Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Deja vu

Dinner?

A bowl of blackberries and a sandwich on a baguette with mozzerella and honey.

I put on some of my favorite latin beats and was immediately taken back to the gold-moss covered cliffs of las islas cíes. The wind, miles of the northern Atlantic, the refreshing feeling of not wearing a backpack. It was all there.

Did I mention I can finally walk with a straight back again? It took awhile but here I am, looking like Miss America.

On the plus side, I received a 97 per cent on a German quiz! I also had a nice chat with the founder of the Ritz Carlton after my hospitality intro class. He was here to give a lecture, instead, he gave a motivational speech. I was wide-eyed and all ears.


¨Dream. Believe. Dare. Do.¨
                      ---Walt Disney

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Piano Class

I´ve had a performance in my Piano course every week for the past three weeks. It´s exhausting, but paying off.

After playing a series of musicals, the professor, a graduate student, wants me to start playing more traditional repetoire. eek! So she recommended a website and I found gold, aka, everything Chopin ever wrote!! With that, I´m taking on the challenge of Chopin´s Nocture 9 Op. 1.

I´ve been wanting to play an authentic Chopin piece for years (authentic meaning original, not arranged) and here is my window of opportunity. The prof wanted me to play a Mazurka but I couldn´t find one I clicked with. It will be a longer road to play these four pages flawlessly, but I´m imagining my parents standing by the door to listen when they hear me play. I love playing when I think I´m alone only to find my mom doing paperwork behind me by the end of the piece.

It´s as enlivening as my midday swims in Swiss glaciar water.

Next up: Flaxmilk, unsweetened.

Definitely watery, a slightly dry flavor but not powdery. On the plus side, it has 30% Calcium and 25% of your daily dose of Vitamin B12 per 8 fl oz. It has a bit of a grain undertone that I find pleasant over a nice bowl of müsli. White and translucent in color; soft in texture. I actually drink a lot of flaxmilk in the States, but I recommend hemp milk if your new to ¨exotic¨ milks.

Well, we have worked our way into a new tradition. My parents like to see me on weekends (yes, every weekend) so that means we go to the Strip. It´s only three miles away or so. If they come early, we go to the Fashion Show mall. If they come late, we just walk around a few casinos, stop for coffe or dessert. We favor the  Venetian, the Bellaggio, and the Aria. The watershow infront of the Bellaggio never fails to impress us.

One time, we stopped for a cupcake with straberry champagne frosting. This thing even had glitter on it.

Today it was just my mom and I at the Fashion Show. Believe it or not, we spent over seven hours there today. Bloomingdale´s is closing its doors so we hit the sale wracks with fury and walked away with two bargain blankets, which we are extremely proud of. We also walked away with two tops for Mother, two pairs of pants for me, and an incredible blend of chai tea. A true bonding experience between mother and daughter.

The strip is an amazing sight at night. As much as people talk trash about Las Vegas, it does have its own flavor and beauty. Think Vegas cheesy? What´s cheesy about a lion´s den in the middle of a casino? What´s inauthentic about the Bellaggio´s technology to put water shows on every night that are timed to fit different songs? What´s boring about talented people performing in Cirque du Soleil shows? Yes, Vegas has its share of tourist shops, but so does everyother  city. And remember, you cna´t get a gaudier shot glass anywhere else. Las Vegas is constantly reinventing itself to fit what travelers are looking for: fun, no matter the cost.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Hello my Dear Readers!

I´m very sorry for not keeping up with my blog. My only excuse is this: I have nothing to say. I didn´t want to bore you with my everyday routine. It can be monotonous, yes, even in fabulous Las Vegas.

In any event, here is something you may find interestering...

The other day, my mom came over with a bag full of milk cartons. This wasn´t your typical ¨low far¨or ¨whole¨, nope. She had brought me alternative milks.

Flaxseed, Coconut, Almond, Hazelnut, and Hemp.

I must have been happier than George Washington without the regret of chopping down that cherry tree. It was that liberating.

Naturally I started with the Hemp milk. The following is my comprehensive review:


Although I was expecting a watery consistency, the hemp milk was thick and it poured out smoothly. Surprising for a non-dairy beverage. It had an off'white color, nearly beige, but it wasn´t completely homogenous. It had, for lack of a better description, tiny black dots throughout. They didn´t have any taste, just something I wasn´t used to seeing in milk. (Yes, I checked the expiration date...not for another ten months).  It has a surprisingly high nutritional content, as well: Calcium, Vitamin D, Riboflavin, and Phosphorus are on top. This kind of hemp was the unsweetened kind and after this, I would never buy the kind with flavors. It was too refreshing. It already a hint of brown rice syrup and I think that shines through enough. Overall, I am impressed with this product (Pacific brand, all natural Hemp non-dairy beverage, original). I would buy it again, and maybe even put some in my coffee or with my Crema de Orujo...


And as I write to you know, I´m sitting in my apartment with the sun streaming through the blinds, listening to Chopin´s Mazurkas, and drinking some Hazelnut milk.