aer_enigma's recent activity

  1. Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books

    aer_enigma
    Link Parent
    Thank you so much for this! Many of these I've tried, or at least heard of, but there are a few that are brand new and look really interesting. I'll add them to my list. Much appreciated!!

    Thank you so much for this! Many of these I've tried, or at least heard of, but there are a few that are brand new and look really interesting. I'll add them to my list. Much appreciated!!

    1 vote

  2. Comment on Any tips for Barcelona and Lisbon in June/July? in ~travel

    aer_enigma
    Link
    Hello! My husband and I have been to both of these amazing cities (Barcelona in 2017 and Lisbon in 2022), and you're in for a real treat! We're mostly foodies, so that will probably be the center...
    • Exemplary

    Hello! My husband and I have been to both of these amazing cities (Barcelona in 2017 and Lisbon in 2022), and you're in for a real treat! We're mostly foodies, so that will probably be the center of my recommendations, and we also don't know much about the nightlife (sorry!), as we're old and grumpy. But I'll do my best to offer some insights. There is so much to tell, I'm struggling to organize it all in my head, so I think I might just list things as they pop up, and please feel free to ask any questions!

    Barcelona

    • Tapas, tapas, tapas. I know this is a given, but exploring the small-plates scene is awesome. Every place has slightly different takes. My favorites: boquerones (not to be confused with anchoas (what Americans typically think of when they think anchovy)) - fresh anchovies pickled in vinegar, so they were not salty and cured, but plump and zesty; pan con tomate - fresh bread rubbed with olive oil, garlic, and tomato; croquettas - particularly ones with Iberian ham; gambas al ajillo shrimp cooked with garlic; olives - especially castelvetrano, if you like green olives
    • Gaudi. If you like architecture at all - or even if you don't - it's worth seeing one or two places designed by Gaudi. Of course, the Sagrada Familia is a must-see (buy tickets in advance). If you only do one thing in Barcelona, see this. It's awe-inspiring and no words of mine can do it justice. We also recommend Park Güell as another fantastic Gaudi site (we didn't buy tickets in advance, but it was November, so we basically walked right in; in June, you probably would want tickets for this).
    • Picasso Museum. We didn't want to wait in line, so bought tickets online the day of for a time about 2 hours ahead, and then just wandered and ate empanadas. If you love Picasso, this is worth seeing; considering we're not really fine art people, it was fine but not something I would do again.
    • Drink the fresh orange juice! It's incredible. And also, don't be so tempted by the delicious sangria and beer that you forget to drink water. Yes, alcohol is cheaper than water; it doesn't mean your body can survive on it. This comes from personal experience...
    • The Gothic Quarter is a very awesome place to explore and easy to reach by Metro. This is where we stayed, and we were able to walk to just about everywhere, but the Metro is quite accessible and convenient.
    • If you like fish, the fried sardines from little hole-in-the-wall shops were very delicious! Worth a try!
    • We didn't seek out any nightlife in Barcelona, but many places were open quite late, as dinner typically starts around 10pm. We would go out at 9 and be the early birds. Going to bed at midnight was late for us, but there were still many people about and things to do that late, so I'm sure if you're near a tourist center, there will be bars/clubs aplenty. Sorry I don't have any better recommendations for this, though!

    Lisbon

    • Bairro Alto is the neighborhood for nightlife. We stayed one neighborhood over, in Baixa, and there were still late-night things to do and we could hear people partying outside the flat until about 4am on weekends, even in this "quieter" neighborhood. I bet if you were in Bairro Alto proper, it would be even more lively!
    • Cervejaria Ramiro is the restaurant I recommend if you like seafood. That's all they serve, it's so fresh they literally let you meet the crab before they cook it, and the prices are so affordable for the amazing quality. A dinner for two with multiple types of shrimp, a whole lobster, a whole crab, and a bottle of wine was about $150. They request a $50 pre-payment upon reservation, so we only paid $100 at the table. Very worth it, and probably the only reason we'd go back to Lisbon.
    • Day trips! We were able to visit most of downtown Lisbon in a couple of days and had lots of time to kill (scheduled ourselves 10 days in this region), so I recommend looking for day trips outside the city if you'll be there for more than 4 days. Sintra was gorgeous, Cascais is a beautiful and touristy beach town, Sesimbra is a little town south of Lisbon known for its fish, Evora is known for its architecture and wine, and Coimbra is a little walled city that feels stuck in time. All of these are within a couple of hours and worth seeing, depending on your interests.
    • Speaking of which, if you have time in your itinerary, I definitely recommend Porto. We both liked this city better than Lisbon! It's picturesque, has amazing food (sandwiches, such as the Prego and Presunto; or the popular Portuguese dish called Picapau), gorgeous architecture and so many azulejos (blue tile murals in and on buildings), and is excellent for learning about and drinking port wine. It's about 3 hours north of Lisbon by direct train and is just really lovely!
    • Trains in Portugal are trickier than in other countries, from what I've seen. You will have an assigned seat, and they will walk through the train and make sure you're in it. But they're very helpful if you're lost (like we were). Train cars have their number on the outside, so first make sure you're in the right car. You won't know which way the train pulls in, so watch as it arrives to see whether your car is in the front or back. And then your seat number will likely be above the seat, on the luggage rack. Our motto for the Portugal trip became, "Welcome to Portugal! Good luck!" due to it being a little less obvious for non-native speakers than other European countries.

    Etiquette
    I can't really speak much to this, as I didn't notice any huge culture shocks in either place, aside from the regular "we're not in Kansas anymore" feeling. I'm an American from the West Coast, for reference. The people in both cities were extremely friendly and kind, and it was easy to ask for help when navigating the newness. That being said, as is always best practice, it goes a long way to learn simple, polite phrases in the native language. Practice these at home, so you feel less awkward using them. Folks really appreciate the effort! Also, both of these countries are heavily Catholic, so it's always a good idea to bring more modest clothing when visiting religious sites; I carried a pashmina that I doubled as a scarf and shoulder wrap for entering churches. The weather (especially in Lisbon) will probably be humid and hot, so it's important to remember to bring something to cover shoulders, even on sunny days!
    My husband's advice is this - remember you're a tourist. He struggled with feeling anxious and out-of-place, and that hampered his time a little bit, until he remembered that it's going to be obvious you're a tourist before you even open your mouth. So lean into it! These cities are very tourist-friendly and used to it, so nobody will judge you about it. Just also beware that this makes you an easy mark for scams and pick-pocketing! So it's worth learning about ways to keep yourself safe from that, especially if you're staying out late at night. They're very safe cities, all-in-all, but you might still get robbed if you're obviously drunk or dumb.
    I hope you have a great trip and enjoy yourselves!! Spain and Portugal are both wonderful countries, full of warm and friendly people who want to show you the best of their cultures. Take lots of pictures and keep a journal!

    16 votes

  3. Comment on Book recommendations, specifically in ~books

    aer_enigma
    Link Parent
    Excellent comment! I will definitely check out Brian McClellan (can't believe I haven't heard of him!) and The Black Company. Funny enough, that series is my book-recommending best friend's...

    Excellent comment! I will definitely check out Brian McClellan (can't believe I haven't heard of him!) and The Black Company. Funny enough, that series is my book-recommending best friend's favorite, and he's been gently suggesting it for years, but I've just always picked up other things. Maybe it's time; cheers!

    1 vote

  4. Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books

    aer_enigma
    Link Parent
    I recommend No Mud, No Lotus. Very short and sweet! I'll check out Stepping Into Freedom; thank you for sharing this!

    I recommend No Mud, No Lotus. Very short and sweet!

    I'll check out Stepping Into Freedom; thank you for sharing this!

    1 vote

  5. Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books

    aer_enigma
    Link Parent
    I also just finished Age of Madness and am on to Sharp Ends! I also recently heard rumor that he published (or is intending to publish?) a second set of short stories set in the First Law world....

    I also just finished Age of Madness and am on to Sharp Ends! I also recently heard rumor that he published (or is intending to publish?) a second set of short stories set in the First Law world. Very exciting, if that's the case!

    Do you have any recommendations of other authors/worlds to check out? Preferably something outside the beaten path (I've done the Robert Jordan, Sanderson, GRRM, etc. rounds) and particularly loved The Heroes, if that helps at all. Always excited to "meet" someone else who enjoyed Abercrombie!

    1 vote

  6. Comment on Book recommendations, specifically in ~books

    aer_enigma
    Link Parent
    I don't know if it's exactly what you're looking for, as Malazan is (in my experience of the first three books) much more of a sweeping epic lots of supernatural/magical elements and general...

    I don't know if it's exactly what you're looking for, as Malazan is (in my experience of the first three books) much more of a sweeping epic lots of supernatural/magical elements and general world-building.

    But my recommendation, based on your request for a deeply human cast and coherent, satisfying plot, is Joe Abercrombie. Starting with The Blade Itself as book one of the first trilogy, then moving through three one-off books set a few years after the first trilogy ends, and then a second trilogy (starting with A Little Hatred) to wrap it all up about 30 years after the first ends. His world building is not the draw, but the characters are fantastic, his writing style is fast and fun, and he does an amazing job of turning the standard fantasy tropes on their heads in provocative and amusing ways. I have highly recommended these books to all of my fantasy nerds, and so far nobody has disliked them!

    2 votes

  7. Comment on Any good somewhat healthy recipes with jalapenos? in ~food

    aer_enigma
    Link
    I like jalapenos (pickled and fresh) on pizza, so I use a no-yeast dough like this one and just top with whatever sauce/veggies are on hand. Not exactly a new application, but jalapenos on...

    I like jalapenos (pickled and fresh) on pizza, so I use a no-yeast dough like this one and just top with whatever sauce/veggies are on hand.

    Not exactly a new application, but jalapenos on nachos-adjacent is using diced potatoes instead of the chips for the base. Just chop 'em up, toss with evoo and SW-inspired seasonings or steak seasonings, and bake until (mostly) cooked. Then continue with your regular nacho procedure. Takes out a bunch of fried and processed.

    2 votes

  8. Comment on Harvest time: Share your favorite garden bounty recipes! in ~food

    aer_enigma
    Link Parent
    Thank you!! This is exactly what I was looking for, and I love sun-tea myself! Did you follow a specific "recipe" or just plunk it into a pitcher and let the sun do the trick on an afternoon?

    Thank you!! This is exactly what I was looking for, and I love sun-tea myself! Did you follow a specific "recipe" or just plunk it into a pitcher and let the sun do the trick on an afternoon?

    1 vote

  9. Comment on Harvest time: Share your favorite garden bounty recipes! in ~food

    aer_enigma
    Link Parent
    I've never tried pesto with lemon balm! Is there a noticeable difference in flavor? I have lemon balm out my ears every year, and haven't found a good way to use it, yet, but it seems such a waste...

    I've never tried pesto with lemon balm! Is there a noticeable difference in flavor? I have lemon balm out my ears every year, and haven't found a good way to use it, yet, but it seems such a waste to just prune it back and compost all the beautiful possibilities. I once tried drying it and using the ground leaves almost like kefir lime, so in curry and tom kha soup, but it didn't really take...

    2 votes

  10. Comment on Harvest time: Share your favorite garden bounty recipes! in ~food

    aer_enigma
    Link Parent
    This is how I do my basil and it works beautifully! I heard that freezing complete pesto gets weird because of the parmesan cheese, so I haven't tried it.

    This is how I do my basil and it works beautifully! I heard that freezing complete pesto gets weird because of the parmesan cheese, so I haven't tried it.

    2 votes

  11. Comment on Harvest time: Share your favorite garden bounty recipes! in ~food

    aer_enigma
    Link
    Thank you for this green tomato recipe! Always looking for ways to use up the end-of-the-year fruits. We got lucky with tomatoes this year; the deer only nipped the edges, but left the bulk of the...

    Thank you for this green tomato recipe! Always looking for ways to use up the end-of-the-year fruits.

    We got lucky with tomatoes this year; the deer only nipped the edges, but left the bulk of the plants alone. Our favorite way to process the tomatoes is to roast with onion/garlic (also from the garden, whenever possible), salt/pepper, and a generous amount of olive oil at 325 for about.... 2 hours? It really is depending on preferred caramelization and crispiness. Then to let it cool and put in a tupperware for freezing. We use old to-go soup/curry containers and make sure to squish out all the air, to prevent freezer-burn. These can last in the freezer all winter with minimal degradation and make amazing sauces/soups throughout the winter.

    I do basil the same way! I use the food processor to make it into tiny chunks and then squish it into small containers, cover with olive oil (again, to get all the air out and to create a protective coating on top) and freeze. It's really only good for pesto upon thawing, but that's how we use 90% of our basil, anyway, so this means we can get fresh pesto all winter. One thing I found when doing ice cube freezings of basil was there would be an excess of oil. If you save that, it's fantastic for salad dressings and sauteeing!

    This is my favorite zucchini bread recipe! By the end of summer, my husband is so sick of zucchini, hiding it is my only option. I prefer savory zucchini breads, and this one is delicious! We also shred and freeze any that doesn't get eaten in time, as it can be used for future breads or soups.

    4 votes

  12. Comment on When did you realize you were different? in ~talk

    aer_enigma
    Link Parent
    One of my favorite teachers from high school once said, "As a child, I learned two things: one - that I am an exceptionally wonderful person, and two - that I am no more exceptionally wonderful...

    One of my favorite teachers from high school once said, "As a child, I learned two things: one - that I am an exceptionally wonderful person, and two - that I am no more exceptionally wonderful than anyone else." It has always stuck with me, and your comment very much reminds me of this. Thank you!

    1 vote

  13. Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health

    aer_enigma
    Link Parent
    I'm also someone who has recently started adding weights to my routine, and it can be tough! For years it was cycling, then adding yoga and pilates, and only in the last year or so have I added...

    I'm also someone who has recently started adding weights to my routine, and it can be tough! For years it was cycling, then adding yoga and pilates, and only in the last year or so have I added strength training as a deliberate part of the plan. One thing that has helped me has been thinking in compound movements, as I get bored with set after set of bicep curls (for example) and don't feel like I get as much out of it. But when adding a bicep curl + press to a side lunge, it becomes more challenging and interesting, plus adds more function to my daily movements. I hope you keep with it and find fulfillment! Best of luck!

    1 vote

  14. Comment on Conservative groups draw up plan to dismantle the US government and replace it with Donald Trump’s vision in ~misc

    aer_enigma
    Link Parent
    If you don't mind my asking, what was your take on the article, and what do you believe his was?

    If you don't mind my asking, what was your take on the article, and what do you believe his was?

    8 votes

  15. Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health

    aer_enigma
    Link Parent
    Yes, I do online yoga/pilates as a regular part of my fitness routine! I agree that Yoga with Adriene is a good starting point. My overall favorite yoga instructor is Erin with Five Parks Yoga,...

    Yes, I do online yoga/pilates as a regular part of my fitness routine! I agree that Yoga with Adriene is a good starting point.
    My overall favorite yoga instructor is Erin with Five Parks Yoga, and my favorite Ashtanga Yoga standing series is with instructor Michelle Merrifield. SarahBeth Yoga, Boho Beautiful (both pilates and yoga), and Move with Nicole (pilates) are also good. There's the obligatory Blogilates (Cassey Ho), who is a very popular pilates instructor. She has good classes and instruction, but some might find her endlessly sunshiney cheer a turn-off. GymRa is a channel that has lots of different types of workouts (yoga, pilates, strength, hiit) with multiple instructors, so I've had some really great videos from there and some that were more of a miss.
    I hope this is helpful for finding exactly what you're looking for!!

    2 votes