Sterling silver is a precious metal that has enchanted the world for centuries, capturing the imagination of the wealthy and the powerful. This elegant alloy has a rich and fascinating history, steeped in myth and legend, and has come to be associated with an array of mystical and feminine properties.

During the Renaissance period, sterling silver was a favorite of the European elite, who sought out the finest silverware for their lavish homes. The metal was also used to create exquisite religious artifacts, such as chalices and crosses, adorned with intricate designs and precious stones.

In many cultures, silver is connected to the moon, and has long been associated with femininity, divinity, and purity. In ancient Greece and Rome, silver was the metal of Artemis, the goddess of the moon and the hunt, and was believed to have sacred and protective qualities. In Hindu mythology, silver was revered as a symbol of the moon god Chandra, and was believed to possess healing properties.

Silver has always been a favorite among Native American cultures as well, where it is thought to have protective properties and is often used in jewelry and decorative objects. It is associated with the water element, and is believed to have the power to cleanse and purify.

This precious metal is also associated with wealth and prosperity, and has long been believed to have the power to attract abundance. In feng shui, silver is used to create mirrors, which are thought to reflect positive energy, attracting wealth and prosperity.

In conclusion, sterling silver is a captivating and fascinating metal that has captured the imagination of cultures around the world. Its mystical and feminine properties, combined with its rich history and elegant beauty, make it a favorite of jewelry enthusiasts and collectors alike. Whether you are drawn to its mythological qualities, its association with the moon, or simply its timeless appeal, sterling silver is a treasure worth exploring.

I’m a total beach baby. I love the water, I love summer and I’m not bothered by the super hot Mediterranean sun. I dream about it all winter and by the time spring rolls around I’m ready to spend as many days as possible seaside.

But I know that’s not the case for everyone. I’m always really surprised on instagram when I get a message in response to sharing about the beach expressing wanting to love it, but feeling like it’s uncomfortable, especially on holiday.

I do get it: summer sun can be harsh, saltwater is sticky and if you brought a limited amount of clothes, it’s no fun feeling like everything is salty.

So, how can you enjoy beautiful beach spots while traveling without it feeling like a chore?

Here are my top tips for hitting the beach like a local:

1) Bring a comfy swimsuit

I am such a fan of comfortable swimwear made from lush, gorgeous materials. They make such a difference when you are wearing them a lot. I tend to go for styles that offer a lot of support with really good fabric. My favorites are by Cuup and Form & Fold.

2) Have one dedicated beach outfit

If I know I’m going to be going to the beach a lot, I always pack one thin, gauzy sundress that is my “beach dress”. It’s the dress I can put on after swimming and get all salty saving the rest of my trip clothes. I’ll generally rinse this out every couple of days and hang out to dry - the summer sun will dry things quickly and you will always have a beach outfit ready to go without worrying about washing the salt from all your other clothes and suitcase. I also always bring a pair of simple sandals, usually classic black flip flops I can slip on in the car, saving my other shoes. And I bring a pareo to layout on. Both are thin and pack down to nothing but make handling salt and sand so much easier. Having all of this in a beach bag ready to go makes pulling over at a dreamy off-the-beaten path swimming spot so much more enjoyable.

3) Prep yourself for beach success

Some things don’t belong at the sea: heavy leather purses and nice leather shoes that you’ll never rinse the salty grime off of or get all of the grains of sand out of.

I always pack a super foldable bag in my luggage that I know will be my dedicated ‘beach bag’. Once I get to where I’m going I toss in my bathing suit and my beach dress, my sandals, and pareo and I keep this in the car or I’m sure to bring it with me when we are heading out. I am not a fan of wearing my swimsuit all day, so usually once it’s time to go to the beach I will slip my beach dress on in the car (folding and keeping my other clothes there), and then ill slip on my bathing suit on the beach under my dress. If we are headed directly home after, I might leave my bathing suit on but if we are planning on going somewhere else, I’ll usually slip my bathing suit back off, and put my undies on. A lot of public beaches in Italy have showers. You can simply rinse most of the saltwater off, let your skin dry and then put your undies and clothes back on. I usually still wear my beach dress and a slick of lipstick and I’m ready to go.

4) Bring what you need to be comfortable

I have really sensitive skin and nearly all SPFs are irritating, so it’s essential for me to wear a hat. I always bring one in my bag. Hats also offer a major reprieve from strong summer sun. If your skin is sensitive to saltwater, bring a bottle of water with you that you can rinse your face with. Alternatively, you can bring a spray or even some gentle wipes. If you’re going to rinse your face and your skin gets dry, have a small tube of a neutral moisturizer with you to nourish your skin till you get home.

If you prefer shade at the beach, indulge in a beach umbrella once you get to where you are going. You can easily find one for €10. Use it on all your beach adventures and then just leave it at your Airbnb. Yeah, you may not take it home, but it’s a cheap price to pay for comfort, and someone else will always be able to use it.

5) Embrace & take care of your skin

Nothing feels as good as a shower after a day at the beach. Enjoy really washing all the salt off, slather on a really good moisturizer. If your hair is on the dryer side, bring a great, rich, conditioner.

Also, the hot summer sun and saltwater become a lot more tolerable when we are able to embrace our natural skin. Foundation, concealer, etc are really hard to wear at the beach. Add a slick of your favorite lipstick, maybe dab some on your cheeks and you will be good to go. You’re relaxing, vacation-type glow, and beautiful sun-kissed skin will take care of the rest – embrace it.

Sixteen years ago I was an exchange student in England. I’d never been out of the country before. Though I checked two large suitcases I had to sit on to close which included things like high heels for “going out”, there were so many things I wished I had brought that I didn’t, like cozy pajamas, to make me feel comfy and at home.

One night, soon after I arrived, I was particularly cold, jet-lagged and feeling down. I went to the kitchen and my host-mother offered me a cup of tea. Once she sensed my mood, she also offered me something else: “would you like a hot-water-bottle dear?”.

Then she left the kitchen and reappeared with a hot water bottle in a little knitted sweater with its stopper hanging from an old piece of red yarn. She filled it up from the kettle and sent me off to bed.

I’ve never been without one since.

Now, when packing, I always make sure to add my hot water bottle in my suitcase.

While super toasty houses are the norm for a lot of Americans, the thermostat can be different in other places. Friends often comment when visiting Italy during winter/spring that it’s colder than they expected. A lot of houses here are built from old stone and can be drafty. Plus, it’s humid. In a lot of apartment buildings, individual units can’t control their temperature and in some regions, there are rules regarding when heat can be used. My hot water bottle has saved me on numerous occasions when the place im staying feels cold, but I know I can crawl into a warm bed.

Besides keeping me warm while in new places, I reach for the HWB when i’m having a headache, when my back or shoulders hurt from walking all day, when im having menstrual cramps, and I’ve even found it to be helpful for jet-lag. I’ve also been known to pull it out during long-haul flights when im trying to get comfy and fall asleep.

If you find yourself traveling during the off-season or just want something that can add a sense of comfort and groundedness I totally recommend tossing one of these into your suitcase.

Everyone talks about Amalfi, Cinque Terre, and Positano but my favorite coastal towns in Italy are the quiet little gems where parking is still easy, coffee is still €1, and a respectful balance exists between locals going about their daily lives and travelers quietly taking it all in.

We wanted to break up our drive from Salento to Sicily, and since we were catching the ferry in Reggio, we decided to check out Scilla, a romantic seaside village attached to a famous ancient myth.

In Greek mythology, Scylla is a beautiful nymph who gets turned into a legendary ferocious sea monster who dwells in the straight of Messina between Calabria & Sicily. Odysseus is told by Circe to sail closer to Scylla, because on the other side of the straight is Charybdis, another sea monster who could drown his entire ship

“Hug Scylla’s crag – sail on past her – top
speed. Better by far to lose six men & keep your ship than lose your entire crew.”

— The Odyssey

The town of Scilla is named after this myth, as Odysseus & his men sailed between this straight, and this rock (top right of this photo) is said to be her home.

The end of March was moody and quiet and it was a perfect time of year to walk around Scilla’s quiet streets, sit outside for lunch, and nestle into a bar for an afternoon coffee.

In the midst of packing, paperwork and preparing to leave for Italy, I can’t stop thinking about Oaxaca. This small magical city has served as inspiration, and a familiar escape over the last 6 years and I’m going to miss it.

2014 marked my first trip to this little enchanting mountain town. I was at the tail end of a breakup with no real plans and some recommendations scribbled on a piece of paper, carrying the weight of everyone’s worry: but is it SAFE? Are you bringing MACE? Be CAREFUL. It was my first trip to Mexico and Oaxaca busted all the classic stereotypes wide open. I remember sitting in front of Santo Domingo with a cup of Tejate watching families strolling around in the evening air, faint music reverberating through the streets from a nearby band, happy tourists with their bags from the market, the mingling of young people after school and how content and satisfying it felt.

A few nights later I was being twirled around in a small bar to some bachata by an old man in slacks who smelled like aftershave. He encouragingly took me by the hand because I was the only girl not dancing and his wife helped me learn the steps and put a flower in my hair. Couples of all ages danced and young kids ran around and everything was electric and felt as it should be – people brought together, enjoying good food, a drink and a good time. 

I’ve recharged in Oaxaca, fallen in love there, have been taken care of, fed, educated, have had lonely evenings exploring the city on my own, and long collectivo rides crammed next to strangers as the sweat drips from the back our thighs and mixes on the pleather seats, our hair tangling together in the wind on the way to one of the big markets in a neighbouring village, the morning heat already unbearable. Oaxaca helped me discover how much I love Mexico and how lucky we are to be able to go to a country with such rich history and culture. Oaxaca inspired trips to other places where I may not have ever visited. It was my gateway into a complex, rich, difficult and often misunderstood place.

If you’re planning a trip, I highly recommend it. If you google “things to do in Oaxaca” there are hundreds of blogs/travel guides that cover all the main stuff better and in more depth than I possibly could. Oaxaca is small, and they all pretty much say the same things about the same places. You really can’t go wrong, just do what resonates with you. The only things I will add are: Explore the markets, eat the food you’re unfamiliar with, if you don't speak Spanish, don't be shy, just try, at the very least, smile. Eat where you see locals eating. Go out and sit in the parks in the evening. Say hi to people. The Zocolo is overrated - don’t spend all your time there. Learn a recipe or two, support the local artisans, and soak it all in. 

Here are some of my favorites:

Café El Volador

Traditional coffee, iced coffee, homemade kombucha in a huge open courtyard

Mercado Sanchez Pascuas

There are two larger “main” markets near the zocolo. This one is smaller and more tucked away. There are women who sell herbs, plants and flowers out front. Make sure to hit the food stalls in the back.

El Pochote organic market

This is my favorite place to start the day with breakfast (try the chilaquiles) and get homemade yogurt, cheese and fresh eggs to take home.

Pan con Madre

Charming little bakery with traditional breads as well as baguettes, and other high quality baked goods. There is also a great stand-up lunch spot a couple doors down - you’ll see it.

Que Pasa Oaxaca

Check out this site to find out what’s going on around town: art, galleries, film, museum shows, live music, etc.

Summer is always giving, usually starting slowly, then all at once. Most traditional recipes encapsulate ways to use the abundance of nature -  which we know waits for no one. While so many of our modern recipes tend to focus on store-bought quantities, digging through old recipe books or spending a summer in a traditional farming community will bring forward recipes based on in-season bountifulness..

Today I want to share a recipe I learned in Ukraine, from Nadia, whose tiny dochka I lived behind. She was a master of preserving food and cooking and this cordial, which in Russian is called Kompot, became one of the most loved beverages during cold winter lunches when the only fresh foods we could get were the basics: cabbage, beets, onion, and carrots. A glass of kompot from the pantry brought instant brightness and sunshine.

Traditionally, kompot is a boiled fruit beverage served as is, but I like to make mine thicker, in order to use it in different ways, as Nadia taught me.

STEP ONE:

• Gather your berries or fruit. This recipe can be used with any berry and also works well quince.

• This is particularly suited to summer bounty when you’ve had your fill of fresh fruit and jam making

STEP TWO:

• Gather ingredients – this is a simple & forgiving recipe and there are many versions. For this one you will need:

  • 2 cups berries

  • 5 cups water

  • 1 cup sugar

    • Note: Traditional recipes call for a 1:1 ratio of sugar. I’ve had success with a 1:5 ratios but not less than that. This amount allows the berry flavor to shine through while also acting as a natural preservative to increase the longevity of the cordial. If you’d like to experiment with honey or alternative sweeteners make sure you consume within a few days!

  • Juice of 1/2 of lemon

STEP THREE:

• Begin by adding berries and water on the stove on medium heat. You want them at a low/medium rolling boil for about 10-15 minutes.

• You’ll notice that the mixture has the tendency to foam up, if this happens just remove from the burner for a moment.

• While your berries are steeping, measure your sugar and lemon juice.

STEP FOUR:

• After about 10-15 minutes the berries will be broken down - now they’re ready!

• Strain your berries into a vessel, you can use a spoon to smash them around to release more juice. You may need to empty your strainer into the compost a few times to allow all the liquid to get through.

STEP FIVE:

• Add the strained liquid back to the pot, on low heat.

• Add the lemon juice and the sugar.

• This does not need to cook long, just until the sugar to dissolves.

STEP SIX:

• Strain off into final jar or beautiful vessel.

  • Use liberally to make a summer spritz with sparkling water, add to your favorite cocktails or prosecco or drizzle on yogurt.

  • If you plan on using this quickly, it will keep in the fridge for about 5-7 days

  • Alternatively, you can process it in a water bath and it will keep on the shelf for several months, similar to jam.

  • Note: Traditionally, Kompot is often consumed as is and is made with more water, I like mine to be closer to a cordial syrup. If you prefer an “as is” beverage, simply double the amount of water and drink straight from the jar.

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Photos by Lorna Marissa Boone & Edesia’s Table

A few photographs from the end of summer.