were free-range organic chicken stuffed with black pudding, garden salad with white wine sauce & beer battered chips, & vege burger with aubergine & lentil spiced pattie, beetroot coleslaw, & beer-battered chips. To be continued in Ireland: Pt 2, Irish Stew, Doolin.<br /><br />
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/8-2.jpg"><br />
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/6-4.jpg"><br />
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/2-7.jpg"><br />
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/4-5.jpg"><br />
<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tryp_one/5-4.jpg"><br />Dylan Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322418971230476226noreply@blogger.com0