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Boston eating: Casa Romero
I figured I’d break up my Amsterdam posts and share a casual restaurant that I really enjoy. Casa Romero is located down a little alleyway off Gloucester St. in the Back Bay. As much as I love this part of Boston, the restaurant scene can be a bit pretentious (actually, that’s most of Boston!) Casa Romero is a lovely, down-to-earth departure from that. It was founded in 1972 by Leo Flores, who was born in San Diego but raised mostly in Mexico. I enjoyed WGBH’s Neighborhood Kitchens episode about Leo and his restaurant. He has a unique background as a chef, having served in diplomatic service, as a Harvard fellow, and college Spanish professor. His dedication to education extends to his restaurant, as Casa has a section of their website welcoming school field trips.
We visited on a Tuesday around 7 pm and were seated right away without reservations. The host was very accommodating when we asked to move to a table with a little more room. Our server was kind and attentive too, and our drinks and food arrived in a timely manner. I’d say Casa is a little less expensive that most restaurants in this area, so it’s a great option if you’re watching your wallet. I don’t usually get Patron margaritas, but for a reasonable $12.75, I decided to treat myself and wasn’t disappointed! The complimentary salsa was amazing, probably the best salsa I’ve ever had. For my meal, I ordered the steak fajitas, which were delicious and well-presented. Whenever I order fajitas, I feel like I’m going to knock one of the plates over and burn myself. At Casa, they put the tortillas under the dish that held the steak, which warmed them and saved room! Perfect idea.
Casa is decorated with bright and beautiful traditional Mexican tiling. The menu cover is also eye-catching, with a print of a folk painting of colorful birds. As an added bonus, Casa has an adorable little patio for the warm months. When we visited it was pretty cold and cloudy, but now I have the perfect excuse to go back.
What’s your favorite restaurant when you want to relax and enjoy an authentic and delicious meal? Please let me know, I’d love to check it out!
3 1/2 days in Amsterdam: Must-see museums
I know many folks are just not that into museums, but they’re a must for me both at home and on vacation. Some of my happiest memories are taking art classes at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and exploring the galleries with my Mom and Grandma. Below are the four museums I visited while in Amsterdam. Each varies greatly in their galleries, so I really think there’s something for everyone among them!
Anne Frank Museum: This museum was the #1 recommendation people gave me for Amsterdam. It goes without saying that it’s an incredibly emotional place, but I think everyone should visit if they have the chance. You have to reserve tickets ahead online, as they really aren’t sold on a walk-in basis. The sooner you can order them, the better, especially since they’re undergoing construction. I ordered our tickets just under two months ahead, and they were pretty close to being sold out. An adult ticket is very reasonably priced at 10,50 euros. I don’t usually take audio guides, but I’m really glad I used the complementary one here. Due to the construction, Anne’s original diaries have been temporarily removed, but they’re replaced by exact replicas. Just an FYI, the steps leading to the actual hiding place are extremely steep (almost vertical). Just something to keep in mind if you’re visiting with elderly or disabled people.
Rembrandt House Museum: This was Rembrandt’s actual home and workshop for about twenty years, and provides a great look into his daily life and work. We ordered tickets ahead online, but it’s not really necessary. An adult ticket is 13 euros. This is a great little museum that showcases art while also being a historical site. The house is about four or five floors, and we saw everything in just over an hour. Since humans were smaller back in the 1700’s, the stairs are steep and narrow, and will be difficult for the elderly or disabled. My favorite highlights were Rembrandt’s office and his sketches of people he observed in daily life. Put any water bottles in the free lockers so the grumpy security guard doesn’t scold you!
Van Gogh Museum: I was looking forward to this one the most. I spent hours as a child looking through my Grandma’s art books and was always drawn to Van Gogh. You have to reserve tickets ahead online, and an adult ticket is 18 euros. I really loved this museum. It’s three floors, but not too large, so you can easily visit in just under two hours without feeling rushed. The paintings are displayed in somewhat chronological order with facts about his life during the time displayed on the walls. Photography wasn’t allowed, but you’ll find some of his best-known works there, including “Sunflowers“, “Irises“, and “The Yellow House“. There’s also a special exhibit on his Japanese-influenced works, which highlights “Almond Blossom” (one of my favorites). Bonus: the cafe was really beautiful and had delicious food!
Rijksmuseum: This is the Dutch national gallery, and is perfect for those interested in the history of the Netherlands. You don’t have to reserve tickets online, but I did to avoid the line. An adult ticket is 17,50 euros. Rijksmuseum is four floors, really vast, and honestly a little overwhelming, but don’t pressure yourself to see every single thing. I just found this really helpful guide that I wish I read before visiting. Photography is allowed here, which is a nice bonus. Some of the best-know works are “The Night Watch” by Rembrandt (expect a huge crowd around this one), “The Milkmaid” by Vermeer, and “The Merry Family” by Jan Steen. There’s also a special “High Society” exhibit, where I saw this fabulous hot pink bed!
Moco Museum: I hadn’t hear about this one, but Tim’s friend recommended their Banksy exhibit. It’s located right across from Rijksmuseum, so we stopped in after our visit there. This is a very cool little museum for a modern and contemporary art lover. You can buy tickets online, but we visited spontaneously and had no trouble walking right in. An adult ticket is 12,50 euros. Moco is two floors and about the size of a house, so we saw everything in just under an hour. Photography is allowed. I don’t think there are permanent exhibits (except for the outside sculptures). In addition to Banksy, there was also a Roy Litchenstein exhibit, which I was excited about. I think my favorite part was this big ol’ bear in the backyard!
Are museums a yay or nay for you when you’re traveling?
3 1/2 days in Amsterdam: Where to stay
I really enjoy taking trips in early May. It’s right around my birthday, school vacation crowds are generally avoided, and what better way to kick off the warm-weather months? This year, my boyfriend Tim and I visited Amsterdam. I have to admit, this city wasn’t really high on my bucket list, but I’m so glad we chose it! We went from May 1 to 6, but our sightseeing time amounted to about 3 1/2 days (with travel, time change, etc.) This sounds like a very short time to travel over 3000 miles away, but we were able to do everything we planned and more at a leisurely pace.
This is the first post in my little series about Amsterdam. The idea of writing one huge post was a lot to handle, so Tim had to great idea of dividing it. Let’s start with the hotel!
When we went to Copenhagen last year, we found a great hotel, but it was a little ways away from the city center. This time, we knew we wanted to be closer to everything, and we made the perfect choice. Kimpton De Witt is a boutique hotel located in Amsterdam’s City Centre. According to Travel+Leisure, it recently opened where a Crowne Plaza was previously located. The front desk and restaurant/bar staff were very kind and helpful. We especially enjoyed chatting with the bartender at Wyers, who assured us that traveling by train and bus over 50 miles for a tulip field was overrated! There was also a complimentary wine hour for guests from 5 to 6 pm, which I thought was very thoughtful. We enjoyed relaxing with our drinks before dinner in the open-air courtyard section of the lobby.
The room itself was also really lovely. I loved the soothing blue and grey-toned color scheme. It reminded me a little bit of my own apartment! 
The housekeeping was very reliable and thorough too. I loved that they had full-sized shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel in the bathroom. And the geometric tiling was a great nod to Dutch graphic artist M.C. Escher! The only negatives were that the room was a little small, there was no refrigerator (but maybe that’s standard in this part of Europe?), and there were some gross-looking marks on a little cardboard sign in the bathroom (I’m a germaphobe!) Regardless, I’d definitely stay here again and highly recommend it to others. The hotel’s convenient central location enabled us to make the most out of our little trip.
Do you have a hotel recommendation for Amsterdam? Have you ever stayed at a Kimpton property before? Let me know in the comments!
3 touristy but worthy sites for a weekend in Chicago
My home has always been in Boston, but I think my heart belongs in Chicago. I remember watching Ferris Bueller for the first time when I was 14 and immediately becoming fascinated by the city. I didn’t travel much growing up and didn’t make it to Chicago until I was 30, but I’ve been in love ever since! It’s clean, easy to navigate, friendly without being overbearing, and has endless possibilities for adventure. Chicago gets a bad name in the news, and while I understand that there are real problems, I personally feel safer there than at home. Chicago doesn’t have the pervasive anger and hostility that Boston has. I’ve struck up conversations with people of various backgrounds and walks of life in Chicago, and am always impressed by how interested, pleasant, and welcoming they are. I’ve now visited three times as there are always direct flights to and from Boston and Chicago. I’ve stayed just a day or so each visit, so I try to maximize my time by planning what I want to see ahead of time. Here are three sights that are a little obvious, but definitely worth seeing during a couple days in Chicago.
This is a really obvious sight, but I really think the views are worth it. It’s one of those things that you have to do at least once. Skydeck is located on the 103th floor of the Sears Tower (not Willis!), offering breathtaking 360-degree views. There’s a balcony area called The Ledge, which is completely transparent and makes you feel like you’re floating midair.
I was really glad that I bought a ticket online ahead of time when I saw the admissions line. I’m the most impatient person that ever lived, so I upgraded to the Fast Pass, which is $49. It’s a lot, but I realized it was worth it to expedite my entrance (and I even had to wait in the little line with my Fast Pass). If you’re going to be in Chicago for a few days, another great option is the CityPASS, which is $109. The CityPASS includes the Skydeck Fast Pass, along with priority entry to four other must-see stops (I actually wish I had gotten the CityPASS, maybe on my next trip!)
On my first trip to Chicago, I realized I had a couple hours to spare, so I dashed over to the Art Institute. I actually ran through the museum, trying to find the best-known pieces (using the famous Ferris Bueller scene as a guide!) I managed to see my top choices, and have been back two more times since. My favorite pieces are “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”, “Paris Street; Rainy Day”, “American Windows”, “Nighthawks”, and “The Old Guitarist”. Fun fact: Picasso reused a canvas to paint “The Old Guitarist”, and you can see a woman’s face underneath the neck of the guitarist. I overheard someone say this the last time I visited and was fascinated.
The museum is huge, so the ideal time allotment would be about three hours. I could spend an entire day just wandering around, intentionally getting lost inside. I first visited on a beautiful August afternoon, so there was barely a line. The second time, however, was a rainy March day, and the line looped outside. Luckily I bought a ticket online ahead of time, so I was able to waltz right inside. As I said, lines drive me insane, so I got the Fast Pass, which is $29. It allows you to bypass the general admissions line, so it was worthwhile to me. The Fast Pass is also part of the CityPASS deal!
Seadog Lakefront Speedboat Tour
The third “sight” is more of an activity, but I still wanted to include it. The Speedboat Tour is the perfect way to cool off on a balmy summer afternoon. It starts and ends at the Navy Pier, and is about 30 minutes long. I’ve gone twice because the views you get of Chicago’s skyline really can’t be beat. The tour guides are really personable too. They slow the boat periodically and share facts about the Lakefront, but not excessively. I’d say most of the ride is cruising around with music playing. The boat goes fairly fast, but not enough to really get you wet. I want to try the Extreme Thrill Ride, but I’m afraid of drowning my phone and being 1000 miles from home without one!
I’ve bought tickets online for the Speedboat tour both times, but it’s probably not necessary. I saw plenty people buying them at the dock. The tour runs about every 45 minutes during the summer months, so it’s not too bad if you miss your first choice of time. There’s plenty of food (and drink) options at the Navy Pier while you wait!
