Tucson: Food Paradise

Ok. I feel the need to express my love for Tucson's food scene. It's been very good to me and my friends during our stay. I"m gonna rattle off some of the things we've experienced.

Frost: Gelato place. Put quite simply: amazing. They're starting franchise opportunities. If you have extra money laying around, don't hesitate. You'll make a fortune.

Ra Sushi: Probably some of the best sushi I've ever had. The Lobster mango roll was so light and fresh. The King Crab roll was stellar, and the Pork Gyozas were out of the park. Having eaten there three times with several different friends, I can safely say that everything we tried was sensational.

El Charro: The birthplace of the chimichanga, and rightly so. Tiger shrimp, roasted corn, bacon, white queso. Delish. And the salsa was the best I've tasted. Ever.

Rosa's: Kylee and I ate at this little hole-in-the-wall place. OMG. The salsa had so much garlic in it... and I love garlic. I ordered everything a-la-carte. One cheese enchilada, one chicken enchilada, one green corn tamale and one chicken flauta. It all sounds like normal Mexican fare, but it was so not normal. The flavors were so spot on - subtle, without smacking you in the face. Nice. And the sopapillas.... yum.

Cafe Poca Cosa: I had high expectations after reading all the good things about this place. And I wasn't disappointed. It had been featured in all kind of magazines and periodicals. NY Times, etc. I had the Chicken Mole, Kylee and Neil had the combo platter that had a chicken dish, steak dish and eggplant dish. All of them were great. The big surprise for me was the beans. They weren't refried... but borracho style. I'm used to beans being a little grainy... but these melted in your mouth. So good. And the salsa was also amazing. A very close second to that of El Charro's.

El Guero Canelo: This place was featured on Man Vs Food. I had to go and get the Sonoran style hot dog. It was a hot dog wrapped in bacon, topped with beans, mayo, ketchup, mustard and a jalapeno sauce. So good. Also had a steak quesadilla that was so full of flavor.

So, Tucson, I tip my hat to thee. You have thoroughly impressed a well-traveled foodie. Cheers.

Ra and Frost

Mary King, my former business manager on the east coast, recommended I go to a sushi place called Ra for happy hour. I can't thank her enough. I enjoyed my first trek there with Mel so much that I had to go again after the show with Bogdan and Michelle. Both times the food was amazing. I must also mention the amazing gelato place that Mary said I had to go to. It's called Frost, and it's a little slice of heaven. I HAD to sample several flavors (there was no way around it) before I decided that Hazelnut was the winner. It was like eating a Ferrero Roche, but in ice cream form. I think I can die a happy camper after my recent excursions into food heaven. Thanks, Mare! You're the best :)

Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Outline

http://www.travelchannel.com/Places_Trips/Travel_Ideas/Road_Trips_And_National_Parks/Road_Trips_Usa/Pacific_Coast_Highway

Plans!

As I sit at my computer in a hotel room in Tucson, I start to realize that I better start planning my escapades now, otherwise I might run into logistical problems. Sure enough, next week is Bakersfield... Bakersfield isn't the idea that pops into most peoples' heads when you mention California... and rightly so. There isn't a lot to do there. What it does offer is close proximity to Monterey. Monterey will mark the start of my drive south on the Pacific Coast Highway to Santa Barbara. This, my friends, is something I have wanted to do for a long time. What a nice slice of life I'm enjoying right now. :)

The pyramids

Lunch at a restaurant before heading to the pyramids. There was a band that played music. Of course Pablo got on a chair and started dancing.

Gold.

The center of the sun pyramid. Touching it is supposed to bring positive energy into your life. This was Michelle and I sharing the moment. :)

Pretending to be flexible.

Some of the girls practicing the barbie lifts on the sun pyramid with the moon pyramid in the background.

In front of the Basillica de Gudalupe.

Some of the gardens.

The moon pyramid.

We went to the pyramids and the Basilica de Guadalupe yesterday. The weather was wonderful and the sights were incredible. We started out going to the Basilica de Guadalupe. There were several churches on the property, as well as some beautiful gardens with roses everywhere and fountains and waterfalls. I think the basilica housed the largest organ I've ever seen.

Tulsa

So I haven't updated this in a while. Sorry all. I've been busy and tired. Tired because of a pesky post-nasal drip that only shows up when it's inconvenient. I'm in Tulsa right now. Didn't think I'd like it was much as I do. Oklahoma City didn't give me a good impression of the state, so I had nothing but fears coming here that it would be similar. On the contrary, very different. It's very green here, rolling hills. It's a clean city, with some nice offerings. A lot of restaurants. :) I'm trying to become a little more adept at this whole blog thing. I'm hoping to get the layout a little more user friendly and organized. I don't want my blog to be like shopping at Walmart. That would just kill me.

Leaving

Mexico has been an interesting experience. We got to see the pyramids and basilicas... steeped in history. We saw the newness of the burgeoning cities. We saw violence and a lack of humanity. Turns out Mexico isn't much different from any other place in the world. Similar trials and tribulations. And our worlds keep spinning just the same.

Another View From the Top

I went to dinner with some friends at a rooftop sushi lounge. The drinks and food were amazing, but the real kicker was the view. All the never-ending lights of Mexico City twinkling while I ate my rainbow trout sashimi and sipped on my cosmo... let's just say I had a good time.

A Different Kind of Dog

Yesterday I started practicing for the role of Goofy as a backup. The choreography is easy, but the costume is somewhat inhibiting. And heavy and hot. I can't imagine going into Goofy when we play a hot arena. But I'm sure I'll get the pleasure of finding out soon enough.

It Begins

We went through our first day of rehearsals today. You can tell that we're at altitude here. Things that normally would be easy take your breath away a bit. But overall it was fun being back on the ice with everyone. More interesting stories to come.

Trying to get a Taxi

People are rude. That's the long and the short of it. We waited for almost twenty minutes... standing along the side of the road, while party after party would butt in front of us for a cab. They knew we were waiting longer, but it was evident that that was of no concern. And so, we live and we learn. And in Mexico, you take no prisoners when it comes to hailing a cab. :)

My First Shopping Experience in Mexico: Wal Mart....................

I went with Pablo, Kristine and Sergei to get provisions today. Pablo informed the driver we needed to go to the grocery store. And where did we end up...Superama. And what is Superama in Mexico? Wal Mart.

View From the Top

As my flight approached my destination of Mexico City, I couldn't help but notice the urban sprawl below me. The hills resemble balding men. You're looking down and all you see is this little circle of earth (the top of the hill) surrounded by buildings. Seeing the landscape from the plane reminded me of a swarm of locusts just taking over everything in sight, except the locusts were houses and other buildings. With a metro population of 21 million, I guess there's nothing else to expect.

Leaving

Well people, the time has come for me to begin the second chapter of my Disney on Ice experience. I'm heading to Mexico City in a few short hours. It will be the first time that this Floridian has been to land of Montezuma. And he's lookin' forward to it. Postings to follow. :)
G

Road Tested: Welcome

Road Tested: Welcome: "With my second tour with Disney on Ice quickly approaching, I felt it was a good idea to start a blog in order to document my adventures. My..."

Welcome

With my second tour with Disney on Ice quickly approaching, I felt it was a good idea to start a blog in order to document my adventures. My first tour was certainly colorful, so I have to assume that this tour will be all that the first tour was and then some.

We're starting out in Mexico for a month, then moving on to the US and Canada.

So buckle up. And enjoy the ride... vicariously, of course.

G