Sunday, June 25, 2023

Milan - To Do (24-25June23 San Siro Stadium, Santuario di San Bernardino alle Ossa- Ossuary)

Milan - To Stay
Milan - To Do
Milan - To Eat

Milan - To Do
Click here to see our ABBA Travel Facebook page
Follow us on Instagram @ABBATRAVELS #ABBATRAVEL

San Siro or A.K.A AC Milan Football Stadium


There's an official merchandise and souvenir shop located from gate14. There's also a museum tour available but did not go for that. One of the iconic football stadiums that fans will visit like Camp Nou in Barcelona.

Santuario di San Bernardino alle Ossa
A quaint church is located a short walk 10min walk from Duomo Milan. It is best known for its ossuary Ossuary (Ossuaries- chambers for storing human bones). After entering the church, there is an unassuming simple door passage to the right.

A little history, In 1210, when an adjacent cemetery ran out of space, a room was built to hold bones. A church was attached in 1269. Renovated in 1679, it was destroyed by a fire in 1712.
Mile stone in life in the main hall. A quaint setup.

Milan - To Eat 22-25June23 (La Conchiglia)

Milan - To Stay
Milan - To Do
Milan - To Eat

Milan - To Eat
Click here to see our ABBA Travel Facebook page
Follow us on Instagram @ABBATRAVELS #ABBATRAVEL

La Conchiglia
Ristorante La Conchiglia
Where everyone goes! 
Opens daily 11-3pm
6pm-12am

Unassuming Exterior
This is just the front section. The back section probably about twice the capacity.
New location, new joint that everyone seems to gravitate towards.
Great space, air-conditioned, value and simple prices that is perfect for sharing!
Note the ciesta timings like most places. Closed from 3pm-6pm.
Kitchen closes at 1430hrs and all must be out by 3pm so take note!
ABBATIP:
-
There is a 2Euro table linen surcharge ONLY For EVENING service.
- Limited English at the restaurant but can get by. They are very flexible with custom orders as it seems. E.g. swapping of rice for pasta choices and requesting a white wine sauce. 

Click here for ABBA location of La ConchigliA rough estimate of prices as of Jun23

- Lobster pasta €15max (Pastas are all generally around the 10Euro range and the clam shells seafood one have been amazing)
- Florentina for 2 €35 (Best Florentina Steak still goes to Zazas.)
- Small side €3.50 each
- Pizzas €6.50-7.50range and HUGE. Its even larger that the face of the plate and worth. Their options are hugely extensive.
- Fried stuff all about €14max (The fried squid dishes were a miss. Avoid)
- Dessert all at a simple pricing of €4.50 (The Tiramisu is the sure winner. The ice-creams were a little too sweet and the Creme Brulee custard wasn't set.)
Nice with big group setting and perfect for sharing.

Ordered On:
22-24June23
Linguine La Conchiglia (Crab, loster, scampi, prawns) 15Euro
Portions are huge and the Pasta doesn't feel overly heavy that you'd leave the generous portions of pasta on the place. Table side bread and spicy and plain olive oil were both a welcoming starter to the carb heavy meal.
Tiramisu 4.50Euro
*Light, delectable and a classic must order. Will try other dessert the next time round.*
Flat Water 1.50Euro
*Frutto Di Mare pasta and Risotto. Both excellent. The Risotto is very filling and another excellent for sharing.* 
*Pizzas are huge! Larger than the plate itself and always a crowd please*
*Special shout out to the squid ink pasta! Great flavor and not just a coloring*
*Vongole with request of white wine sauce done on demand.*
*Including a dessert each, For sharing and paid only 18.80Euro Each*
Ambience 3/5
*
Nothing special but its fantastic for big groups to visit to order to share.*
Food 4/5
Service 3.5/5
Value 4.5/5
Considering its 10years since the last lobster pasta place and prices here are even cheaper compared to that. Its a great value location to get a standing ovation, repeated visits as it turns out over there days!

Click here to check out reminisce over original joint, La Locanda that everyone heads to for Lobster Pasta!

Saturday, June 10, 2023

Los Angeles LA - To Eat (09June23 Coco's Bakery Restaurant)

Los Angeles - To Do
Los Angeles  - To Eat

 LA - To Eat
Coco's Bakey Restaurant
Opens early at 6am and closes about 9pm.
3min walk away
(Recommended by Mok)
Tired of having the same breakfast daily, try CoCo's Bakery across the street where they are most known for their daily fresh baked pies.
Ordered On:
09June23
 California Omelette USD14.79
(Fresh avocado, melted Montery Jack Cheese and Applewood smoked bacon USD14.99
Chose Pancakes and hash
*Fantastic! The omelet maybe slightly over and loose out to the Hotel's made to order omelets, but the crispy hash is more like a delicious Rosti and their pan cakes were super light, with a fantastic crispy edge to it!*
Coconut Cream Pie USD4.89
*Decadent, dense. A little too heavy for me but like the Cheesecakes here, for sharing! Too much to finish on one sitting. The crust isn't as crumbly as I was hoping for. Not a home run order choice, but will still come back if in the mood to try any of their other pies. Extra USD1 for a scoop of ice-cream to go with it.*
Food 4/5
Service 3.5/5
Ambience 3.5/5
Value 4/5
Great place for an alternative and for indulging in their pies too! Their all American Pies look so good and whats also great, is that they have burgers and other heartier offerings for their breakfast selection.

If going with two or more people, I'd recommend this place would have greater savings if ordering to share. Better side offerings and larger variety for a morning breakfast/dinner (Depending which timezone you're following)

Even if dining alone, Coco's offers a larger variety and same/similar price point, as compared to the hotel's buffet.

Friday, June 9, 2023

Los Angeles - LA To Do 08June23 (Downtown Disney)

Los Angeles - To Do
Los Angeles  - To Eat

 LA - To Do
Downtown Disney
(FREE Entry)
Most Shops are open at 9am, diners at 10am and close late. 1am/11pm
(Expected leisurely walk cater about 2hrs. 3hrs if you're doing a meal there.)

Downtown Disney is the free to enter, retail and dining section of the Park. After a short security check to enter the premises, one can visit this, advisably post theme park exploration. The ticketing counters to both parks and the premises are all located after basic security search.
USD270
USD849.99
USD100++ and up
Beautiful home wares. The Disney wreath at USD80ish and the bowls about USD40
USD20ish for Christmas Ornaments
USD20
Pet Friendly Section. USD79.99
USD15 for this pin. They go up and up.
ABBATip:
Night has reportedly a nicer vibe but for ease of shopping arrive early before 10am. The place was already getting packed by then, considering it to be a non-school holiday weekday and gets PACKED in the evenings. 
 
Lots has changed post pandemic with things that were usually offered free like the fast past now come with a charge. 
 
Apparently online reservations is now required before tickets maybe purchased at the gate. This was to limit the maximum number of visitors at the parks. However it seems for tourist, cast members still try their best to squeeze in 6 more.