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the cook & the writer

  • Home
  • Blog
  • The Rabbit Hole
  • Travel Guides
    • Our Favorite Travel Tips
    • Our Favorite Lisbon Restaurants

Mike

Visiting the Hassan II mosque

2024-04-232024-04-19 by Mike
The Hassan II mosque in Casablanca, Morocco.

During a day tour in Casablanca, we were privileged to tour the Hassan II mosque, one of the few that non-Muslims can enter.

Categories Morocco, Travel Tags Casablanca 12 Comments

An unplanned lunch at Coyo Taco

2024-04-052024-04-05 by Mike
A bowl of guacamole, a bag of chips, and 4 small bowls of dipping sauce.

We started out to have lunch at a quiosque, but found it was closed. Good fortune led us to Coyo Taco, where we had a delightful meal.

Categories Food, General, Portugal Tags Lisbon 8 Comments

What’s up with olive oil?

2024-03-232024-03-22 by Mike
Olive oil being poured into a small bowl.

We dig into the reasons behind the rising price of olive oil and discover there’s a lot more at stake.

Categories Climate change, Portugal, Spain 23 Comments

The Vasa – A doomed ship lives on

2024-03-08 by Mike
The 17th C Swedish naval ship Vasa in its dedicated museum in Stockholm.

We visited the Vasa Museum and marveled at the story of this magnificent 17th century ship and the ongoing effort to preserve it.

Categories Sweden Tags Stockholm 12 Comments

Day 2 in Stockholm – History comes alive

2024-02-222024-02-08 by Mike
A 1930's era hardware store recreated at Skansen. One wall is lined with wooden shelves and drawers holding a variety of hardware items.

On our second day in Stockholm we visited the Skansen open-air museum and got a glimpse into Swedish history.

Categories Sweden, Travel Tags Stockholm 6 Comments

Our first day in Stockholm

2024-01-25 by Mike
Stockholm waterfront along the Strandvägen.

This week we’re giving you a backstage look at our creative process as we compile our notes about our trip to Stockholm.

Categories Food, Sweden, Travel Tags Stockholm 25 Comments

The Cold and Damp

2024-01-122024-01-08 by Mike
A two lane road, bordered by trees, all covered with fog.

Winter in Portugal is sort of cold and very damp. How we deal with it. Also, some reflections on living privileged lives.

Categories Portugal, US Citizens Abroad Tags Lisbon 20 Comments

The Holidays Are Illuminated – Part 2

2023-12-222023-12-22 by Mike
Lighted stars in Coimbra, Portugal, December, 2023.

Again this year we enjoyed getting out to see the Christmas lights and decorations in Lisbon, Coimbra, Nazaré, Caldas da Rainha, and Obidos.

Categories Portugal Tags Coimbra, Lisbon, Nazare, Obidos 19 Comments

Inside the walls – 48 hours in Lucca

2023-12-242023-11-08 by Mike
A section of the wall at Lucca.

We’ve got a secret We really don’t want to tell you about Lucca, Italy. Because if we do, then you might go there and fall in love with it like …

Read more

Categories Italy, Travel Tags Italy, Lucca 12 Comments

The Leaning Tower of Pisa after dark

2023-10-252023-10-24 by Mike
The Cathedral of Pisa and the Leaning Tower at night.

During an overnight stay in Pisa we visited the Piazza dei Miracoli and made some new memories about the Leaning Tower.

Categories Italy, Travel Tags Pisa 13 Comments
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