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Is a Bermuda Food Tour Worth It? Eating Through Hamilton’s Best Spots

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The Hog Penny, Hamilton, Bermuda.

I visited Bermuda last Labor Day weekend for the first time, even though its only a 2 hour flight from NYC and had been on my travel list for years. Part of my first full day on the island was spent in food tour around Hamilton, Bermuda’s capital and largest city (or really, town). It’s the colorful, shop filled streets that you see in photos. While most prioritize Bermuda’s beaches, we really like to eat and drink, and we visit beaches enough that we felt we could dedicate a morning to learning more about Bermuda’s culture, which is just what this tour provided (in addition to a large lunch and several drinks!).

Colorful shop-lined Front Street in Hamilton, Bermuda

Hamilton, Bermuda.

We began our tour on Front Street, Hamilton’s main drag. The tour consisted of about 10 people, most visiting from the United States for Labor Day weekend. The tour began at 11:15 AM and lasted about 3 hours, taking us solidly into the afternoon. All it, it was a fun experience. I would take the tour again and recommend it to those in Bermuda who need a break from the beach.

A tile mural on a wall in Hamilton, Bermuda

A pretty mural in Hamilton, Bermuda made from tile.

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Manzana de Java: The [Current] Best Restaurant In San Juan

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Bisteca fritta. Manzana de Java. San Juan, Puerto Rico.

We have been to San Juan, Puerto Rico numerous times. It is one of our very favorite places to eat and drink, especially thanks to some restaurant recommendations from local friends. Last weekend, we returned for a long weekend simply to escape the cold. Given that two of our favorite restaurants are permanently closed (Jose Enrique and Celeste), I had to find some new restos! I came across Manzana de Java in my research and then saw that it was one of Bad Bunny’s favorite restaurants. Sold. I booked a reservation several weeks in advance and could only get the first seating of 6:30 PM.

The entrance to Manzana de Java restaurant in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico

The entrance to the restaurant.

La Manzana de Java, literally translating to the Java Apple, is located in Santurce on a quiet street. It’s truly a whole in the wall with only 20 seats. Hence, the difficulty in securing a reservation. La Manzana has 3 seatings nightly, the early seating (5:30, 6:00, and 6:30), a regular seating (7:00, 7:30), and a late seating at 9:00 or 9:30. Tables are grouped in groups of 2 or 4, and it could be difficult to have a much larger party here without renting out the whole restaurant.

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48 Fast Hours in Londontown in Early January!

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Regents Street, London.

Last New Year, we spent the week between Christmas and New Year’s—also known as my birthday week—in the United Kingdom! Our trip began in Scotland, where we celebrated Hogmanay, and wrapped up in London, our departure city for the flight home. In this post, I’m sharing how we spent three very fast days exploring London in January.

DAY ONE: A TRAIN FROM GLASGOW, LUNCH AT THE PRADA CAFFÈ, A GUINNESS, AND ONE OF OUR FAVORITE DINNERS

Our first day in London actually began in Glasgow, Scotland, where we boarded a train from Glasgow Central to London Kings Cross station. We were lucky that we boarded early and had seats, as another train on the same line broke down, and many, many passengers joined our train. It was largely standing room only for most of the ride to London (which is over 4 hours!). As we very luckily had seats, it didn’t bother us too much. We arrived in London just a bit behind schedule. We took a Black Cab to our hotel in Kensington, the Kensington Marriott.

Snow in Glasgow before the early train to London

Early departure from Glasgow, and it was snowing in Scotland when we left! 

We didn’t have too much time at our hotel, as we had a late lunch reservation at the Prada Caffè, located inside Harrods department store! I convinced my husband and my friend’s husband to go with be under the guise of a “Birthday lunch.” And, I had so much fun! The Prada Caffè is very Prada, very cute, and the food was shockingly quite good. The menu was Italian, inspired by Prada’s flagship in Milano, and while I am super picky about Italian food (being a citizen and all), this meal was legit. We, of course, also did a bit of shopping at Harrods before heading back to the hotel. If you are considering going to Harrods the weekend after New Years, known that Harrods decorations were still up almost a week out (although I think they came down the next day) and it was SUPER crowded.

Harrods still decorated for Christmas in early January

Harrods still decorated for Christmas on January 3rd.

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A Foodie Adventure Through Monastiraki & Psiri, Greece!

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Athens, Greece.

After spending time in Crete and Naxos earlier this year in July, Dan and I had just one night—24 hours—in Athens. Since we’ve visited the city several times before, we decided to skip the major tourist sights and instead focus on something we never tire of: food. We chose Eating Europe’s “Our Big, Fat, Greek Food Tour,” which led us through six delicious stops across Athens’ Monastiraki and Psiri neighborhoods.

Looking up at the Acropolis at the start of an Athens food tour

Looking up at the Acropolis at the beginning of our food tour.

One thing to note: we took the tour on a Sunday, when many places in Athens are closed. We were informed of this beforehand but decided to go ahead—it was, after all, our only night in the city. Would I do it again on a Sunday? Absolutely. Still, I suspect the experience is even better on other days when more spots are open and bustling.

THE BIG, FAT, GREEK FOOD TOUR

Our tour began in the Monastiraki neighborhood of Athens, which is a very old Athens neighborhood – dating back 6,000 years. This area is located in the shadow of the Acropolis, filled with far too many super touristy shops, and contains its own historical treasures, including the Roman Agora, Holy Church of the Virgin Mary Pantanassa, and Hadrian’s Library. All tourists should come to this area, regardless if you take a food tour.

The Monastiraki neighborhood of Athens, Greece

Monastiraki, Athens. A very ancient Athens area.

STOP ONE: GREEK COFFEE

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SeaJet Ferry’s Platinum Class from Heraklion to Naxos

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The SeaJets ferry to Naxos docked at Heraklion port on Crete

Updated: September 7, 2026.

When it comes to island hopping in Greece, you generally have two options: flying or taking a ferry. While flying is faster, it often involves a transfer through Athens, which can be inconvenient. Ferries, on the other hand, are part of Greece’s extensive and well-connected maritime network — and in my experience, they offer a more scenic and enjoyable way to travel, provided the schedule works for you.

Santorini's cliffs seen from the SeaJets ferry between Heraklion and Naxos, Greece

Passing Santorini from our ferry.

On our recent trip, we opted for a SeaJets ferry from Heraklion (Crete) to Naxos in Platinum Class. I just booked the exact same itinerary for my in laws. In this post, I’ll share our experience and walk you through everything you need to know about taking a ferry in Greece.

PURCHASING GREEK FERRY TICKETS

Although it’s possible to buy ferry tickets in Greece — often right at the port from small ticket booth trailers — I always prefer to book mine online in advance, either directly through the ferry company or via a trusted third-party site. There are two main reasons for this: first, ferries do sell out, especially during peak season; and second, prices are often dynamic, meaning you’ll typically pay less the earlier you book.

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