Creole Cuisine in New Orleans, USA

Louisiana Creole cuisine is a style of cooking originating in Louisiana (centered on the Greater New Orleans area) which is a melting pot cuisine that blends French, Portuguese, Spanish, Canarian, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Deep Southern American, Indian, and African influences. It also bears hallmarks of British, Irish, Italian, Dutch, German, Albanian, and Greek cuisines.

There are some contributions from Native Americans as well. It is vaguely similar to Cajun cuisine in ingredients (such as the holy trinity), but the important distinction is that Cajun cuisine arose from the more rustic, provincial French cooking adapted by the Acadians to Louisiana ingredients, whereas the cooking of the Louisiana Creoles tended more toward classical European styles adapted to local foodstuffs.

Broadly speaking, the French influence in Cajun cuisine is descended from various French Provincial cuisines of the peasantry, while Creole cuisine evolved in the homes of well-to-do aristocrats, or those who imitated their lifestyle. Although the Creole cuisine is closely identified with New Orleans culture today, much of it evolved in the country plantation estates so beloved of the pre-Civil War Creoles

Some samples of main dishes include:
Crawfish Étouffée
Jambalaya
Shrimp Alfredeaux
Crawfish Fettuccine
Pompano en Papillote
Red Beans and Rice
Shrimp Creole
Chicken Creole
Trout Meuniere
Sauce Piquante
Stuffed Bell Peppers
Blackened Salmon
Mirliton
Creole Baked Chicken
Shrimp Bisque
Quiche

Ghani's Roast Beef Po-Boy
Court of Two Sisters Restaurant
French Quarter
New Orleans, LA
19 July 2009

My Jambalaya ( a bit like claypot chicken rice, just a bit more dry and no 'lap cheong'!)
Court of Two Sisters Restaurant
French Quarter
New Orleans, LA
19 July 2009

The famous Court of Two Sisters Restaurant
French Quarter
New Orleans, LA
19 July 2009

Cafe Beignet
Music Legands Park
Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA
19 July 2009

Bourban St by night - buzzing with boozers and party goers
Latin Quarter
New Orleans, LA
19 July 2009

Stopping the famous New Orleans Streetcar
St Charles St
19 July 2009

The Pyramids Of Giza, Egypt

If there was one thing Adrian was looking to, it would have been this - to see the great Pyramids of Giza! He had in fact a little more knowledge about Egypt than Ghani and I did, thanks to the educational DVDs he had been watching in the back seat!

Upon arrival at Giza, we were told that we were too late to enter, as the ticket office had closed 5 minutes before hand. The next morning though, much to his disappointment, Adrian wasn't feeling too well, a side effect from the Lariam, which we just started taking in preparation for the rest of Africa. A good rest helped and we headed out to the Pyramids again after lunch.

Being told we can't go in, as the ticket office closes at 4pm
Giza, Egypt
28 Dec 08

Adrian not feeling too well
Cairo, Egypt
29 Dec 08

Despite being told by several touts along the way that it was forbidden to drive further, as they did everything they could to get us to park Tuah in the car park and take a ride on one of their camels, we carried on, prepared to mow anyone in our way and drove right up to the foot of the Pyramids.

It's certainly a sight to behold and seeing the Sphinx was like meeting an old friend. The Great Pyramid of Giza (also called the Pyramid of Khufu and the Pyramid of Cheops) is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis bordering what is now El Giza, Egypt. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact.

It is believed the pyramid was built as a tomb for fourth dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops in Greek) and constructed over a 20-year period concluding around 2560 BC. The Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years. Originally the Great Pyramid was covered by casing stones that formed a smooth outer surface; what is seen today is the underlying core structure. Some of the casing stones that once covered the structure can still be seen around the base.

There have been varying scientific and alternative theories about the Great Pyramid's construction techniques. Most accepted construction hypotheses are based on the idea that it was built by moving huge stones from a quarry and dragging and lifting them into place.

There are three known chambers inside the Great Pyramid. The lowest chamber is cut into the bedrock upon which the pyramid was built and was unfinished. The so-called Queen's Chamber and King's Chamber are higher up within the pyramid structure. The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only pyramid in Egypt known to contain both ascending and descending passages. The main part of the Giza complex is a setting of buildings that included two mortuary temples in honor of Khufu (one close to the pyramid and one near the Nile), three smaller pyramids for Khufu's wives, an even smaller "satellite" pyramid, a raised causeway connecting the two temples, and small mastaba tombs surrounding the pyramid for nobles.

Adrian's been wanting to see the Pyramids for the last 3 weeks! Finally, the day has come!
Giza, Egypt
29 Dec 08

It's a little bigger than I thought...
Adrian at the Pyramids
Giza, Egypt
29 Dec 08

My pyramid is a lot smaller than the one over there..
Adrian at the Pyramids
Giza, Egypt
29 Dec 08

Tuah has made it all the way to the Pyramids
Giza, Egypt
29 Dec 08

Ghani gets a camel kiss
Giza, Egypt
29 Dec 08

We put up with the madness of Cairo to see the last standing wonder of the ancient world...it was the one thing that Adrian had looked forward to for weeks and his happiness made it all worth it!
Giza, Egypt
29 Dec 08

Moorish Granada: Exploring The Alhambra, Spain

Ghani and I had been to the Alhambra before, in pre Adrian days but decided that it was so magnificent, it warranted another visit, while on our round the world travels. We arrived in Granada, to celebrate Ghani's birthday and had a brilliant time walking through the splendour of the buildings and it's gardens. The day came to an anti climax though, when we got to the campsite at sunset to discover we had left the cranking handle for our roof tent in the previous campsite in Estepona!

The Alhambra, the complete form of which was Calat Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex constructed during the mid 14th century by the Moorish rulers of the Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus, occupying the top of the hill of the Assabica on the southeastern border of the city of Granada, now in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain.

The Alhambra's Moorish palaces were built for the last Muslim Emirs in Spain and its court, of the Nasrid dynasty. After the Reconquista by the Los Reyes Católicos ("The Catholic Monarchs") in 1492, some portions were used by the Christian rulers. The Palace of Charles V, built by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor in 1527, was inserted in the Alhambra within the Nasrid fortifications.

After being allowed to fall into disrepair for centuries, the Alhambra was "discovered" in the 19th century by European scholars and travelers, with restorations commencing. It is now one of Spain's major tourist attractions, exhibiting the country's most significant and well known Islamic architecture, together with 16th-century and later Christian building and garden interventions. The Alhambra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

In the Alhambra, Granada
2 June 2008

In the courtyard of Alhambra
2 June 2008

Walking Dubrovnik's Walls, Croatia

The monumental walls that encircle Dubrovnik, punctuated by towers and overlooking the sea, are undoubtedly the city's most famous feature. The oldest system of fortifications around the town were probably wooden palisades but that is merely speculation.

What is certain is that a fortification system was already being built in the 12th century. The bulk of the existing walls and fortifications was constructed during the 14th and 15th centuries but they were continually extended and strengthened up to and including the 17th century.

Dubrovnik's walls measure 2km around but the thickness varies. On the landward side, the walls are four to six metres thick and on the seaward side only 1 1/2 to three metres. It's easy to tell where Dubrovnik's builders thought the threat was! The height also varies according to the configuration of the terrain; in some places it reaches 25m.

At the foot of the western and northern walls there was a moat (Posat) and to reinforce the defences there were turrets and towers. For good measure the builders added five bastions, three round and twelve rectangular towers, two corner forts and the massive St. Ivan at the entrance. The fore walls following the base of the main walls were also strengthened by semi-circular bastions and the Bokar tower.

As you look down at the town, notice the patchwork of colours formed by the red-roofs. Some are brand-new and some are centuries-old. The shelling of 1991 left gaping holes Dubrovnik's distinctive terra cotta roofs. Some were repaired with tiles from a factory in Slovenia, some came from Agen, France but most were produced in northern Croatia.

Adrian climbs the steps to the Old Fort,
Dubrovnik, Croatia

The Last Days Of Pompeii, Italy

Pompeii is a ruined and partially buried Roman town-city near modern Naples in the Italian region of Campania, in the territory of the commune of Pompei. Along with Herculaneum, its sister city, Pompeii was destroyed and completely buried during a long catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius spanning two days in 79 AD.

The eruption buried Pompeii under 4 to 6 meters of ash and pumice, and it was lost for nearly 1,600 years before its accidental rediscovery around 1592. Since then, its excavation has provided an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of a city at the height of the Roman Empire. Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Italy, with approximately 2,500,000 visitors every year

The objects buried beneath Pompeii were remarkably well-preserved for almost two thousand years. The lack of air and moisture allowed for the objects to remain underground with little to no deterioration, which meant that, once excavated, the site had a wealth of sources and evidence for analysis, giving remarkable detail into the lives of the Pompeiians. Unfortunately, once exposed, Pompeii has been subject to both natural and man-made forces which have rapidly increased their rate of deterioration.

I didn't ruin the ruins, honest...
Adrian at the Ancient Ruins of Pompeii
Italy
21 Nov 08

Welcome to my Bar! Happy Hours in 10 minutes
Adrian at the Ancient Ruins of Pompeii
Italy
21 Nov 08

The Niagra Falls, USA and Canada

The Niagara Falls are voluminous waterfalls on the Niagara River, straddling the international border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York. The falls are 27 km north-northwest of Buffalo, New York and 120 km south-southeast of Toronto, Ontario, between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York.

Niagara Falls is composed of two major sections separated by Goat Island: Horseshoe Falls, the majority of which--two-thirds according to the US Geological Survey--lies on the Canadian side of the border, and American Falls on the American side.The smaller Bridal Veil Falls are also located on the American side, separated from the main falls by Luna Island.

Niagara Falls were formed when glaciers receded at the end of the Wisconsin glaciation (the last ice age), and water from the newly formed Great Lakes carved a path through the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean. While not exceptionally high, the Niagara Falls are very wide and is the most powerful waterfall in North America

We took a ride on The Maid In The Mist, a boat tour of Niagara Falls. (The actual boats used are each named Maid of the Mist, followed by a different Roman numeral in each case.) The boat starts off at a calm part of the Niagara River, near the Rainbow Bridge, and takes its passengers past the American and Bridal Veil Falls, then into the dense mist of spray inside the curve of the Horseshoe Falls. We were give ponchos to wear, and it didn't matter that is was raining the day we visited anyway, as naturally, everyone ends up getting wet!

Somehow, after the Victoria Falls on the Zim/Zam border, with lush jungle surrounding it, The Niagara Falls with all the large buildings surrounding it, seemed so wrong.

Ghani and Adrian at
Niagara Falls
NY
28 June 2009

Me at Niagara Falls
NY
28 June 2009

Niagara Falls
NY
28 June 2009

The American Falls
Niagara Falls
NY
28 June 2009

The American falls and The Bridal Veil Falls
Niagara Falls
NY
28 June 2009

The Horse Shoe Falls
Niagara Falls
NY
28 June 2009

In deep thought on board the Maid in the Mist
Niagara Falls
NY
28 June 2009

Gorging on Chocolates in Brugge

Everyone knows when you think of Belgium you think of chocolate. Belgium chocolate is world famous for being considered the best of the best.Located in the Flanders, the Dutch-speaking northern part of Belgium, Brugge is a postcard perfect stop on any tour of Europe.

The historical center is not so big and thus quite walkable. The only mode of public transport inside city is bus. Buses are operated by the Flemish public transport company De Lijn. Taxis can be found on the market place and station. Bicycles are easy to rent and make getting around the city very speedy, although the cobblestoned paths can make the rides a little bumpy and uncomfortable

Chocolate Shops here are plentiful and the standard is always high, so too are the boutique-style beer shops. Plenty of arts and crafts too, with some excellent local artists. A fairly cheap option is Stef's on Breidelstraat (betweeen Markt and Burg). If you are willing to spend a little more, Chocolatier Van Oost on Wollestraat is a must for high-quality artisinal chocolate. Word on the street is, that you can get ANYTHING covered in chocolate and moulded.

Ghani drooling
Brugge, Belgium
19 Sept 2008

MIM is Brugge, Belgium
19 Sept 2008

The only reason we came to Belgium
Brugge
19 Sept 2008