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Florida’s Manatee River: A Gift to the Gulf

by Monica Mattioli July 12, 2021

by Monica Mattioli July 12, 2021

Some days idle and lazy, other times roiling and rugged, Florida’s mighty Manatee River divides Bradenton and Palmetto and flows gloriously into the Gulf. Situated in the lower Tampa Bay…

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Sometimes when you’re cooking with what you have

Sometimes when you’re cooking with what you have in the house, the canned staples sitting in the back of the cupboard make all the difference.
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Fresh broccoli, green pepper, shallots, garlic, carrots, thinly sliced beef, and those wonderful little canned baby corn and water chestnuts. Curry from scratch. 🥘
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Oh! And also in the back of the fridge, where it probably should t have been, was a lovely bottle of @bluemtncider DRY cider. Lovely!

#homecooked #currylover #beefcurry #whatsfordinner #hardciders

The beach was alive today, as it always is. Blowin

The beach was alive today, as it always is. Blowing sand, tidal puddles, sand bars, sea belches and burps. Kids playing, families walking together, laughter, couple strolling, women power walking. There were tumbled shells and crabs, sea wormies and clams. Sadly a mermaid purse and skate fish washed ashore. Then again, a trio of seals bobbing out just off the coast in cove. A treat to see them. Always something to see here.
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#oregoncoast #oregon #atthebeach #seaside #seasideoregon #walkthebeach #beachwalk #beachwalks #thecove #sandandsurf

Clamming in Seaside, Oregon! Clatsop County is the

Clamming in Seaside, Oregon! Clatsop County is the state’s premier spot for razor clams; definitely our most coveted. But today’s catch was purple varnish clams and they made a delicious first course.
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#clams #clamming #purplevarnishclams #varnishclams #pacificnorthwest #oregon #oregoncoast #seaside #seasideoregon #confettitravel #whatsfordinner #steamerclams #seafood #shellfish #pinotgris #willamettevalleyvineyards #willamettevalleywine #oregonwine

These gave me pause and made me smile on a walk to

These gave me pause and made me smile on a walk today with a girlfriend. I am truly flipping blessed.
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#flowers #crocus #crocuses #purpleflowers #purpleflower #spring #springflowers #confettitravel #onthepromenade #seasidepromenade #seasideoregon #atthebeach #talkawalk #walk #walkwalkwalk

Kudos to Oregon City Brewing Company for hosting a

Kudos to Oregon City Brewing Company for hosting a fundraiser for a favorite community non-profit, The Clackmas Bookshelf! Great beer, great food carts to choose from, fun evening out with friends and money raised for a good cause! @the_clackamas_bookshelf @ocbeer #beer #communityfirst #fundraisers #oregoncity #brewpub #confettitravel #foodcarts #foodcartspdx #oregoncitybrewingcompany #clackamasbookshelf #theclackamasbookshelf

Dinner out at Dar Essalam with some of the fam. A

Dinner out at Dar Essalam with some of the fam. A second or third celebration to celebrate a certain somebody’s big 6-5 bday.
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A bottle of @mummnapa and silly fun movie back home didn’t hurt.
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#morrocanfood #moroccancuisine #pastilla #kabobs #portland #portlandrestaurants #dinnerout #confettitravel #birthdaydinner #daresalaam #daressalaam

A stay at the Oregon coast means seafood. Stopped

A stay at the Oregon coast means seafood. Stopped @bellbuoyofseaside and picked up some fresh crab. Eating solo meant no fuss, but still plenty of muss. I’ll spare you the carnage!
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Oh, and beer, not wine. I haven’t been drinking beer lately, but this Italian-style Pilsner was perfect! Feeling spoiled out in Seaside!
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#crab #dungenesscrab #dungeness #oregoncoast #seafood #seaside #seasideoregon #crabmeat #confettitravel #atthebeach @visitseasideor #bellbuoyseaside #simplethings #whatsfordinner

Just came across this from many years ago. It guid

Just came across this from many years ago. It guided me through a difficult time and I still feel the comfort and wisdom.
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#rulesforhappiness #freeyourheart #freeyourmind #livesimply #givemore #expectless #wisewords #confettitravel #breathe

I’m hanging out at one of my favorite places on

I’m hanging out at one of my favorite places on this big blue orb of ours; the little beach town of Seaside, Oregon. Winter walks. Sunshine one minute, rain the next and even woke up to a bit of snow and sleet.
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The beach too is ever-changing. A little storm just before I drove through the mountains to get here left the beach strewn with a few large logs and tree trunks. The beach is temporarily flattened; a lot of sand was pulled out. On one walk, the tide was out but the water had gone almost up to dunes. A different beauty.
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#seaside #seasideoregon @visitseasideor #atthebeach #beach #beachlife #attheseaside #beachlife #winterbeach #winterbeachdays #takeawalk #walkwalkwalk #beachcabin #nosnoweh #confettitravel

THIS was a white wine I oh so enjoyed! Cliff Creek

THIS was a white wine I oh so enjoyed! Cliff Creek Cellars’ 2019 MRV. It’s a tantalizing and fragrant and complex blend of Viognier, Rousanne, and Marsanne. A beautifully crafted blend.
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In Grants Pass and Medford in Southern Oregon, you can visit Cliff Creek Cellars and enjoy some of their wonderful wines at their vineyard. Or, closer to Portland, in the Willamette Valley, stop by their tasting room in Newberg.
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#cliffcreek #cliffcreekcellars @cliffcreekcellars #wine #winetasting #oregonwine #southernoregonwines #wineries #roguevalleyoregon #winestagram

Flying north from Puerto Vallarta at sunset. I’l

Flying north from Puerto Vallarta at sunset. I’ll never decide which views from a plane are “best.” Flying through or above all the many types of clouds. Sunrises. Sunsets. Big city lights that go on for miles. Farmland grids. The only occasional nighttime lights of rural properties. Mountains. Deserts. Knolls. Water! All the many bodies of water!
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What else? What am I missing here? Anyone have a favorite flyover?
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#sunset #sunsets #sunsetphotography #sunsetflyover #airplaneviews #aerialphotography #aerialviews #puertovallarta #jalisco #jaliscomexico #flyinghome #homewardbound #confettitravel #confett

And now, just for the breaching! . Whale watching

And now, just for the breaching!
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Whale watching with Akali Catamaran in Puerto Vallarta. What a fun cruise this was! We knew we'd probably see whales; this is prime time in the Bahia de Banderas. Humpbacks are heading north, of course. Incredibly magnificent and beautiful animals.
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Breaching was wonderful, but mom and baby at play was still the highlight for me.!
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#akali #akalicatamaran #PuertoVallarta #puertovallartamexico #whalewatching #whalewatchingtour #humpbackwhale #humpbacks #whalemigration #cruise #daycruise #mexico #sunshine #confettitravel

Whale watching with @AkaliCatamaran in Puerto Vall

Whale watching with @AkaliCatamaran in Puerto Vallarta. What a fun little cruise this was! We knew we'd probably see whales; this is prime time in the Bahia de Banderas. Humpbacks are heading north, of course.
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I love how this starts. Enjoying the sun, the lovely light breeze. The scenery is great from the start and only continues. The crew does their friendly introductions and run by of the rules. Cocktail orders are taken. It's not long at all and we're ooohing and aaahing at water spouts from the whales a short distance away.
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Not long after that, we're seeing dorsal fins and flukes. I start snapping blind shots with my little point and shoot. If I get good photos, fine, but I want foremost to just enjoy what I can see.
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The early sites are nothing compared to what follows. We see blowholes, their large pectoral fins (up to 15' long and covered in barnacles.) We see them bend down in that We see the grooves along their throats. We see baleen. We see breaching, which is crazy thrilling. We see a mom and baby and mom is teaching baby how to come out of the water and slap down. Repeatedly, repeatedly, making sure baby gets it down. Baby is playing and showing off and this was just all great fun. Just fabulous.
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Yes, fun facts are shared by crew. They eat about 2K of fish and krill a day. They range in size from 39 to 52 ' long. We learn more about the 3 stages of that coming up and slapping down we so enjoyed.
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There was a lovely plated lunch (sandwich and fresh fruit) and cocktails, but it wasn't at all a booze cruise feel to it. (Not that that there's not a time and place...) Coming back to the Marina, the crew entertained us and they were just great fun. Highly recommend them!
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#akali #akalicatamaran #PuertoVallarta #puertovallartamexico #whalewatching #whalewatchingtour #humpbackwhale #humpbacks #whalemigration #cruise #daycruise #mexico #sunshine #confettitravel

Walk walk walk around puerto Vallarta and you’re

Walk walk walk around puerto Vallarta and you’re ready for a relaxing break. We stopped at the Oyster House on the Melecon. Lovely views, a crisp Albariño, salad, sautéed calamari, and a tuna ceviche to avocado. Very nice!
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#puertovallarta #puertovallartamexico #puertovallartajalisco #mexico #puertovallartafood #melecon #oysterhouse #ceviche #tuna #squid #calamari #salads #walk #takeawalk #stroll #waterfront #wine #mexicanwine #confettitravel #foodanddrink #wine #winewednesday

The chance to connect with friends old and new whe

The chance to connect with friends old and new when traveling is just the best. Many thanks, Marc, for your warm hospitality and for taking us to one of your favorite spots in Puerto Vallarta.
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Qulture in a fabulous restaurant and art gallery in the Emiliano-Zapata neighborhood of Zona Romantica. It’s housed in a former hotel and all the rooms are a perfect backdrop for working art studios and galleries. The work is diverse and the food and drink are a treat. Do go!
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So what’s for dinner? #negroni #martini #coconutshrimp #tunachicharon #mussels #salada #stuffedjalapeños
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#qulturepv @qulturepv #puertovallartaart #puertovallarta #mexico #zonaromantica #zonaromanticapuertovallarta #emelianozapata #bahiadebanderas #bayofbanderas #travel #foodanddrink #cocktails #dinner #confettitravel @travelpenandpalate #travelpenandpalate

More urban beauty in Puerto Vallarta’s el Centro

More urban beauty in Puerto Vallarta’s el Centro and Zona Romantica districts!
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#walkwalkwalk #stroll #strolling
#puertovallarta #mexico #soulmatters #confettitravel #take a break #atthewaterfront #bahiadebanderas #bahíadebanderas #urbanenergy #cityenergy #art #urbanart #zonaromantica #zonaromanticapuertovallarta #elcentro #centro #getthosestepsin #vibes

Soooo many gorgeous #murals here in Puerto Vallart

Soooo many gorgeous #murals here in Puerto Vallarta’s Centro and Zona Romantica districts!
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#puertovallarta #mexico #sunset #soulmatters #sunsets #sunsetsofinstagram #confettitravel #takeabreak #atthewaterfront #bahiadebanderas #bahíadebanderas #urbanenergy #cityenergy #art #muralsofinstagram #urbanart #zonaromantica #zonaromanticapuertovallarta #elcentro #centro

Easily amused by playing, Spot the Lizard! . . #pu

Easily amused by playing, Spot the Lizard!
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#puertovallarta #mexico #sunset #soulmatters #sunsets #sunsetsofinstagram #confettitravel #takeabreak #breathe #ropeswing #atthewaterfront #bahiadebanderas #bahíadebanderas #lizards #lizard

Sunset over Banderas Bay in beautiful Puerto Valla

Sunset over Banderas Bay in beautiful Puerto Vallarta!
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#puertovallarta #mexico #sunset #soulmatters @visitpuertovallarta #sunsets #sunsetsofinstagram #confettitravel #takeabreak #breathe #ropeswing #atthewaterfront #bahiadebanderas #bahíadebanderas

Fabulous meal at Mole and Tacos … They started u

Fabulous meal at Mole and Tacos …
They started us off with a fresh bright little fruity cocktail and some tostadas. For starters we had a plate of bone marrow, sweetbreads, and chorizo with a spicy peanut sauce and corn tortillas. And a molcajete of guacamole. For an entree, we shared a plate for two that could have fed four (and y’all have seen me eat!) of grilled beef, chicken and chorizo, pineapple and nopales, sautéed peppers and onions. ¡Dios mío, it was all delicious,
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Dessert was a corn pie with vanilla ice cream and churros with dipping chocolate.
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#hiltonpuertovallarta #puertovallarta #whatsfordinner #soulmatters #foodanddrink #jalisco #mexico #sunshine #getaway #travel #takeabreak #hotelmelia #confettitravel

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Nancy Zaffaro loves to travel and explore, write and take photos. At home and away, she enjoys hearing people’s stories and feels at home just about anywhere. Learn more about Nancy and the rest of CTC's contributors.

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