Wanderlust: Europe

via Glut with Guts--My mark in Budapest

Last week, I went to the O'Hare International arrivals terminal to pick up a friend returning to the country. Being awake/at the airport on a Thursday at the ungodly hour of 3am was horrendous, but worth the wait, getting to see the faces of families and friends reunited after such a long distance apart.

I saw a mom run to her daughter, laden with a large backpacker's pack almost in tears seeing her mom. I saw nervous children cautious to approach grandparents, after what probably seems in their short lives, an entire lifetime apart. The flight, arriving from Central America, also meant there were plenty of stocky old men sauntering out in well worn wranglers, large ornate cowboy hats and friendly and familiar winkled smiles to match. No doubt, you could feel the immense ♥.

As the flight had been delayed I had a lot of time to reflect. While it was nice to see so many happy faces returning "home", I'd like to experience the foreign, the unknown again. Lately I've been feeling such great wanderlust, wanting another adventure, to take another risk, to feel alive again.

Missing the feeling of being abroad, reminiscing on my time in Budapest, Hungary.

via Glut with Guts--National Gallery of Budapest

via Glut with Guts--View of the Danube

via Glut with Guts--Buda Castle on an Amazingly Crisp Fall Day

via Glut with Guts--Budapest, Hungary

Wanderlust/Foodie Lust

These videos. BREAK. MY. HEART. Wishing this was my life, instead of being chained down.

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

EAT from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

waiting for the weekend

Being the horrible blogger I am, I'm updating y'all on the last weekend... now that the new weekend is quickly appraoching.


Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant
5631 N. Ashland

It was my cousin G's birthday... a month and a half ago. As a very belated gift, I took her to check out Lalibela on Ashland, an Ethiopian gem. Neither of us were very familiar with Ethiopian food, but were willing to check it out and desperately seeking something new to try.

Inside

I must say, I love this little place! The interior was so cozy, and the HUGE chairs made me feel like I was dining royalty. On a Friday night, this space was filled with couples and groups alike, but still felt intimate and quiet enough to share a conversation over our meal.

Dori Wot, Injera, Fitfit Salad

Now one thing I learned about Ethiopian food is that you share, you share everything. We ordered two entrees (Gored Gored and Doro tibs), which came with two sides (Dori Wot and the Fitfit Salad). We weren't sure at all what to expect and had just sorta guessed on what might be good to get.  Our dishes came out on a HUGE platter lined with injera, the semi-sour bread used with your hands to pick up each of the dishes. My cousin and I don't mind sharing (in fact, it was more fighting over the last pieces than it was sharing) and started in on our meal. The platter was so big, making the rest of the dishes look so small in comparison, but I was shocked when near the end of the meal, I WAS TOO FULL TO GO ON. What? Unheard of for this glut.

The foods were all scrumptiously savory and subtly spicy making me so so so so happy. I think my falafel craze will have to come second now, to my new love for Ethiopian food. Any of you who know the rate at which I inhale falafel know... that this food must be THAT good to take over the number one reins.

I wasn't sure what "Lalibela" meant so I googled it. I am so amazed at what I found! Lalibela is apparently an ancient world, comprising of 11 magnificent, medieval, rock-hewn churches, dimly lit passageways, hidden crypts and grottoes. The ancient city was carved into the red volcanic rock underlying this remote Ethiopian town almost a millennia ago by the Zagwe dynasty. Today that world remains, frozen in stone.

Lalibela, a monument of beauty and wonder

What an amazing story and (from what I could see via Google images), an architectural masterpiece. I just had some knowledge dropped on me. I'm adding this to my list of places to visit before I die.

Until I make it to Ethiopia, I can't wait until the next chance I get to grab my favorite bottle of vino (I recommend merlot for this meal!) and head back to Lalibela... or maybe make my way to Demera and check them out too!

Dreaming of Dori Wot,
♡M