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Author: Aukse

Explore London’s National Gallery: Art and Architecture

Explore London’s National Gallery: Art and Architecture

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During our Summer, 2024 trip to London, Brian and I were super excited to visit the National Gallery, which boasts THREE Caravaggio paintings. We were quite disappointed to learn, though, that while we were visiting, two of the three paintings were going to be off on loan elsewhere. This gap was made up for, however, with the addition of Caravaggio’s final painting, “The Martyrdom of St. Ursula,” which is normally in Naples, Italy. Check out my Caravaggio page as well…

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Ibagari Boutique Hotel, Roatan: Stunning Island Design Hotel Away From Cruise Ship Crowds

Ibagari Boutique Hotel, Roatan: Stunning Island Design Hotel Away From Cruise Ship Crowds

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We stayed at the Ibagari Boutique Hotel in Roatan, Honduras, for seven nights in early February 2025 for our annual anniversary trip. Since we are trying to visit each country in Central America, Roatan was the easy choice for visiting Honduras. Relatively safe and easily accessible from the United States, I chose Ibagari due to its size (less than 20 rooms!), very cool design elements, and distance from the more popular tourist spots on the island frequented by the cruise…

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Juveniles Wine Bar: Lively Paris Spot for Wine and Exceptional Local French Ingredients

Juveniles Wine Bar: Lively Paris Spot for Wine and Exceptional Local French Ingredients

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On our recent trip to Paris in November of 2024, my focus was not only to see a bunch of art (success!) but also to eat some incredible food and drink incredible wines. In Paris, you don’t need to eat at Michelin starred restaurants to eat well, and Juveniles Wine Bar supplied our favorite meal that wasn’t Michelin rated. Juveniles Wine Bar is located about a 5-10 minute walk just north of The Louvre, and is a tiny little spot…

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A Review of Afternoon Tea at Roast: A Meat-Heavy Twist on a London Tradition

A Review of Afternoon Tea at Roast: A Meat-Heavy Twist on a London Tradition

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When you’re planning a trip to London, and you are tasked with choosing where to go for just ONE afternoon tea during your trip, the options are completely overwhelming. There are traditional teas like at Fortnum and Mason (one of my favorite shopping stops in the city!) or Claridge’s, and there are ultra-modern teas like at the Rosewood London, as well as hundreds of other tiny spots to grab a cuppa all over the city. My choice was primarily ruled…

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Considering Colonization And Its Impacts At The British Museum

Considering Colonization And Its Impacts At The British Museum

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During our recent summer trip to London in 2024, we, of course, visited The British Museum. This museum is at the top of any London travel list, although coming here is more than just viewing all sorts of antiquities and artifacts from all over the world. While doing so, you are also forced to reckon with the question of why are all of these things here in London? There is a funny meme that asks, “Why are the Pyramids in…

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Palazzo Caruso: A Boutique Luxury Stay in the Heart of Rome’s Historic Center

Palazzo Caruso: A Boutique Luxury Stay in the Heart of Rome’s Historic Center

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We stayed at Palazzo Caruso on our recent weekend trip to Rome in January of 2025. This was the second time that we’ve stayed here, and though it has not been renovated since 2019, the rooms are still quite fresh and comfortable. We love Palazzo Caruso for it’s location, price, and the fact that you are made to feel like a part of the famiglia while here! The Location Palazzo Caruso is located right in Piazza Barberini, an extremely central…

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Retrobottega Restaurant, Rome: A Hidden Gem for an Unforgettable Dining Experience

Retrobottega Restaurant, Rome: A Hidden Gem for an Unforgettable Dining Experience

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Boy, I was really worried that we wouldn’t be hip enough to dine at Retrobottega in Rome. It’s dark and moody, there are communal tables, the staff is young and perky, and the front of house is jammed full of local Roman 20-somethings hanging out drinking delicious wines and snacking. Luckily, we weren’t the only ones here over the age of 40, and the lovely staff were welcoming, friendly, and attentive. I really should never worry while eating out in…

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RPM Italian: Deeply Disappointing Dinner in Chicago

RPM Italian: Deeply Disappointing Dinner in Chicago

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We recently dined at RPM Italian, excited to try their restaurant week menu. However, when we arrived and realized that the price for restaurant week ($60) was not worth it for the food options offered, we decided to eschew restaurant week for their normal menu. Unfortunately, the food here was extremely disappointing, and they really need to work on describing the food better on their menu, not only here but at RPM Steak as well. It was so bad, that…

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Hidden For Centuries: The Rare Caravaggio You Can Only See In Rome at Palazzo Barberini Right Now

Hidden For Centuries: The Rare Caravaggio You Can Only See In Rome at Palazzo Barberini Right Now

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We recently returned from Rome for a totally intense weekend trip JUST to come to this museum to view one Caravaggio painting, never before on view to the public. The Portrait of Maffeo Barberini has been in a private collection for the last, essentially, 400 years, and hasn’t been seen by anyone alive apart from the folks who own it and those who know them. Indeed, they hadn’t even allowed actual Caravaggio experts and scholars (let alone amateur enthusiasts like…

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Esme Chicago Review: Culinary Brilliance That Deserves A More Inviting Setting

Esme Chicago Review: Culinary Brilliance That Deserves A More Inviting Setting

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It’s restaurant week (more like month!) here in Chicago, and I always try to check out a few new spots each year, since the menu is usually such a great deal. Often, there are a handful of Michelin-starred restaurants offering a shortened tasting menu. Last year we checked out Boka, which I thought was really excellent, but had a somewhat uninspired restaurant week menu, making me want to go back and check out their normal prix fixe fare. This year,…

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