Forty-Two: Best in Belgium

Ghent is more fun than Brussels, Antwerp or Brugges. It's in good shape, there aren't too many tourists (at least in the winter),  they've got plenty of medieval buildings, and lots of good food. I don't know why Belgian food doesn't get more attention; it's pretty much the perfect combination of French, German and Dutch. See waterzooi. Why aren't more people into waterzooi? It's one of the best things I've ever eaten. Granted, it's not easy to find outside of Belgium... but that's my point. It should be. Something needs to start a Belgian food revival... I nominate waterzooi.

Forty-One: Aquae Sulis

Bath, England is fun and pretty. Boasting (really, really boasting) the only natural hot springs in England, it's been a spa town since Roman times. Thus the name. All of downtown is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and sports lots of fancy architecture; the Royal Crescent, the Circus, Pulteney Bridge. We learned a lot on the Mayor's Corps of Honorary Guides' free walking tour. Our guide was just the cutest old biddy, and an outrageously fast walker.


We drank pear and apple cider, ate great Indian food, and had four o'clock tea at the Pump House over the Baths; scones and clotted cream, chive and cream cheese sandwiches with the crusts cut off. We got in the pools (meh) and steam pods (rad) at the new Thermae Bath Spa, and may or may not have seen Keith Richards. Perhaps Bath's water is responsible for his longevity?

Forty: Cypress (Roots)

Home for the Holidays. Fort Lauderdale Florida. I'll admit, I'm proud to be from such a quirky, fucked up place. Where the dog chases big neon iguanas off the dock and into the canal. Where half the people on the road have a concealed weapons permit but no driver's license. Where sequined guests at the neighbor's never-ending cocktail party sway to a Vegas lounge duo's (he in a feathered, rhinestoned jumpsuit at the baby grand) Electric Slide. Even my sister the Social Prodigy was afraid to mingle with that lot.








There were grouper fingers, stone crab, key lime pies, deep fried turkey and two birthday cakes. Kayaking in the Everglades, swimming at the Surf Club, a New Year's Eve boat ride along the Intracoastal (and a near collision with the Jungle Queen). We saw alligators, herons and turtles on a drive down Turner River Road and panoramic views of Miami Beach from the MacArthur Causeway. At Smith & Wollensky's, cigarette boats drowned out conversations and departing cruise ships blocked out the sun. We even drank moonshine and discharged a few firearms. And all in the company of the people I've known longest...