http://www.sitebits.com/alban/ Alban en Copyright &copy; 1999-2008 Gromco, Inc. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:32:50 EDT Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:30:00 EDT info@sitebits.com info@sitebits.com <b>La Giostra</b> is a fine restaurant in Florence where the flavors (and quantities) of yesterday coexist in peaceful harmony with the culinary and trends of tomorrow. <br/><br/> Just for its atmosphere, somehow combining old-school cordiality with a good-hearted laidback attitude, eating at <b>La Giostra</b> would be a worthwhile experience. The restaurant's history also makes it unusual, as does the fact that it is run by members of the Hapsburgs - a royal Austrian family. And then there's food.. Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2008/ristorante-la-giostra.html Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:30:00 EDT Going to Paris this time was a treat – and that's despite the fact that, having lived in a warm climate for a while, I didn't have anything warm to wear. (Worse, I couldn't even make myself buy anything in Europe since the local trends in men's fashion don't really inspire me to get anything… call me old-fashioned). However, I didn't let the cold or the wet winter of Paris hold me back and I made the best of my weeklong stay in the city. Let me share a few places from my latest trip... Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2008/paris_la_belle.html Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:08:00 EDT This particular beauty was spotted at a grocery shop (La Standa, via Pietrapiana, 42, near Piazza Cesare Beccaria). And there's more good stuff in that neighborhood (read on)... Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2008/testa-di-maiale-etc.html Mon, 07 Jan 2008 02:15:00 EST Cinque Terre is situated in the Ligurian coast and without exaggeration, it's one of the most beautiful places I've seen in Italy. What's more, people are nice, the food is good and the scenery is fantastic... Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2007/cinque-terre.html Wed, 21 Nov 2007 02:10:00 EST One of my favorites (not only for its nice building, which I really like) is the Atwater Market, situated very close to the Lachine Canal path, making it the perfect stop after a walk or a bike ride. Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2007/marche_atwater.html Mon, 06 Aug 2007 17:00:00 EDT If you know anything about Ottawa you probably know it as the capital of Canada and not much else. That's most of the story. Unless you work for the government, there's not much to do in Ottawa, particularly after sunset, aside from an all-you-can-eat lobster dinner and a cozy bed... Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2007/ottawa_i_came_i_saw_i_left.html Tue, 17 Jul 2007 10:50:00 EDT Le Convivial is a quality restaurant in Westmount, Montreal where Chef Emmanuel Nozati performs his magic daily. Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2006/le_convivial_2006.html Mon, 16 Oct 2006 00:00:10 EDT Gaudí's legacy in Barcelona is everywhere you go. Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2006/gaudi_barcelona.html Tue, 10 Oct 2006 19:09:00 EDT The best thing about Las Ramblas? La Boqueria! Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2006/seafood_side_of_spain.html Fri, 29 Sep 2006 12:45:00 EDT <img ALT="Roman Forum as seen from the Coliseum" WIDTH="117" HEIGHT="77" class="leftill" src="http://www.sitebits.com/imgsmallphoto/roman-forum-seen-from-the-coliseum_small.jpg"> My fiancée and I were in Rome because I had to get a visa at the Canadian Embassy. While in town, we managed to avoid most tourist traps, staying at a reasonably priced hotel and working a couple of delicious meals into our busy schedule - all while remaining consistently vague about our nationalities... And of course, doing as the Romans do... Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2006/when_in_rome_do_as_the_romans_do.html Sat, 19 Aug 2006 03:30:00 EDT We only discovered this place a couple of months ago and already we've been there three or four times. My personal opinion, as somebody who has lived in Italy for 5 years, is that Vago tries to be faithful to the original taste of Italian cuisine... Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2006/vago_montreal_2006_review.html Tue, 25 Jul 2006 02:10:00 EDT <img ALT="Palio di Siena (2004): The Race" WIDTH="117" HEIGHT="88" class="leftill" src="http://www.sitebits.com/imgsmallphoto/siena-palio-2004_small.jpg"> If you want to understand Siena and its people, you should attend the Palio at least once in your life. The Palio of Siena is a basically a twice yearly horse race during which the usual nightlife trinity of sex, drugs, and rock and roll is replaced by wine, drugs for the horses, and medieval songs... Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2006/siena-palio-medieval-tradition.html Fri, 30 Jun 2006 00:00:00 EDT <img ALT="River View" WIDTH="117" HEIGHT="156" class="rightill" src="http://www.sitebits.com/imgsmallphoto/firenze-river-view_small.jpg"> On your tour of Italy you may have reserved a day or two to see Florence. The names are probably already echoing in your mind: Piazza delle Signorie, Palazzo Pitti, Giardini di Bobboli, Galleria degli Ufizzi, Il Duomo, Davide, Dante... <br><br> But even if you've been running around Italy trying to see and do everything, I advise you to take it slow once in <a href="http://www.sitebits.com/italy/florence/">Florence</a>. Relax and enjoy the city at the heart of Tuscany... Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2006/slow_lane_in_florence.html Thu, 15 Jun 2006 00:00:00 EDT "Luba Lounge" is gone, and we've been mourning the loss. The next step in our grieving process was to visit <b>Vinyl</b>, which has taken its place on Bleury St. just below Sherbrooke. After a Friday night film fest at Cinema du Parc we decided to check it out.  Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2006/vinyl_bar_2006.html Wed, 31 May 2006 02:30:00 EDT <img ALT="Siena Via" class="leftill" src="http://www.sitebits.com/images/2006/siena-via.jpg"> Take a walk around Siena and you will be amazed at every grocery store's insistence on displaying prosciutto (jambon), wheels of cheese, and many other buon di dio (as the senese say), meaning "everything good there is". Naturally, you'll get all euphoric and hungry. <br><br> The next logical stop for you will be a restaurant. Unless you're accompanied by someone who knows the town a little, however, I'd be very careful about where to go. Of course, since you're in Siena, surrounded by Medieval Tuscan ambiance, everything will taste good, and nothing particularly bad will happen to you if you choose to eat any-old-where, but wouldn't you rather avoid the possibility of ending up unsatisfied, torpid, and irritated with a uselessly inflated check to boot? Wouldn't you rather have a good experience, leaving the restaurant well-fed and invigorated? (I hope this is a hypothetical question for you.) Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2006/where-not-to-eat-in-siena.html Sun, 09 Apr 2006 00:00:00 EDT I am happy to recommend this cosy, hip (but not slick) wine bar, which despite being located in a place not conducive to any kind of nightlife (with the lights of the Provigo supermarket intruding through the large plate glass windows), offers quite something in other regards. Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2006/pullman_bar_montreal.html Fri, 24 Feb 2006 00:00:00 EST <img alt="Alban New Year" class="fullill" src="http://www.sitebits.com/images/2006/alban_new_year.jpg"> <br> The most celebrated holiday in Albania is New Year's. It seems that one thing Muslims, Catholics, and Orthodox Christians can all agree on is fireworks. On New Year's Eve in Tirana the streets are rife with explosives, nothing is planned but everyone has a vague idea of what's going down, and the feeling of a good-natured revolution is in the air. Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2006/new_years_eve_albanian_style.html Sun, 08 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EST <img alt="Siena: Plaza" class="fullill" src="http://www.sitebits.com/images/2005/siena-plaza.jpg"> <br> Whoever likes good wine and good food should go to Siena, a little town in the heart of Tuscany. It has something magical that you don't fully realize until you've left the town. Everybody who has been there once will return sooner or later because of the medieval spell that follows you as you roam through the narrow streets lined by red brick walls, giving you a sense of safety and carefree-ness that you might have lost. Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2005/siena.html Mon, 07 Nov 2005 00:00:00 EST <img alt="" class="fullill" src="http://www.sitebits.com/images/2004/butrint-1.jpg"> <br> Butrint is an ancient Roman city not far from Saranda, overlooking a river valley. To my untrained eye, it appeared quite well-preserved. Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2004/romans-greeks-butrint.html Thu, 15 Jul 2004 00:00:00 EDT