This is AJ. He’s nearly two and he says, “Oh snap! Mariel’s back in the US errybody!”

I wasn’t going to post a Tourist Tuesday today, but the one thing I should know by now is that every time I come back to the US and see people, everybody wants a shout out. So here it is, part 1 one of my adventures back in the DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia).

Ryan and I arrived on Friday and immediately went to CVS so I could buy giant bottles of Dayquil and Nyquil and so he could get a Gatorade. We marveled at the coldness of the Gatorade and the large size of everything. We then walked over to a nearby Mexican restaurant and got the most giant basket of chips, which they refilled when we ate them all. I love America and the refills. Speaking of food – we have been eating well. We went to Bon Chon, which is a delicious Korean fried chicken place. I have never tasted crispier skin. Amazing. I also bought Tagalongs from some Girl Scouts outside of the super market. I would’ve bought more but, I didn’t have any more cash – and then I found out Ryan was holding out and had more cash. But, it was ok because we also have Berger cookies, which are super fudgey cookies made in Baltimore. And yesterday my friends gave me a bag of crab chips – so to reiterate, I’m eating well (and by well I mean I’m eating tasty, not healthy).

Now I have done some other things besides eat. The main reason I’m here this week is for my best friend Mala’s wedding this coming Saturday. Her bridal shower was this past Saturday because her first one got snowed out. Needless to say, I was glad her first one was canceled because then I got to attend! Unfortunately, I behaved like a food blogger and only took pictures of the food at her bridal shower and I took no photos of people. Oops. But, the shower was really lovely especially because I got to hang out with Mala and catch up with my college friends Jackie, Kim, Lynn, and Norma. It was fun to tell old stories and hear new stories about babies and houses and running half marathons in the rain. I also tried on my sari for Mala and she and her sister helped me pin it. For the actual wedding, I’ll be sure to take picture of the sari and not just the food. Speaking of food, on Sunday we had brunch with my parents. We went to a nearby diner and my dad had French toast with bread that was an inch thick! It was astounding.

Yesterday I drove to Maryland to spend the day with my friends Emily, Emily, Kelly, Lisa, and Rachel. They are my oldest friends and I’ve known them for over twenty years. We went to my friend Emily’s house, and it’s her son AJ who is at the top of the post. I won that kid over pretty well thanks to all my experience at the Science Museum. I made a bubble carousel, which also impressed the grown ups, and I made him a house made out of letter tiles. Also I got in his tiny tent that has a ball pit in it, and he thought that was pretty hilarious.

But, most importantly, I got to see my friends. We sat around all day and talked. We also went on a short walk and talked. Ryan had said to me that when you’re a kid, you never understand why adults have so much fun just sitting around together, but now that we are adults it’s easy to see that it’s fun just to be together and laugh – you don’t always have to do something.

To be honest, it’s been both nice and weird to be back here. I know how to get around, I have favorite restaurants, and everything feels familiar. At the same time, it feels a little weird. I’m staying in a hotel less than half a mile from where I used to live. I’m driving a lot. And all the buildings are so new and things are so clean and spacious. It feels foreign from what feels like home now. It was jarring to feel both like I belong and like I don’t. But, spending time with my friends and family felt wonderful and like I still have a home here even if I don’t have an address. It’s cheesy I know, but I liked seeing that I can have a roots in two places.

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Update 18 November 2015: In this post I originally wrote about a company called RelayRides. They have since rebranded and are now called Turo. All links below have been updated.

I woke up this morning and there was snow on the ground. Not much. Nothing compared to what my family in the US is dealing with. But it was there. And for me, that was it. I’m done with winter. I’m officially dreaming of warm weather and spring vacations to sunny climates. However, my next big trip isn’t a tropical escape, but I am really excited about it. In March I’m heading to Washington, DC (for the first time since moving to London) for my best friend Mala’s wedding! I absolutely can’t wait. I’ve been planning who I’m going to see and where I’m going to eat.

Then, I heard about the RelayRides travel-must haves challenge, and I thought, “yeah, maybe I should think about what to pack.” Because what you bring can help ease travel stress and help start the vacation off right. So I decided to participate in the challenge and make my own travel essential list. 

If you haven’t heard of RelayRides, they are a pretty cool company that I’m excited to check out further when I’m in DC. RelayRides is a peer-to-peer car rental company. So basically, you can rent cars directly from the car owner. No more being confused about fees and rules and gas (like I was when we rented a car over Christmas). This system seems so much easier. And as an owner, you can list your car, approve who uses it, and choose where and when you rent it.  There’s even airport rentals! It seems pretty cool and more accessible than regular car rental. Also, if you’re a city person who doesn’t use you car everyday (like I totally used to be), it seems like a genius idea to make a little money with a car that would otherwise just be sitting there.

But let’s get back to the list. The actual traveling part of traveling can be a challenge. I hope this list will help you get comfortable, combat travel funk, and help you stay relaxed. I haven’t included the obvious things like travel documents, your computer, your phone, or your phone charger. Those are beyond essential, they are common sense. Overall, I think this list can work for short weekend trips or long overseas adventures. Hope it helps and inspires you to take a trip soon too! Now without any further ado here’s my list in two parts. Part one is the basics, part two is what you pack in your carry on.

1. A Backpack with lots of pockets – I don’t like having everything dumped into one black pit of a bag. Lots of little pockets helps keeps me organized, which means I can find what I want and keep my travel stress to a minimum. Ryan and I have this North Face backpack, which works wells. It’s unisex design means on day trips we can share carrying it with no embarrassment. It’s also perfect for an airplane carry on.

2. Fuzzy socks – It’s awful to be stuck on a long ride and be cold. I always bring socks so I can feel cozy, which helps me sleep better if I’m on a long bus or plane ride. I pack socks in my bag even in the summer because you never know how high the AC will be.

3. Toothbrush and Toothpaste – This is so important when you’re taking long flights, trains, or bus rides. There is something about long bursts of travel that makes your mouth taste awful. Bring this little kit and you have everything you need to feel a little fresher. The small plastic pouch is also great because you can stick in a lip balm, some bobby pins, or a few other tiny things you may need. If you’re only doing a day trip, then substitute the toothbrush and paste for mints. You never regret having nice breath.

4. Comfortable underwear – You might think this is a ridiculous one, but I stand by it. There are so many ways that traveling can be uncomfortable. You don’t want your underwear falling down while lifting a heavy bag. And you don’t want it creeping up while you’re stuck in a tiny airplane seat. Wear comfy undies! I like Under Armour underwear the best for travel. They are soft, breathable, and stay in place.

5. Light layers – This particular jacket is on my wishlist, it’s the LL Bean Discovery Rain Jacket, which folds down into a tiny bag. Again, it can be cold or hot while in transit – and then when you get where you’re going you want to be ready for anything. A light jacket is perfect. I’m lusting after the LL Bean one largely because it’s waterproof and a space saver.

6. Headphones – This should be intuitive and go along with my phone and computer, but somehow I always forget headphones. For me they are a must so I can list to my podcasts, movies, and music while I’m waiting to board or riding the bus. I used to be against the kind that sticks in your ears like this, but now I like how they block out noise. My favorites are Skullcandy Headphones.

7. Lip balm – This is a hugely girl thing to say but  here it is: I get complainy when I have dry lips so lip balm is a must. My favorite right now is eos Blueberry Acai lip balm. It doesn’t really fit in a pocket, which means it has to live in the backpack, and that means I don’t forget it. Also in a real pinch, you can use a bit of lip balm to tame some frizz. It’s weird but true.

8. Baby wipes – This is the thing I never remember and always want. Perfect for removing travel stink after a long flight, and also good for cleaning your hands after you have a picnic of greasy street food.

9. Snacks – You never know when hungry is going to turn into hangry (hungry+angry). Always keep snacks! I like to keep something for both me and Ryan. I like something with a little protein, like the KIND Cranberry Almond Bars to keep us full. I also like something sweet, like Sour Patch Kids, to keep us happy.

10. Water Bottle – Cheaper and more earth friendly than buying water when you’re out in the world. This Vapur 0.5 Litres Anti-Bottle doesn’t hold a ton, but it folds down so it’s easy to carry and not heavy at all.

11. Inflatable Neck Pillow – I used to be anti-neck pillow, but now I love them. Keeps you from getting a cramp in your neck on a long flight. And, if you have the middle seat it keeps your head up so you don’t slump onto strangers. Inflatable is great too because it flattens down so it’s not in the way when you don’t need it.

12. Camera – I have a Nikon COOLPIX, it’s a fancy-ish point and shoot camera and I love it. For so long I was just using my camera phone thinking everything was ok, but it wasn’t. A real camera gives you better clarity, more zoom, and overall nicer photos. Yeah, the camera takes up a ton of space, but it’s worth it for capturing your memories.

Ok, that’s my must have of things. But, here’s a bonus, three tips for things to do before your trip so you can stay relaxed after. 

1. Take out the trash.
2. Clean out the fridge.
3.  Tidy up a bit. (As in empty the dishwasher, put away the laundry or scrub the toilet… whatever needs doing)

Do these three things and you won’t come home to smells, things growing, or chores. You will be so happy that past you was such a smartie! When you return home you’ll get to sit on the couch and simply bask in the glow of your holiday.

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Part of the reason I love Rome is that I studied abroad there seven years ago during my junior year. Living in Rome was the first time I was away from home for so long and the first time I lived in a city. I ate so much pizza, pasta, and gelato. My roommates and I also cooked dinner together almost every night and befriended the local shop owners. We’d buy the fresh pesto and the guys in the store would give us free chocolate. My roommate Inga became one of my best friends, and with our upstairs neighbors Charlie and Michelle, we tore up the city.

We toured all over and took lots of day trips to nearby gardens and beaches. We went dancing at Coyote Bar in Testaccio, which depending on your point of view is a bar that is super authentic/divey/sketchy. We befriended the DJ and he’d let us dance on the stage and he’d play any song we liked. My classes were also awesome. I took Italian, Classics, and two art history classes. My art classes were mostly outside touring churches, museums, and ruins. It was all the best parts of college amplified. I remember going out dancing, coming home at 6am to the fruit vendors opening their stands. My friends and I went to bed for about three hours and then went to meet an Italian friend of a friend who was going to show us a church. Hope you enjoy the throwback pictures – try not to judge the duck face.

I also love Rome because it is where I fell in love with Ryan. He and I had been dating for less than two months when I left for Rome. I was sad to leave him and worried about what was going to happen. But it all worked out. Ryan had studied in Rome the year before me and set me up right. He lent me guidebooks to the city. He lent me The First Man in Rome, a historical fiction book about the Roman Republic, which sparked my interest in the city’s history. He also made me a map and marked off his favorite places to eat and tour. We also talked over Skype every day (and I had a headset like a telemarketer). We even met up in Spain for spring break. When I left Rome, I couldn’t wait to one day come back together.

Anyway without further ado here are pictures from this weekend’s trip. We took the bus from Ciampino to Termini and then walked to our rental flat in Campo dei Fiori.

We dropped our bags and then stopped for pizza. It was glorious! So crunchy, the ingredients so fresh, and also so tasty!

After that we decided to hike over toward the Vatican. We passed Castel Sant’Angelo. And we admired St. Peter’s Basilica and the beautiful piazza designed by Bernini.

But our real reason for heading that way was to eat at Old Bridge Gelato. It is the best gelato we have ever had. The places is a small hole in the wall on the way to the Vatican Museum’s entrance. It doesn’t look like much, but for €2 you can have heaven.

We then walked over toward Ryan’s old place. We sat one some nearby steps and people watched. We also went to the grocery store and loaded up on Kinder chocolates, lemon Fanta, and buffalo mozzarella. Ryan made me laugh so hard that I spit out soda (and then people stared at us).

After that we went back to Campo dei Fiori and got dressed for dinner. We went to Alfredo e Ada, a place I went to seven years ago with my art history TA and his friend who were visiting Rome. The restaurant  is down a windy road, it is cozy, and the interior is wood paneled. They have a small menu, written on the paper table cloth, that lists just a few options for first, second, and side courses. It’s simple and with some of the best cooked pasta I’ve had.

The next day we walked our butts off. I did a rough Google mapping of what we did, and we walked somewhere around 13 miles. We walked around the grounds of Villa Borghese, we looked down on the Piazza del Popolo, we ate pizza at Ryan’s favorite shop Pizza Rustica. And we walked to the Spanish steps and down Via del Corso and looked in the shops.

Then we went to the Forum. As students Ryan and I used to visit the Forum all the time. Visiting used to be free, but now it costs €12 for the Forum, Colosseum, and Palatine. We were sad that it wasn’t free anymore, but we were happy to pay the price. We also saw some new ruins we hadn’t seen before.

After that we headed to the Colosseum, which was so much better than I remembered. I didn’t remember being able to go up as high as we did. The stairs were really steep but worth the climb. They had a small museum exhibit about the inner working of the Colosseum and they showed how animals were lifted into the arena. They also had skeletons of bears, wolves, and boars! It was crazy.

For dinner we crossed the Tiber and went into Trastevere. We ate at Carlo Menta, which was where my friends and I used to go. The food is pretty good and the price is amazing. Instead of both ordering a first and second course, Ryan and I decided to share three pastas. We had pesto gnocchi, carbonara, and cacio e pepe. The pesto was so good and I realized I haven’t had good pesto since the last time I was in Italy.

After dinner we walked around Trastevere and it brought back so many memories! Ryan and I walked from dinner to my old apartment building. It reminded me of walking home from school, of going out for breakfast at a nearby cafe, and the time Inga and I tried to play Italian Bingo but couldn’t figure out how to do it. To get to my apartment you used to have to walk through a dirt lot and alley way. Today, it is under construction and being paved. It looks much nicer, but I sort of missed the grit and scary charm (below is a before and after). The apartment building itself looks like the same and still has the same graffiti. It was great fun checking it out and reminiscing about what it was like the first day we arrived.

On Sunday we decided to be more low key. We spent a lot of time at the Pantheon, which is my favorite building in Rome. It is an architectural marvel. I just love it. Inside is a perfect sphere! You could fit a giant basketball inside. Also creating the dome with an oculus – just freaking genius.

We also spent some time at Piazza Navona eating mozzarella and people watching.Before dinner we went to Lungo Il Tevere, a summer festival along the Tiber. Then we went back to Trastevere for dinner. I like Trastevere a lot because there are so many vendors selling jewelry, art, and nonsense things. There are also lots of outdoor restaurants where you can just look around and absorb the wonderful city. It’s a busy and vibrant area. Monday was our last day. We visited Santa Maria Maggiore and a few other sites. We made sure to eat more pizza and gelato. Also, we found shady spots and relaxed. I loved just being in the city, looking at the beautiful buildings, and feeling like a part of the Rome. I made Ryan promise me that would come back every 7-10 years forever. I continue to love Rome.

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On Tuesday, Ryan and I had an appointment to set up a bank account. We arrive at the bank and the person we were supposed to meet was out sick. Also, part of the ceiling had collapsed so things were a mess. We had to reschedule. Sigh.

I then had an appointment to see an apartment. The place was very close to the tube station and in a cute development, but in a very residential place, and we wanted something a little more urban. I get to the place and the owner shows me around. Some parts were really nice, and some parts were not. There was black gunk on the bathroom floors! It must have shown in my face because the owner asked me twice why I didn’t like it. Awkward.

Next, I went to a department store to buy some underwear. (Sorry for the intimate detail) The sizing is all different and I’m holding things up and Googling size conversions to see what might work.

Finally, I went to a coffee shop. I had a huge pile of coins in my purse and I was trying to figure out if I had enough to pay (because I don’t know the coins by heart yet) and then I spilled everything all over the floor. So embarrassing! Ryan and I had just read an article that said only Americans help other people in distress. And maybe that’s true, because no one offered to help me clean up my scattered coins. I took my coffee and pastry and slunk to a hidden seat in the back of the cafe.

But, the day turned around and Ryan and I explored a new neighborhood and had a great dinner at a small Turkish restaurant.

Since then, I’ve had some really great wins too. I went to the Globe Theatre! I love Shakespeare. Ten years ago, I visited London and didn’t see the Globe and I’ve regretted it ever since. I decided to walk there and I’m so glad I did! It was sunny, I walked along the Thames and took pictures of the skyline. The theatre itself was pretty impressive and I loved learning the history. I loved picturing what it would have been like in Shakespeare’s day, and I hope I can convince someone to see a show with me there.

I then got lunch and ate outside along the Thames. Only a few weeks ago I was in DC surrounded by snow, and here I am now eating lunch outside.

Ryan and I also have successfully set up a bank account, done some laundry, and gone to the grocery store.

In general I love going to the grocery store, and it has been especially fun seeing the new and different things here in London. Grocery shopping and cooking has really helped this place feel like home. There’s so much here I don’t know how to do, but shopping and cooking feels like an adventure I do know about, and is something I can do well.

They have all kinds of cool stuff in the grocery store. Their cheese section is huge! Seriously, there are about 4 different sections for cheese. There’s also a huge section for beans. The portion sizes are way smaller than we’re used to. The family sized juice is about the size of regular juice. The eggs aren’t refrigerated. But what I really thought was cool was that the cartons tell you the breed of chicken. I also saw quail and duck eggs, which I’ve never seen before. I will definitely need to figure out how to use those. There’s also beet juice! I need to try that, although I’m a bit afraid. Also, I saw brown sugar, which is totally normal. But, it was advertised as “treacly.” I didn’t know what that meant, so I had to look  it up. Finally the milk jugs look different and so do Starbucks to-go drinks.

Also, next time I go to the store I’m going to do a “myth busters” edition, where I’ll hunt down all the things people said we couldn’t find here in London. Stay tuned!

Anyway, I didn’t go crazy shopping in the store. Ryan and I are in temporary housing so I don’t want to make things that need a lot of ingredients. I need recipes that are low maintenance, can be made exclusively on the stove, and fairly healthy. A stir fry seemed perfect.

This is really an improv dish, so use the vegetables you like and trust your instincts. Use more veggies if you like. Cook until it looks good to you. Do what feels right. This is a super easy dish, quick, and great for people not wanting to do a ton of work.

Ingredients:

1 cup uncooked rice

1 large carrot

1 1/2 cup broccoli florets

½ cup peas

4 (or more) white mushrooms

1 pound chicken breast, cut into chunks

About 2 tbsp of concentrated chicken stock (you could also use regular chicken stock, I just bought the small concentrated packets from the store)

olive oil

salt & pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Put 1 cup of rice and 2 cups of water in a medium sauce pan. Heat on high until the water comes to a boil. Turn the heat to low, cover the pot, and let simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the water is absorbed.

2. On medium high, heat a little oil in a sauce pan. Add the carrots and broccoli. Season with salt and pepper if you like. Add 1/2 the chicken stock concentrate. Also add about 1 tbsp of water to help make the stock saucy. Cook the vegetables for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally but not constantly. It might take longer than 10 minutes, but you want the vegetables to be easily chewable with a little bit of crunch.

3. Remove from pan, add a splash of olive oil, then add the mushrooms and peas. You’re doing this in steps so everything can cook evenly and the vegetables that need longer get longer. Cook for about 5+ minutes. You want the peas to be soft and mushrooms to be soft and a bit smaller and wilted.

4. Remove mushrooms and peas from pan. Add a flick of olive oil and add the chicken. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until the chicken is all the way cooked through. This could take as little as 5 minutes, but close to 10 minutes depending on thickness of the meat.

5. When the chicken is all the way cooked through, add all the vegetables back in. Add the rest of the chicken stock and another tablespoon of water. Stir to get everything coated. Taste it and adjust seasonings as necessary.

6. Serve the stir fry on top of the rice. Eat and enjoy!

Messy level: 2 spoons. The messiest part is just switching out everything between the pans. You could do everything in multiple pans if you wanted, but I only have 2 burners, and that would be super messy. Mostly, this is a super clean dish.

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Throughout the flight I was excited and ready to arrive, but once I landed I was filled with fear. First, I live here now. This is where we live! This is real. It hit me all at once. And second, I got scared that maybe I wouldn’t be able to find Ryan at the airport. I know that seems small, but we had a rough go at an airport before. I had flashbacks to seven years earlier when Ryan and I were supposed to meet in Madrid. Weather had gotten in the way, things went horribly wrong, and we did not meet each other. Luckily, Ryan and I saw each other immediately and I had no reason to be afraid. He had gotten there early and was ready and waiting to meet me. Everything is going to be all right. We took the tube home to our new flat, it was pleasant and easy. And that was that, I now live in London. 

Our current flat is cute but very tiny. Here’s a picture of the temporary home of cooking is messy. It has a sink, a refrigerator (bottom right cabinet) and two burners. Oh and of course, an electric kettle. I am in England after all. The kitchen also came with a knife block, some dishes, cups, and utensils. In one of my giant suitcases, I brought some additional kitchen items like oven mitts, spatulas, and cookbooks. With all that, I think I’ll be able to make at least a few things for the blog. We’re going to try spaghetti today, but I’ll work on being fancier in the future. But I can’t get too crazy, there’s a little sign that says there’s a £200 fine for setting the fire alarm off for “heavy cooking.” Eep. So I better be careful.

In general news, Ryan and I spent the day walking around our area of London. We bought breakfast at a local shop then ate in a park. We went to King’s Cross where I got to push the cart at Platform 9 3/4. I love Harry Potter and was really excited for this! We also went to lunch in a pub where we had what we knew to be traditional pub food. Each of us had a pint, Ryan had fish and chips, and I had bangers & mash. I gotta say, I’m no Brit because one pint at 2:00pm made me flushed. But it was all a really tasty meal. We then walked around the British Museum until we were overheated and exhausted. All in all, a great first day in London.

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