Incendiary by Chris Cleave

Incendiary was the first book from Chris Cleave I read. I was taken since the first line by the force and power of the woman who is the voice of this novel.

The story is told through a letter that this woman wrote to the man who headed the list of the most wanted until recently. She mourns the death of her husband and son. In that letter she tells her life story and how profoundly and irreversibly the tragedy affected her.

Mr. Cleave’s prose is powerful, the voice of the main character strong and her pain very real. Although this is a work of fiction, this woman’s life, pain, soul was so tangible that for long moments I actually thought I was reading an actual letter.

This book is available in paperback and Kindle.

Porto, Portugal

I spent three days in Porto and I have to say I was quite impressed and welcomed there. I did one of the walking tours that the Lonely Planet guide suggested and I have to say that some of the places were quite a surprise.

I arrived in Sao Bento train station which is the one in the downtown. The other station is Porto Campanha, 2 km from the center. Sao Bento station most impressive feature is the azulejos (hand made tiles) depicting different scenes. This tiles were designed by Jorge Colaco in 1930.

Torre dos Clerigos is something else. Built by Nicolau Nasoni, this tower offers very nice views of the city. It is 76 m (228 ft) high and it has 225 steps. It costs 3 euros per person to go up.

Palacio da Bolsa, or stock market, is worth visiting. It used to be Porto’s stock market until the instauration of the euro in the 1990s and 2000s. It is only possible to see inside with a guided tour. The best part of the building is the Salao Arabe (Arabian Hall). When you enter you think that you just walked into Scherezade’s palace. The purpose was to invite businessmen and give the impression of grandeur and prosperity… Mission accomplished! It costs 7 euros per person for the tour.

Igreja de Sao Francisco is another sight that you can’t miss. It is a small church but the altar is magnificent. It is made in a baroque style and adorned with 100 Kg (220 lbs) of gold leaf. A definite ohhh once you enter. It costs 3.50 euros per person.

The ribeira is the ‘by the water’ part of Porto by the Douro River. When the weather is good is great to sit outside to have a drink, eat something… the restaurants are more affordable than you may think.

It is possible to eat very cheap in Porto. There are many cafes and cafeterias (diners) that will serve a complete meal for 7 euros. The service is OK for European standards (no offense) but do not expect additional accomodations or the discount for an erroneous dish. 

Antonio's Pizza

This week I decided to try Antonio's Pizza for the first time. We had the spinach pizza and it was really good. The service was fast – we had take out. The crust was light and tasty, and the vegetables well cooked with a lot of flavor. It is a great option for any night of the week (except Mondays since they are closed). They also deliver in the Dania Beach area.

The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton

The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton is an essay about all the different feelings and stages of travelers of all kind. As someone who loves to travel I identified my own behaviors as I read this book. Alain de Botton uses the English language beautifully. His prose is clean, simple, full of action, and with the capacity to bring to life the places and characters he describes.

“It was hard to say when exactly winter arrived. The decline was gradual, like that of a person into old age, inconspicuous from day to day until the season became an established, relentless reality” is the beginning of the first of five stages of travel, Departure. My favorite part was ‘On Anticipation’ that speaks on how we anticipate the trip with excitement just to be disappointed because, as the writer puts it, “I had inadvertently brought myself with me to the island.”

To read The Art of Travel is a learning experience. Each of the five stages – Departure, Motives, Landscape, Art, and Return – has a destination (or more than one) and a guide. Alain de Botton flawlessly puts together destination and guide. I not only traveled through the described destination but also through the life of my guide.

This compelling essay is food for thought and reflection on how we travel and how going to other places affect our mind and feelings. We are motivated to reflect during our journeys to other places. As the author puts it “journeys are the midwives of thought.”

This book is available in paperback and Kindle.

Zona Fresca - Ft Lauderdale

I have been going to Zona Fresca for a while now. Just recently I realized that I have not reviewed it. Zona Fresca is a Mexican food restaurant. Their specialty is the burrito – they have a good variety; I have tried most of them and they are all great – and they also have tacos, quesadillas, and salads. Their food is fresh, made to order, and the service is fast, with a smile. It is one of my favorites to get something quick before getting back home.

Harvest Frittata with Gruyere

Today’s Sunday brunch was this great frittata. It is very easy to make and extremely tasty. The combination of the vegetables with the gruyere cheese is delightful. The frittata can be combined with salad, fruit, or like today chick peas with tomatoes and onion. 

Amami - Italian Restaurant in Espanola Way

A couple of months ago, I received an offer for this restaurant and this is how I knew of its existence. I decided to buy the deal – I figured that if it turned out not to be good I would not lose a lot of money. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by how fine the food and the service were.

We ordered the Linguine allo Scoglio and the Tagliatelle with Shrimp. Both dishes were fantastic. The pasta is homemade. I could not believe how good it was when I had the first bite. Everything was fresh. The combination of ingredients enhanced the senses…

Service was excellent. Our offer came with a bottle of wine but since we do not drink alcohol they were able to accommodate and provided other drinks without extra charge. Our reservation was ready when we got there. The atmosphere is casual without being informal.