Palermo, Sicily is a city of contrasts. It’s the fifth largest metropolis in Italy, with over a million people in the metro area. It’s also a very old city–almost 3,000 years of continuous existence. Most people think of the mafia when they hear “Palermo”–but the city is textured and interesting far beyond the Cosa Nostra connection.

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My friend Garrick leads a life that in many ways is similar to my own life. He is fabulous, in fact even more fabulous than me, and he knows how to live, eat, and travel in a way that allows one to maximize hedonism while fiercely appreciating the situation. He and his lovely wife Amy returned from what sounded like a bang-up trip to London, Spain, and Morocco and were kind enough to distill their months of research and planning and experience into one sweet little hotel guide for me! So if you find yourself going Iberian in the near future… by all means, you WANT to listen to these people. Trust me on that one! They have not yet led me astray. And, you will notice that in some cities they even tried out a couple of different places.

So consider this a guest post… Garrick, take it away!

GRANADA – Palacio del Patos
This is the place Amy said was way too cool for her.  It is probably the most stylish room I’ve ever stayed in.  In true TabletHotel fashion, style trumped substance, but what a fun place to stay!

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The MUSAC (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León) in Spain is probably my favorite museum I’ve never been to. These pictures will show you why:

It’s a magical rainbow museum!

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Prince Charles (you know, funny lookin’ guy, horsey wife, big ears, hottie sons, future King of England) fuels his Aston Martin with a fuel made from “surplus cheese and white wine.”

I have never heard of there being a surplus of cheese or white wine- in my house, there’s usually only a dearth of those two things, usually at the same time. I have never been keen on U.S. energy policy but when it comes to starting wars for oil vs. giving up the Pinot Grigio and Affinois, I can’t say definitively which side I come down on, but really, how bad could oil wars be?

Just kidding. But seriously, please don’t take my wine away.

[via Treehugger]

When folks heard we were heading to Northeastern China for the Ice and Snow Festivals, I found it interesting that EVERYONE asked if we were staying in an ice hotel. To which I replied, “Hell no! We’re staying in the hotel most likely to have heaters!” Sorry, but the idea of going to a super cold place to sleep on an ice bed doesn’t appeal, no matter how many reindeer skins you lay on me.

But it looks like you can get the best of both worlds at the Kakslauttanen Hotel in Finland by staying in these glass igloos.

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I was cooking with red wine just now, and had about half an open bottle, so I thought, heck, it’s Friday afternoon, I’m going to make myself a kalimotxo!

Kalimotxo (pronounced kah-lee-MOO-choe)  is a fancy Basque word meaning “1/2 red wine and 1/2 cola”. About 20 years ago we had a Basque exchange student and my family has been drinking them ever since.

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Are you tired of consuming your fried fish in an unseemly setting? May I suggest you head to Littlehampton, England, and you can chow all the cod n’ chips you like in the amazing Thomas Heatherwick-designed East Beach Café.

With crowds streaming in to catch a gander, folks have noticed the stunning structure is having a “Bilbao effect” on the little beachfront burg. I can see why. I wanna go! I wanna go! So where’s Littlehampton in relation to somewhere you might actually be, ie London? I did some research and it looks like it’s about a 2 hour drive, near Brighton. Here. I’ll even give you directions. And tell you that can also take the Southern Line from London. You’re welcome!

On my last trip to Dublin, we went to a little wine store called The French Paradox- and they have some light food there as well for lunch, in a lovely setting.

It was a little on the pricey side for the food (somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 euros for a salad), but the wine flight was reasonable (9 euros for 3 pours) and involved 3 tasty wines, no duds.  Plus it’s in Ballsbridge. Say it a few times. It really rolls right off the tongue. Ballsbridge. Ballsbridge. Ballllllsssssbridge.

Do you know what the term “French Paradox” refers to? I did not, but luckily Ross educated me. I love that they used it as the name of a restaurant! From Wikipedia:

“The French paradox is the observation that the French suffer a relatively low incidence of coronary heart disease, despite having a diet relatively rich in saturated fats. The phenomenon was first noted by Irish physician Samuel Black in 1819. The term French paradox was coined by Dr. Serge Renaud, a scientist from Bordeaux University in France in 1992.”

Find more info on the wine store and restaurant at The French Paradox, and give it a go for lunch if you find yourself in Dublin!

I got a request from a friend who was traveling to Nice, France since she is heading there for work. There is a restaurant there that is so good, so special, and so memorable that I wanted to tell everyone even though I myself haven’t been to Nice for about 5 years!

The restaurant is called La Merenda- you will not find much about it online, if anything. There is no phone, so you have to stop by during the day in person to make a reservation, then go back in the evening when it’s time to eat. It is a sublime example of well-done simplicity. The place is tiny and has extremely personable, professional service. The food is largely no-frills and totally divine. When I’m a billionaire I’m going to hire the chef to open a branch of the restaurant in my living room. I wish it was close enough to be my local neighborhood haunt! If you find yourself in Nice or nearby, don’t miss it.

the info:
La Merenda
4 rue Terrasse
Nice, France