urge to move

Call it watered down and a light-fare read, but I am and will always be loyal to the NYTimes and writers who've inspired me through each transitional phase of my life. ANYWAYS.

Back in May 2010, an article titled, "Confessions of a Soukaholic" was published... leaving me lusting for more travel.

One of the many roads leading to my apartment.

One of my favorite post-work stops, the olive store!

A Nougat Stop Near Moulay Idriss

Leading the Caravan into the Sahara!

It's amazing, the powers that travel writing can hold. When I first read the "Soukaholic" article, a wave of memories washed over me. Reminding me of the steps I would take through foreign Souks, and yet feeling completely involved, very much a part of the soul of the souk.

Not too long ago, I started reading "Bread of Angels" by author Stephanie Saldana, a tale of her life in Damascus, Syria right after 9/11 as a war waged on in neighboring Iraq. Although of totally different backgrounds, as I read her writing I feel as if I am her, traveling across cities, moving up mountains, a normally quiet and shy woman in the states, but a liberated adventurer in a world so different from hers.

Wanderlusting for the Middle East of days long gone, once more....

A New Day

I, Minna, promise from this day forward that I will become a more committed, coherent and concise blogger. I am re-dedicating myself to organizing this blog in a manner that is easy and enjoyable to read. I will streamline my blog by choosing a theme and having all consequent posts reflect the new stream-lined vision.

It is... a new day indeed.

job jealousy~

I recently got to meet Andrew Zimmern at a Dos Equis "Most Interesting Academy" event. We shared a bite of chicken feet (?) which was actually extremely tasty! I'm so jealous and a big fan of Andrew Zimmern!

He was talking about how much he loves to visit Africa. I have traveled across North Africa, but not enough! And it doesn't seem like.. the REAL Africa. Next trip perhaps?

Chicago FOOD

While Chicagoans may not be the thinnest, prettiest or model-esque of people, we know food. We like food. We try new foods. We are not afraid to let our belt buckles loose and stomachs free to eat food.

Chicago (-land) has some of the most unique restaurants one can think of, and although I've been living in this wonderful city for approximately four years, there are so many more to try!

In preparation of a "date" I have tonight, I have been asked to pick out the restaurant (because my big mouth pretended to be a food and wine connoisseur... much like this entire blog). We decided to meet in Lakeview, a neutral location for both of us northsiders.

I never realized how many cute/quaint (in the best possible way!) restaurants there are in the Lakeview area! Here are a few I have come across.

I blog in hopes that I will hit up all these spots in the near future!

A couple of my choices for the evening:

ZAD Restaurant

3112 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL
I'm excited to try their shwarma and moroccan mint tea!!!
I haven't had mint tea since my short time in Morocco!


Home Bistro, Chicago

3404 N. Halstead
Chicago, IL
I've read and heard too many good things about this place!
I want to try the Baked Grouper Nicoise~


Sapori Trattortia

2701 N. Halsted St
Chicago, IL
The website is more than outdated, but who can hold that against a place with amazing risotti reviews?


Manchu Pichu Restaurant

3856 N. Ashland Ave
Chicago, IL
Ceviche de Camarones sounds amazing!


Casbah Cafe
3151 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL
I miss Moroccan food so much!
Yelpers gave this place a good review. ALWAYS a good sign!


NEW ON THE SCENE
Istanbul Restaurant

3613 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL
droooooool.... no other words needed.

... is it bad that i'm more excited about the food than the date?

i'm in miami beachhhh~

s & i (not so) recently went on a wonderfully relaxing trip down to MIAMI BEACH. Wonderfulness all around. We went at a time when it was before tourist season, yet wonderfully warm weather and not too hot (too much to handle for us Chicagoans!)

While s & I are two totallllllly different people, three things bring us together:

1. FOOD
2. DRINK
3. BOYS

Here's a tasting of what we did there:

uh oh.. wanderlust arises...

For those who know may not know my situation, I am a recent college graduate (yay!) but also part of the massive numbers of unemployed (booooo :( my peers are all struggling!). Thankfully, I have a wonderful internship at an organization I love where they give me plenty of room and guidance to grow professionally (thank you, Jebus!).

All in all, this is the time in my life where I should be focusing on working hard, obtaining that all illusive J.O.B. and more important S.A.L.A.R.Y. This is NOT the right time to come down with another case of... wanderlust.

In this "risky" time of my life, I am planning a return trip to Europe. While I loved Central and Eastern Europe, I think it would be a shame not to visit the wonderful (and delicious!) areas of Western Europe. Thankfully I have gained enough friends to make each stay in each city a wonderfully NEW experience with old friends.

Above are suggested routes.

[sigh] Here I go, now I'm going to be thinking about future travels while working hard for my new marketing campaigns.

...another case of wanderlust



--edit--
TRAVEL DEALS from O'HARE to ...else

RT O'Hare to Miami, FL $128
RT O'Hare to Myrtle Beach, SC $16?!
RT O'Hare to Paris, France $571

volunteering

I recently discovered that I am.. living a quarter-life crisis.

No longer a college kid, but not yet the devoted nine-to-fiver, I feel an empty void of what once was a mission in my life (ie. finish school! good grades! party all day and night! heh heh)

SO... my life makeover begins:

1. Continue to use and abuse my contacts in the process of begging for full time jobs
2. WORK MY FAT ASS OUT!!!! i love food too much to let my body constrict me from this activity...
3. Volunteer

I recently corresponded with the kind people at the Community Nutrition Network and Senior Services Association in the Chicagoland Area. I have a great passion and heart for their mission. I'm not sure where to volunteer yet, but want to keep dabbling my feet in the water and see how things go. Preferably I want to volunteer for a hunger prevention organization on Saturday mornings? I love the Chicago Food Depository, but locale is a bit of a stretch for me. (I know.. although I'm trying to turn over a new leaf... i'm still selfish me. )

San Fran bound

hello all!!

phew. it's been a while since my last update! Kudos to the dedicated blogging community, it's a full-time job keeping these posts updated!

I'm San Francisco bound today! Then off to Seattle before returning home to good ole Chicago.

Plans for San Francisco:
SONOMA!!! I love this wine county.
Horseback riding at sunrise on Half Moon Bay... romantic~
Fabulous diner for FOUR at Foreign Cinema.
mmmm..... bi-rte creamery
It's It ice cream sandwiches galore!!!!

Plans for Seattle:
Celebrate Harmony(my grandma!)'s 80th
SEAFOOD
Sightseeing?

More suggestions needed!

Chicago Home

It's often times that I take advantage the wonderfulness that is Chicago. Although having traveled across the globe, Chicago is always my start and my end. With the International Olympic Committee visit, it seems appropriate that today's blog post be dedicated to all the great things that are Chicago; from an INSIDE perspective.


The Field Museum!

The website does not do it Justice. The Field Museum, in my mind, epitomizes all that is Chicago. The history, the landmarks and features. I've had dreams where I'm alone at the Field Museum at night and I have 'challenges' I need to face. Like a cooler more nerdy version of the movie "A night at the museum". hahahhaa. yes. I am nerd.

Olympic Visit: Chicago

One rarely ever believes that home can be an exotic destination. Yet today as I rode the bus to work, I was overcome with an immense overwhelming culture shock.

O.K. I know I'm dramatic. Maybe not immensely overwhelming, but surprising at the least. My daily bus ride to my office building passes Daley Plaza which is overlooked by the MASSIVE CBS screen. We were riding peacefully along when the bus driver says "WHat.. the... HELL?"

People in the masses had crowded into the plaza for.... a free TShirt? Mayhem was a-muck as normally revered business people pushed and shoved to grab at a t-shirt that says Chicago 2016. huh. interesting. what we Americans will do for the enticing "FREE".

March 2007: LA

L.A.
...meh

Sorry all you LA-lovers

Although it IS true... it's the company you're with... not where you are, right?

I did nothing, saw nothing and was criticized for a multitude of things. I got so bored my only photo from LA was essentially... THIS.

HAHAHA thank you to the sister of my host, at least she was present for the most part of it and made an effort to be host-like.

Although... I do have a couple reasons to return.

wow

I can't believe almost a year has passed since my last post. CLEARLY I have not done a superb job in keeping myself and readers alike informed through this blog.

From here on out will be a reflection on:

THE BEST and of course THE WORST

of all my travels. Keep an eye out.

Oh my~

SO...

I'm realizing that it's not too much longer until I leave. Each day as my departure date gets closer and closer I get more and more nervous. I don't understand why. It's not as if I've never been away from home before. I'm trying to get excited to go but... nervousness.

Rady Utca

SO this is where I will be calling home for the next four months. Still unreal to me that I will be leaving for Hungary in such a short period of time. eek! and I haven't even started to pack...



SO... like the eager beaver I am, I booked a flight for the 1st meaning that I will be one of the first people to arrive in Budapest. I think I'll spend the first two days settling in and arranging all that needs to be arranged, but then i have an open itinerary until 9/8 when enrollment supposedly begins. I'm considering traveling during that short time I have available. Any suggestions?



Considering:
Istanbul, Turkey
Prague, Czech Republic
Bratislava, Slovakia
Zagreb, Croatia
Sofia, Bulgaria
Kiev, Ukraine
Bucharest, Romania

or.... just float around the beaches or the black sea...




So according to google images... this is what to expect in Budapest.
Google images... please don't disappoint: