The Treats Truck, NYC

While in New York City yesterday, I happened upon The Treats Truck on 38th Street at 5th Avenue. Not one to pass up a meal, dessert, or other stomach filling substance, I checked it out.

As you can see from the photo above, I had to wait in line. This type of thing is what I like about New York. Right on the street, literally, you’ll find great food. In this case, it’s brownies and other sweets. Of course you’ll also encounter every type of food from a cart or truck that you can imagine. Let’s take a closer look at what’s on offer here:

Nice cookies! The hardest part is deciding which one you’d like. Buy a couple, maybe three. What could happen? With all the walking I do in NYC, I don’t worry about putting on the pounds. As you might imagine, I treated myself to an ice-cold Coca Cola after this, then went about my day.

Next time you’re in NYC, don’t be afraid to try the food from the “roach coaches.” You might be impressed.

Published in: on September 19, 2008 at 6:22 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Spices in Granada

In Granada, Spain, you’ll find a wonderful spice market located alongside the cathedral. You’ll find an amazing assortment of spices, dried flowers, nuts, and tea. Here’s a general look.

I like those retractable awnings that they call pull over in the event the weather turns sour. Check out that selection, everything from cinnamon to saffron and more. Here’s a view of the teas and dried flowers.

Each of these is supposed to have medicinal properties. Of course the people selling them swear by the cures and I’m inclined to believe that there can be some benefit from such concoctions.

As for me, well, I’m into flavorful food. You’ll find some of the best food in the world in Granada, Spain. In fact, I found the tapas there to be better than the same offerings in Madrid. The selection was more diverse, more flavorful, and a better value. Then again, I never had a bad meal in all of Spain.

Published in: on September 17, 2008 at 12:35 pm  Comments (2)  
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Giralda Tower, Sevilla, Spain

The Giralda Tower in Sevilla, Spain can not be missed. It’s a long hike up the ramps to the belfry and the view is worth the effort. The tower stands at the corner of the cathedral, another magnificent structure that has to be seen from within to be truly appreciated.

The tower itself has been changed many times over the intervening centuries. It started out as a minaret and evolved into the present structure thanks to plenty of meddling by various authorities. Nonetheless, it turned out quite beautiful. The bells up there hang in stately testament to the efforts of the Church.

The cathedral in Sevilla (photos of which are posted earlier in this blog) is worth several hours of your time. The details are amazing. Everything from the altar pieces to the stone carvings around the doors exhibit high baroque style as only could be done in Spain. The proceedings here during Semana Santa will take you back hundreds of years as well.

Published in: on September 16, 2008 at 3:51 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy

The Ponte Vecchio is probably one of the most photographed sights in Florence. Below is a panoramic shot taken before World War II.

The story goes that the bridge was first built by the Romans, which is probably true. The Romans hardly saw a river they didn’t bridge at least half a dozen times just because they could. Ponte Vecchio was noted in records gleaned from the year 996. Then it was destroyed in 1117 by a flood and again in 1333. So, it’s been a tough go over the centuries for this particular piece of real estate. Fortunately the bridge survived World War II, although buildings on both sides were destroyed to prevent the Allies crossing it easily. Luckily for us, we have photographic records like this to see what was.

I suppose the lesson once again, (and I mentioned this in an earlier post), is that you should print some of your photographs. If for no other reason, they will provide a record of the past for those people who inherit the future. I would recommend writing a few notes on the back of those photographs. A written document produced by contemporary sources is a rare and valuable find for historians. Your scribbling may become the lost link in a chain of events that today seem insignificant. Also, it may provide the context for a bigger issue, the details of which had been lost. Don’t spare the ink!

Published in: on September 15, 2008 at 2:33 pm  Leave a Comment  
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