San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua - Treat yo'self (food and drink)

So besides the hardy but delicious meat dinner we had at our hotel, we had many other phenomenal meals in San Juan Del Sur. In fact, we really didn't have a bad meal during our whole trip. I'm separating the food posts into two, one for higher end stuff (although we're still only talking maybe $15-20 per person, including booze). Unfortunately, San Juan Del Sur does not seem to be the most vegetarian friendly place (at least restaurant-wise), but the fruit and vegetables were certainly some of the most flavorful I've ever had, and as more hippie expats move down there, that may change.

On our first day, the group we had been surfing with headed to the restaurant/bar within the luxury resort Pelican Eyes to have a drink while watching the sunset over the harbor (see above). San Juan Del Sur's harbor faces almost exactly West, and the sunset was always framed in a really beautiful way by the hills on either side of the harbor. We had a Macua (see below), which is apparently the Nicaraguan national drink. Of course it was rum-based (everything is rum-based there) and had lots of delicious tropical fruits (according to wikipedia, it's usually lemon and guava juice but I'm pretty sure this had some grapefruit in it too, possibly orange and mango, as well...)

After the sun set, my boyfriend and I went to Josslyn's, which is right on the beach - not that we could see the beach but we could hear the waves and it was a pleasant ambiance. Now, one thing you should probably understand about me is that I really don't like most seafood, so going to ocean-side towns tends to be a bit rough on me sometimes. However, that wasn't the case this time around. I ordered a fish in garlic sauce and it was exquisite. I normally don't like most fish, but it was moist and flavorful and not uber-fishy. Unfortunately I don't know exactly what kind of fish it was. It tasted sort of like salmon except it wasn't. I believe my boyfriend ordered shrimp and he loved it. We also had drinks: a pina colada and a strawberry daiquiri, both of which hit the spot after a rather long day. I think the whole meal cost us $37 (with tip and tax and everything)

The next night we went to El Barrio Cafe, which is sort of what we had used as an "anchor" to learn our way around because the market is right across the street and it's basically in the center of the town. It was pretty crowded, although there was a Harley convention in town. Both Mike and I got the filet mignon and it was definitely in my top 5 most delicious steaks of all time. It was tender, cooked just right with that slight char on the outside and came in a creamy mushroom sauce that complimented but didn't overpower the meat. Oh, and did I mention it was $10? Yes, $10USD. Amazing.

Our third night we had our meat plates at the hotel and then our fourth night we tried to go to a Mediterranean restaurant called El Calibri because we heard it was the best restaurant in town but unfortunately they're closed Monday nights so we didn't get to try it. If you do go, chances are you'll have to make a reservation because another couple at our hotel tried to go one night but had to make a reservation for the next night because the wait was just too long. Instead, we went to El Timon, and I will say that this was by far our most mediocre meal. Another beach restaurant, we went at sunset and they had live music. You can actually sit right on the beach (though I feel like this is more for drinking and less for eating unless you don't mind sand in your food). But the fish wasn't nearly as good as at Josslyn's or at the hotel. I would say probably not really worth your time when there are so many other good places to choose from.

Freestyle Cruises - Know Before You Go

So-called "Freestyle" cruises are really the primary type of cruise that seems to exist anymore. Here's what it means (at least on Norwegian Cruise Lines) and some of the things you should know before you board the ship:

• Cruises are basically impossible to do on the cheap. Even if you get a "deal" for the base price, the extra costs add up quickly. Only go if you can afford to spend at least a few thousand dollars on this trip. 
• It is REALLY easy to lose track of how much you're spending. Your room key also serves as your "credit card" (they connect it to a credit card when you board) and so it's easy to feel like you're not actually spending money since it's your room key you're swiping. You are constantly waited on hand-and-foot, so it's so easy to say "sure, I'll have another drink," and it's not like you can check on how much you've spent so far by looking at your credit card statement online. They do give you receipts though so if you're diligent, you can keep track that way.
• Your time is not structured, you can participate or not participate in activities exactly as you please.  When you go to meals, you go whenever you want and sit where ever you want. That's why they're called "freestyle," as opposed to some cruises where things are more scheduled, you may sit with a certain party at each meal, etc.
• Excursions away from the boat cost extra (prices should be outlined in the list of options) but they make it super simple for you. They literally shuttle you to shore and to your destination and then shuttle you back so you don't have to worry about a thing. You may or may not have some free time to shop or eat near port after your activity. Some of the excursions will take you on a shopping detour. All of this shopping will be tourist trap stuff but some of it is worthwhile (we got a really nice stone mask in Mexico and some cheap rum in the Cayman Islands).
• If you purchase booze on shore at one of your excursions, you don't get it back until the end of the cruise. They hold it for you, supposedly for legal/tax reasons but really I think it's just so that you keep paying for the overpriced booze on the ship.
• While you probably think of cruises as time to relax and do nothing, you can actually jampack your trip. There are tons of activities on the cruise ship, most of which are free. There are stage shows, comedy shows, there are games, there are ice-carving demonstrations, barbecues, clubs, pretty much anything anyone might possibly want to do. Most of them are better than they sound, so if you're skeptical, go give it a try.
• On our cruise, you could eat for free at the primary buffet. However, the restaurants were all amazing - seriously some of the best food I've ever had in my life - and only an additional $10-15/person (not including drinks). AND, to top that all off, something we didn't learn until our last night there is that for that $10-15/person, you can literally eat as much as you want. We assumed it meant one appetizer, one entree and dessert. Nope. You could order 10 appetizers, 4 entrees and 7 desserts and try a few bites of each if you really wanted to. Now, I don't actually recommend this because it's super wasteful (and cruises are overindulgent enough), not to mention the increased potential for overeating (the average cruise attendee gains a pound a day). But it comes in handy to know if you can't decide between two appetizers and just really want to try both.
• Internet was not free, which always makes me mad. And I don't think there was any wi-fi, you could only access the internet from their computer lab. This may be different from ship to ship though. Then again, this may have been a good thing for keeping us truly disconnected.
• There are spas and a gym and they'll try to sell you all sorts of expensive stuff. The gym is free and is very nice but they'll try to sell you stuff while you're there. Needless to say, the spa is very pricey.

Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall

Union Hall,* located in the lovely brownstone-laden neighborhood of Park Slope, is my favorite bar in all of the five boroughs of New York City. The main floor has cozy couches, shelves of books that give it a great homey feeling, a fireplace and a great beer selection (plus the drink prices are pretty good to NY - a well drink will cost you $5-6). In the back they have a small space you can reserve for private parties. They also have pretty decent bar food. But of course, one of the things Union Hall is most known for is its bocce ball courts. There are two courts and if you're there on the weekends, get their early to sign up. For those of you who don't know, bocce is an Italian lawn sport where you have a small ball (the polina) and you try to get your teams balls closest to the small ball. In the case of Union Hall, you play on sandy courts inside the bar (see below). It's a laid back game, perfect for playing with a drink in your hand. It can also be a fun way to meet new people. There are some players who take the game a little too seriously though - once I played a duo who brought their own balls! Also, you have better chances of getting on the court if you stick close. A lot of people put their name on the list and then walk away and don't really bother checking back in, so you can usually hop in on one of their spots if you stick close by. For those of you bocce enthusiasts looking to play more often or without the crowds, you can join their bocce league.

And I haven't even gotten to the downstairs yet... Downstairs is a concert venue where they have some pretty great shows (and some not so great ones of course). I think they also have poetry, comedy and even a science night there sometimes. The best thing of all though is Friday nights: Karaoke Killed the Cat. It's the best karaoke I've ever been to (although Live Band karaoke at Webster Hall in Manhattan comes pretty close because with an actual band behind you, you really feel like a rock star). Most of the people who go up are great entertainers. Irony seems to be key to the entertainment - you get two of the whitest white hipsters rapping or you get a tattooed metal head singing a ballad, etc. All in all, it's a really good time and people are very supportive of each other. It's always packed pretty shortly into the night and everyone in the audience is dancing and singing along. The only downside is that you also need to get there pretty much right when it starts though in order to get your name in line to sing.

*NOTE: not to be confused with Union Pool, a hipster bar in Williamsburg, OR Union Bar, a yuppy bar in Manhattan.

New York, NY - Where to drink for the non-drinker

New York, The NYTimes did a nice article about where to drink for non-drinkers. Apparently some high class bars have taken to concocting elaborate non-alcoholic drinks. Good news for non-drinkers who probably get sick of drinking water or soda at bars (or not going to bars at all).

Fort Lauderdale - Hard Rock Hotel and Casino

Up until I went to Florida, I thought the Hard Rock was just a restaurant chain. Boy was I wrong. On my last night in Fort Lauderdale in February, some local friends of mine took me out for "ladies night" at a club within the massive complex that is the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The thing is like a miniature city unto itself. Tons of restaurants, bars, clubs, theaters, billiard halls, and more than one hotel and casino mind you. Plus a big lake with pretty lit up fountains (the above picture doesn't really do it justice). Of course, it wasn't as flashy as someplace like Vegas but it was so much more than I expected. I honestly don't even remember what club we went to (maybe Pangaea?) because I was just so in awe the whole night of the craziness that was surrounding me. I had also never been in a casino before, so that was cool to see but I didn't end up finding the time to gamble (I was too busy drinking for free and dancing my butt off!).

And even though the whole place is maybe a little cheesy/over-the-top, I'd still recommend it (especially if the clubs have a lady's night for you ladies out there because then you can drink for free!) and I had so much fun!

Louisville, KY - 4th Street Live

I was only in Louisville for one night, but I managed to have a blast at this little semi-outdoor, slightly cheesy but overall fun, mall complex called 4th Street Live. Located in Downtown Louisville, there are bars, restaurants, a comedy club, dance clubs, etc. First we hit up the comedy club and saw Ralphie May from Last Comic Standing. I have to say, it was interesting to me what people in KY find funny versus here in NY. They were definitely not so comfortable with some of the more politically incorrect humor. But it was still a hilarious show all around and I had a lot of fun. There is a 2 item (food OR drink) minimum (on top of the tickets, which were $25), which I find a tad bit ridiculous. But the margaritas were good, and overall I'd say it was worth it.

Next we went dancing at a club in the complex, the name of which I forget (those 2 Margaritas from the comedy club went straight to my head!). I have to say, the club wasn't really my scene. People in Louisville dress to impress at these clubs apparently, so I felt kind of out of place in my tank top and jeans while everyone else was wearing mini-skirts and tube tops with their hair all done up. Plus it was mostly top 40 rap, which I'm not a big fan of. But for those of you who like to get all tarted up and go dance on tables/poles to P Diddy, 4th Street Live seems to have at least a few options. And I didn't hate it. I just didn't love it. All in all, it was a fun night.

Oh, and one final note: if you happen to be in the military or be with a date who is in the military (seems to me as if most of Kentucky is involved with the military in one way or another), you can get free cover or discounted cover at a lot of these places. Just make sure you ask for their military discount!

Things You Should Know: Salt Lake City

As you hopefully know, Salt Lake City (and Utah in general) is made up predominantly of Mormons and so the laws very much reflect that. For example, their alcohol laws. There aren't "bars" because serving alcohol publicly is illegal. Instead there are "private clubs." The catch is, anyone can go into most of these "private clubs." But you have to pay an annoying "membership" fee. I think you may also have to pay a "membership fee" to drink at restaurants but my memory isn't so strong on that point because I was there on business and so most of our meals were paid for. Restaurants do serve alcohol, but they card quite strictly, so if you're under 21, don't count on drinking while you're there. But if you are old enough to drink, try some of the Polygamy Porter! (yes, that is really a beer)

Secondly (and probably most importantly) is that all the roads are named in relation to the temple. It's a bit confusing at first because 200 South runs East/West and 800 West runs North/South. Sometimes (particularly on Google Maps) they're listed as S 200 E, which makes it seem even more confusing. You have to ignore the first letter because that's just telling you you're going South on the road, so it's just going South on 200 East. It all makes sense, however, when you understand that 200 South means you're 2 blocks South of the Temple. and 800 West means you're 8 blocks west. Of course, blocks seem to get bigger and bigger the further out of the center of the city that you get, and the blocks have since been broken up so you get blocks like 4370 East. And some of the streets have names (though you will almost always see the number written below it).

Lastly, if you tour the Mormon temple grounds (which isn't as interesting as I'd hoped it would be because you're not really allowed to see anything) DO NOT give them your personal information unless you actually want them to contact you (because they will. for the rest of your life.). But do try to catch the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It is quite impressive. And if you're as lucky as I was, maybe there will be a temple opening somewhere in Utah while you're there (which is entirely possible since the Mormon population in Utah continues to grow and so they are built there occasionally to relieve other overflowing temples), definitely go tour a temple. Non-Mormons are not allowed in the temple (hence why the SLC temple tour wasn't very interesting) except for during the few weeks before it is consecrated and opened. Of course, because of the fact that I'm not allowed there, it was one of my life goals to see the inside of a Mormon temple and I was thrilled to find out that one was opening in Draper, not 20 minutes away (that's what the picture is from above). It's interesting to see the rooms where they perform things like "baptism of the dead" and their family "sealing" ceremonies (ie a couple gets married and are "sealed" to each other for eternity or new children who are born are "sealed" to their parents for eternity, etc). But I think you have to have a natural curiosity for religion like me in order to really find this stuff interesting.