Tasneem

FAQ:

1. What is your name and what does it mean? Tasneem -- it is the fountain that flows through heaven where those closest to God drink . . . but I am much more laid back than my fancy name would make me out to be.

2. Where are you from? Multiple-choice answers: a) Wales (where I was born), b) Louisville/Jeffersonville (where I was brought up), c) Washington, DC (where I now reside) or d) Pakistan (where my parents are from).

3. Where have you traveled? 28 different countries and counting. Most recently, Iceland, Denmark, and Sweden. Coming up: Pakistan.

4. What do you do? When I am not traveling, reading, writing, or watching movies, I spend my time practicing law in Washington, DC.

5. Any mantras you recite before you leave for a trip? "Money, passport, tickets." Anything else is easily replaceable or a luxury.

6. Do you ever get confused for being a native of the countries you visit? If I keep my mouth shut, all the time. Mexico, Italy, Tunisia, Spain, Egypt. . . the only time that I was obviously a foreigner from my looks alone was in China.

7. I can't get enough of your travel writing! Do you have a blog? Sure, still new. Check out T's Travels online at http://tstravels.blogspot.com/ for more travel writing.

Top Five Cafés:

Traveling to a new country is always exciting, educational, and enlightening. New sights, new experiences, and, as always, new time zone. To shake off the jetlag and adjust to my new schedule, I always try to wake up with the rest of the inhabitants and get a head start on the day. Lucky for me, caffeine is always readily available worldwide. A stop at a local coffee shop can perk you up and give you a moment to make plans for the day, to take a break and acclimate yourself with maps and guide books, or just to savor a hot drink and reflect upon your activities and the people around you. Here is a list of my top five cafés (in David Letterman-style order):

5. Café Olé, Coconut Drive, San Pedro, Ambergris Cayes, Belize. Granted, the Italians have cornered the market on excellent coffee and so an Italian café should make this list. However, since I found that almost every café in Itay is excellent, the challenge was really to find a great café in a place where coffee is not as highly appreciated. Although Belizian dishes are mouth-watering, not as much attention is paid to the coffee. Charming Italian chef Ermanno La Bella serves a superb selection of specially-blended coffee in this gourmet deli which is situated directly across from the tiny airport. The warm and friendly atmosphere, the convenient location, and the delicious coffee puts Café Olé on my list.

4. Kaffitár, Bankastraeti 8 Reykjavik, Iceland. Frequent competitor and second place winner of the 2003 Annual World Barista Championship, Kaffitár is a lovely specialty coffee shop located in the center of downtown Reykjavik. The cozy atmosphere, well-made cappuccinos, and large picture window facing the main shopping street makes Kaffitár the perfect place to warm your bones on a chilly Icelandic day. http://www.kaffitar.is

3. Baresso Coffee, Store Kirkestræde 3, 2. Sal, 1073 Copenhagen, Denmark. To catch a break during a long day of sight-seeing and shopping along Strøget, "the world's longest pedestrian mall," stop in at a halfway point at Baresso Coffee for a great deal on delicious coffee and croissants. Across from the pricey, "see and be seen" Café Europa and Café Norden, this little multi-leveled café overlooks the Storkespringvandet Fountain in the middle of the popular Amagertorv square and serves wonderful café lattes. http://www.baresso.dk

2. Chocolateria San Ginés, Pasadizo de San Gines, Arenal 11(Metro Sol), Madrid, Spain. Madrilenos know how to enjoy their food and drink at all hours of the day and night. So with hours from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m., it is no wonder that this place is hopping despite its location down the end of an alley. While this café also offers the usual assortment of coffees and teas, the churros con chocolate cannot be passed over. The churros are pieces of deep-fried dough served hot and sprinkled with sugar and are accompanied by an incredibly thick, sweet, rich, dark, hot chocolate. Fantastic atmosphere, friendly staff, and the finest liquid chocolate ever!

1. Café de Flore, 172 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris, France. Often touted as a legendary landmark since the 19th century (serving café au lait to the likes of Jean-Paul Sartre), Café de Flore offers an impressive menu in the most beautiful of settings. Found in the heart of the St. Germain district, the stylish café is the ideal place to indulge in the decadent café mochas, some light, flaky croissants, and hours of people-watching. http://www.cafe-de-flore.com

Stories:

Far East Coast, China - On October 1, 1998, I found myself flying over the Himalayan range and the famous peak K2, over the Gobi desert, and into Beijing, China. My family often takes advantage of the opportunity afforded by having relatives and friends in far-flung places and this year, we decided to visit my father's brother's wife's sister's husband who was stationed in Beijing with his family. We arrived bleary-eyed and exhausted after the long flight, but the thrill of being in a new country soon woke us up... [Read this Story]

Ducking Through Scandinavia- My friend AC and I were discussing our respective travel-bugs and our never-ending competition to visit at least one new country each year. When she suggested that we both travel somewhere, anywhere, together, I whimsically accepted the offer... And so, taking advantage of Iceland Air's offer to fly to a European city and – for no extra charge – to stop over in Iceland for three days, we took off from New York and traveled to the northern-most capital in the world and points east... [Read this Story]

From Potomac to Port du Punic - Brrrr . . . Washington D.C. in early March is not a pleasant area in which to spend one’s hard-earned free time. Winter persistently clings to the city long after its welcome has worn out and spring is more of a wishful thought than an actual season – if you blink, you’ll miss it. I wanted to escape the slushy streets, the threatening icicles, and the bone-chilling wind to spend my sabbatical from the law in a relaxed, sun-splashed country. Narrowing my choices was difficult, but I decided to trade the icy Potomac River for the warm Mediterranean Sea... [Read this Story]

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