Relocated!

My new blog site can be found on ginamorra.wordpress.com Thanks!

ny times travel show!

Thanks to my Twitter friends for bringing it to my attention and to my old friend, Ryan, for the free ticket, I ventured solo into the city Saturday to see the NY Times travel show at the Javits. NY was just hit with its second snow-rain storm of the year, which left the streets with mounds of slush and the sidewalks with puddles of, well, melted slush. So, what does a Long Island girl who rarely treks it to the city do when spending a day there? Wear polka dotted rain boots (thanks, Stef) and many layers of socks and pants, of course! (Don't judge, I have poor circulation...)

This weekend made me realize a few things. I'm kinda getting the itch to move to the city (I can go into that in an entirely separate blog post) and being alone on a train is better for your brain. I relaxed, caught up on emails and read the majority of my Hemingway book that I started in the summer (eek! I know). Although, you would probably disagree if you're a commuter and your job makes you travel to NYC everyday from mid-Long Island or beyond. (Don't be fooled! It says "48 minutes", but, it's actually 80 minutes on a train. Gag.) And after seeing my town on Google maps in relation to Manhattan, my new friends, who live in various parts of the Greater New York area, understand why I don't visit the city often.




Back to the travel show... It was essentially a trade show with hundreds of booths set up, each offering info on a different country in the world. If you weren't there to book a trip and take advantage of travel show discounts, then you probably went for the inspirational speeches or live music and performances. My favorites to "explore" were definitely Jamaica and its neighboring islands. Live Jamaican or reggae music is hands down the most fun genre of music to see live. Maybe I love it because it reminds me of my amazing week long Puerto Rico trip last year, or maybe it's just their consistently crazy-awesome outfits and enthusiastic dancing. Anyway, when you're at a trade show and you've run out of entertainment to watch, like my new friend,


Dave, of GoBackpacking.com, and I did, then you will probably end up entering all the contests! My parents frequent the trailer shows since they're life-long campers and have won a trip to Ireland that way, so I have my fingers crossed...

Where did this new friend come from you ask?? Ok, let me back up a sec. I originally "followed" Dave on Twitter and thankfully he was nice enough to meet me at the travel show. We tweeted our locations and attire. ;) Dave and I met up during Julia Dimon's speech, which I absolutely loved. I had skimmed her blog before arriving at the show, but there's nothing like seeing someone in the flesh and hearing them speak with enthusiasm about their life and travels. She's a travel writer turned TV star in Canada, and, well, she has my dream life! It never ceases to amaze me how much goes on outside of the "real world" I've been so (unwillingly) accustomed to...


After a few hours of circling through the countries, a rushed handshake with Julia and a handful of contest entries, Dave and I headed south along the river en route to meet his high school buddies at a charming little German bar (shout outs to the Ofenlochs!) in the West Village. I was VERY impressed with the neighborhood and I'm so excited to go back! But, maybe I can enjoy it more when I'm comfortable in only one layer of clothing.

A greasy, yet delicious, potato pancake and a refreshing pint of beer that I can't pronounce kicked off my evening which led to a series of unexpected but awesome events. Grabbing a beer turned into bar hopping and meeting up with my city friends. My girl, Nikki, from Brooklyn came out and took me to her friends bar, Bond St., that also serves sushi! I was in heaven. We sampled new fish (my new fav food) and I think God, himself, made the ricotta pudding-ish dessert he gave us after. One-or four- Vodka sodas later, we braved the cold to walk to one last neighborhood, where my ex-coworkers and friends, Shiina and Charles, happened to be as well! I ended the night at a decent hangout bar, Boss Tweeds, where there's a giant chalkboard on the wall for our amusement...

i made the top 15!

If you've been reading my blog, or you know me personally, you know how much I love writing. In my busy week that revolves mostly around my ever-changing work schedule, finding the time to write is my escape.

It takes a lot to put something so personal in writing, especially out there for the world to read, critique or even agree with. I submitted my blog entry into the contest feeling satisfied that I actually entered! Last Sunday, I cut my 'faux' Valentine's day plans short to spend all day in front of my MacBook, daydreaming of what Costa Rica must be like. Sweating, gritting my teeth and (like some writers) not completely satisfied with my finished product, I clicked "send" in the email to Nomadic Matt just before the midnight deadline.

Monday morning, I woke up at 6am, the time the winners were to be announced, and read his website. My heart sank as I read his intro, "I had planned to select the top 50 but I had planned to get more than 50 entries, so rather than voting on everyone, here are the top 15 applicants." I was happy to hear not many people entered- increasing my chances, but I surely didn't think I'd be considered for the top 15... I did my excited dance in my PJs.

Making the top 15 in a contest like this is SURREAL. Getting even this far has given me courage to believe in myself more. I look up to the guy running the contest and companies like Gap Adventures, along with all the other travel writers or bloggers out there who are making their passion more than a hobby.

Thank you all for supporting me and voting for me or just reading along!

xoxo

mmm, olive oil

Another contest! Here's the LINK to the site with all the info. Hope I'm the lucky, random winner... You know how I love my food, I think every dinner I make has olive oil in it.

From the site: "Monica is giving away one 250ml bottle of Davoli Extra Virgin Olive Oil to one lucky Facebook Fan *and* a $50 gift certificate to a random blogger.

Readers:
To be eligible to win the free 250ml bottle of Calabrian olive oil, all you need to do is become a Facebook fan of Monica’s Fine Foods before Friday, February 26 at 5:00 PM (Pacific Time). At that point, Monica will randomly select a winner from her Facebook Fans and the winner will be announced here on My Bella Vita on Monday, March 1.
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Update: March 1st: I won the Olive Oil! Yummy... I will let you know how it is when it gets here. :)

Costa Rica Giveaway!

The creators of this contest ask, “Why do I want this trip?” Well, after reading Nomadic Matt’s inspiring story and reasons for holding this contest, my answer is, “This journey was meant for me!”

I’m the oldest of five girls and live at home with my parents (I know, it does wonders for my personal life). The only thing more frustrating than searching for stolen shoes and ‘lost’ makeup, is contemplating my future and career goals. When I’m struggling with my next moves, my friends and family ask me, “What is your passion? What have you always wanted to do?” There have only been two things I was ever sure about and they are writing and traveling (and I’m a Libra, so I’m the most indecisive person I know!). As much as I have wrestled with my fervor for writing throughout the years, my answer always ends up being the same. Writing has been my hobby since I was able to put words together and English was the only subject I consistently excelled in from middle school to college.

I recently set up my first blog and it has given me the opportunity to strengthen my writing skills as well as practice documenting my life’s travels. Since vacationing and exploring new territory have been my healthy distractions from the real world, I use that passion as stimulation to write. The two compliment each other like dark chocolate and graham crackers. Yet, my blog continues to be embarrassingly bare in the travel department and needs some fluffing.

All signs have pointed to travel as being the way to enlightenment and encouragement. Like many post-graduates paying back loans, however, my bank account has only afforded me the short-but-sweet travels thus far. And although I’ve had a wonderful life, my past resources have just not quenched the thirst I have for discovery. There are only so many wine tastings and road trips this New Yorker and her blog can take!

As an aspiring, 26 year old writer, just thinking about the chance to capture my every move on this bold, two-week trip and share it with my readers is intoxicating! It exudes the creativity and inspiration I’ve been looking for. I would blog my travels with all the laughter, excitement and bumps that seem inevitable during my visit through this awe-inspiring country. To describe and portray all of those breathtaking views is another goal I can’t wait to achieve. As a New York native who has never traveled to Costa Rica, I'm sure I would bring a refreshing perspective with interesting twists to the travel documentaries and their Pura Vida.

I’m looking forward to the one experience that is going to pop my suburb bubble and completely change the direction of my life. That’s why this offer to solo into Costa Rica felt like a calling card with my name on it. The timing could not be more perfect.

With Nomadic Matt and Gap Adventures being who they are, I can only see this as an incredible jaunt through a legendary country. So hey… Not only am I ready, willing and able, but I also have fabulous new luggage and an unused passport waiting to be christened!

snowmageddon 2010

Five months I've neglected writing. And I've been sitting at my dining room table for almost an hour procrastinating. I spent half the time staring at the sun reflecting off the thick snow in my backyard and the other half staring at this blinking cursor. Why is is so hard for me to put my thoughts into words?

Anyway, yes, the sun is shining here on Long Island, a day after the 'snowmageddon' storm. I don't know how places north of here deal with this on a regular basis! My dad spent HOURS, even with a snowblower, trying to uncover our many vehicles. So much time is wasted! I made sure I woke up early to help dig the cars out and squeeze in some treadmill time, so I could make it to my computer before the sun and my energy level takes a plunge.

As the snow scraper chiseled the last of the ice off my trusty Grand Am and the snow on my pants chilled my thighs as it melted, I was suddenly reminded of the warm days that I miss so much. The sun is usually extremely bright during this time of year, especially after a snow fall, but it wasn't just the sun that brought my mind to a better place... The last of the ice defrosting off my car revealed my 2009 Town of Babylon red beach sticker. Each year they change the color, so it's easier for them to spot as you drive by their 'check-in' stand at the entrance of the beach parking lot. I wonder what color it'll be this year?

I smiled as I stood there wearing my brand new snowboard jacket I have yet to use, my three layers of pants and two layers of socks and briefly thought of how it felt to lie on the sand in a bikini. It's funny how we forget what that feels like because summer was sooo long ago... It's a little painful to say that it'll be another four to five months until I can be comfortable outside in a bathing suit, but counting down the days is all I have to look forward to!

Now, it's on to a blog submission that could win me a trip to Costa Rica...