Just a gallimaufry of AI-generated photos, real photos and ramblings πΈ
SHADOW SHOTS
DINNER - Chinese
Ma Po Tofu is a dish with an interesting story! It originated in Sichuan cuisine and is known for its spicy, numbing, and flavorful profile. The name "Ma Po" translates to "pockmarked old lady," which refers to the dish's supposed creator, an elderly woman with a pockmarked face.
According to legend, this woman ran a small restaurant in Chengdu in the late Qing Dynasty. Her tofu dish became famous for its distinctive taste, which combined tofu with minced pork, chili bean paste, and Sichuan peppercorns. The dish's popularity grew, and it eventually came to be known as "Ma Po Tofu" in her honor.
The pockmarks in the name are said to symbolize the appearance of the dish, with the tofu pieces resembling the marks on the woman's face. Today, Ma Po Tofu is celebrated worldwide and remains a staple in Sichuan cuisine, known for its bold and spicy flavors.
Dessert - guilinggao
FROM THE TRAVEL ARCHIVES
Odeon of Herodes Atticus 2023
At night, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus transforms once again into a majestic setting. 
In the heart of the ancient Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a small mouse with a surprisingly big voice loves to test his vocals. Standing on the edge of a stone structure, Luigi sings opera in the bel canto style to an imaginary audience. His voice echoes through the grandeur of the Odeon, bouncing off the multiple rows of seating. As the late afternoon sky casts a warm glow over the scene, the mouse’s passionate performance breathes life into the historic amphitheater. It’s as if the Odeon is filled once again with the applause and cheers of an enchanted audience, all captivated by the tiny creature with the powerful voice.
I am imagining the AI mice transformed into the legendary Il Volo operatic pop trio. They’re belting out my all-time favorite Italian song, 'Il Mondo.' The ancient theater comes alive with Gianluca’s deep, resonant tones, Piero’s rich, expressive voice, and Ignazio’s soaring high notes blending in perfect harmony.
Il Volo
(L–R) Gianluca Ginoble, Piero Barone and Ignazio Boschetto
My orchestra mouse buddies now take their place in the moonlit Odeon.
Son#1 plays the violin in a community orchestra
Snorkeling in Phi Phi Island 1991
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I love your posts, Veronica! There's a little bit of everything. ☺ The food looks delicious and your photos of the Odeon are fabulous! We were there in 2013, but sadly, no concert. One of my favourite bands, Scorpions, recorded a live album there. The mice are so cute and I enjoyed Il Volo. You have a handsome son, and talented too! The snorkeling trip looks like fun.
ReplyDeleteBravo to your violin player son!
ReplyDeleteHappy Thursday. ππ
Your AI's are just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI've listened and watched Nana Mouskouri on Youtube singing at the Herodes Atticus, I really like her singing. The 3 men Il Vovo I listen to at times as well.
The food does look good, never have I eaten tofu, as yet. π
Beautiful series of photos.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful travel photos, the AI mice are cute.
The food looks delicious.
Greetings Irma
Thank you for your explanations about the food. As always, very interesting and the dishes look delicious.
ReplyDeleteDearest Veronica,
ReplyDeleteMost impressed by your eldest son for playing violin in a community orchestra!
Ma Po Tofu looks tempting and I've always loved the spicy food.
Of course, Il Volo would carry us away with their mesmerizing voices...
Hugs,
Mariette
I love how you mix AI and true photographs. Different sorts of visual impact
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI love the good food and the brilliant pictures of the coliseum.
Have a wonderful day!
Boy, that food all looks delicious, yum, and the Outlet Park looks interesting too. I love that Mouse Orchestra!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great looking meal!
ReplyDeleteYour son must be talented, indeed, Veronica! As always, I love seeing your playful imagination at work in your AI mice and their musical prowess. While the food looks delicious, I'd have to pass because my palate can't tolerate spicy in the least.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
All your photos were beautiful again and certainly of the famous mice, Because you have now made them famous on your blog. But also waht you wrote. Its always a plaeasure for me to visit you. Of course I find real photos more beautiful because they speak more for me. The food also looked delicious again. Greetings again and until another time and this time you got my other weblog where i react on yours. I had two but is also very nice and great if they visit this one too.πGreetings from a very hot Netherlands. Its today 28 degrees and to warm for me to go outside.
ReplyDeleteI love your posts, Veronica! The AI mice are cute.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day!
Spectacular places. The water experience I think it was fabulous.
ReplyDeleteThank you also for audition. Lovely!
Happy Today, dear Veronica. A fine weekend!❤️π
The food looks very good. Tofu is very nice. I love your AI mices. They are always so sweet and funny!
ReplyDeleteHave a nice weekend, Veronica!
You're killing me with the mice, they are so cute. I love them. Makes me want to have some rats as pets again.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear the dessert is no longer made with tortoise shells. The food looks good.
Interesting story about the origins of Ma Po Tofu. I think it would be too spicy for me, but the dish between that and the dessert looks yummy.
ReplyDeleteYou all look so young in the snorkeling pictures. Such happy memories.
How cool that Son #1 plays violin in the community orchestra. He must be a talented young man.
And you're pretty talented to, coming up with those AI mice pictures and narratives.
How fun to go snorkeling. I've always wondered what that would be like. The Ma Po Tofu dish looks really good. Interesting story about how it originated. The ancient Odeon of Herodes Atticus looks like a grand place. These are very nice photos you took of it. It's always a pleasure to visit with you. You have traveled the world and have many special moments that will always be a part of you. : )
ReplyDelete~Sheri
You are becoming quite imaginative with the Ai mice in photos! What is the photo of the stone walkway ? All of your food looks delicious and the story of the tofu very interesting. So lovely that your son is able to play in a community orchestra!
ReplyDeleteThe mice look like they're very musical.
ReplyDeleteMe dio ganas de la comida. Te mando un beso.
ReplyDeleteGood to see some happy smiles in the photos,
ReplyDeleteI love learning more about the cuisine in your are of the world since I know so little about it! Those dishes look tasty.
ReplyDeleteI love when food is beautifully presented and this looks lovely Hello, Mice! Looking good!
ReplyDeleteI love seeing the ruins, and the cute little mice enjoying them! The snorkeling mice are cute, too!
ReplyDeleteTwo of my favorites food and place - MaPo Tofu and Phi Phi Island. We had seen the Odeon at the Acropolis but did not know the name. We only
ReplyDeleteOops, did not fiinish the comment. My last statement was that we enjoyed Yanni's Live at the Acropolis in 1993 (on TV/DVD).
ReplyDeleteHow cute your mice are again, dear Veroinica! They are musical and they go snorkeling and they always look good doing it all ππ₯° And how wonderful that your Son#1 plays the violin!
ReplyDeleteThe dish you presented, Ma Po Tofu, sounds good - and if it's very spicy, it would probably be a favorite dish for Mr. Rostrose in particular. I would have to try it carefully ππ
I'm glad that no more turtles are harmed at Guilinggao.
I didn't know your all-time favorite Italian song, 'Il Mondo' until now. My favorite in this genre is "Time to Say Goodbye / Con te partirΓ²" by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman. Do you know it?
All the best, have a nice Sunday and a good new week, Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2024/09/weltreise-2024-7-station-san-francisco.html
Hello Veronica! Thank you for sharing information about the origin of Ma Po tofu. It's easy to see that in 1991 you went snorkeling in wonderful island of Thailand. My daughter went there later last month.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to your son!
Hi Veronica, Another excellent Gallimaufry! I love the way you combined AI into the moonlit Odegon. Also, nice work with pictures from 1991 … slide conversions? … well done! Regarding the food … I hope that someday I can visit locations to try that unusual (to me) cuisine. I want it to be somewhere the chef knows what she/he is doing. π John
ReplyDeletenice photos and interesting story as always...
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing video
Great images.. all the food is making me hungry.
ReplyDeleteLoved your photos congratulations to your son, oh and that food heheh looks lovely as always :-)
ReplyDeleteHave a gallimaufrytastic week π
Your Ma Po Tofu looks amazing and I really enjoyed reading the backstory. It's so much more fun to enjoy delicious food when there is such great history behind it!
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos of your travels and food and of course some lovely AI generated images. Interesting tales too!
ReplyDeleteInteresting story about the tofu dish. Love the mice!
ReplyDeleteHello, Veronica,
ReplyDeleteThe food looks delicious! Your travel photos are wonderful, you have been to some beautiful places. The snorkeling in Phi Phi Island looks beautiful. Great photo of your son! Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, enjoy your day and the week ahead.
ah you take us by the hand to ruins and restaurants, oceans and shops and mountainsides. i love coming to visit, Veronica ... I travel vicariously with you.
ReplyDeleteYour dinner photos are making me hungry!
ReplyDeleteMy cousin's baby son is named Atticus. It never occurred to me that it's an actual location.
It looks like some fun travel memories. Beautiful places to see and water fun is always good.
ReplyDeleteFascinating post! The AI-generated photos are really cool. Looks like a stunning place. It's great that you're sharing these travel memories.
ReplyDeleteAllways with wonderful food
ReplyDelete...I like your take on the legendary Il Volo operatic pop trio. Have a wonderful week.
ReplyDeleteI always love your posts and I love your food the very best. I ate some of each dish. Delicious.
ReplyDeleteA most beautiful post.
Thank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday, Veronica. ♥
How beautiful to have a son playing violin in a community orchestra. I'm sure he brings much joy to you. Dinner looks delicious and the Guilinggao looks interesting. I would certainly give it a try, as I'll always taste something at least once. Very nice to look through your photos of trips taken in the past and of course the terribly cute mice who accompany you. They always bring a smile to my face, especially your snorkling buddies. Take care and have a good rest of the week.
ReplyDeleteThe food looks delicious, the mice look so talented and the photos are awesome. Thanks for sharing and have a great day.
ReplyDeleteFun post, love the foods, and the travel photos.
ReplyDeleteHow cute are your mice! :) I love how you work your AI creations into your travel and food stories.
ReplyDeleteAnd I loved learning about Ma Po Tofu and Tortoise Jelly. Thank you, Veronica.
Have a lovely rest-of-the-week. :)
Love how these stories bring food and history to life! Ma Po Tofu looks delicious, and the mouse opera is such a fun visual.
ReplyDeleteMa Po Tofu has such a rich and flavorful history! The dish’s blend of tofu, minced pork, chili bean paste, and Sichuan peppercorns reflects its origin in Sichuan cuisine, and the story of its creation adds a unique cultural touch. It's amazing how a dish can become a global staple while carrying a piece of its origin with it.
ReplyDeleteI just published a new blog post. Check it out here: (https://www.melodyjacob.com/2024/09/watcher-2022-thriller-movie-review.html). Would love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to share it if you find it useful.
These are some lovely pictures...the food looks super delicious :-)
ReplyDeleteFine Art and You
Hello!
ReplyDeleteI like these photos with sun/shadow.
I haven't had that Chinese food dish Ma Po Tofu yet, I love the spiciness in Chinese food but now with the stomach problems I can't put the spiciness in and I really miss it in Chinese food!
I loved the photos of the little mouse singing opera in that historic place! And the photos of the mice on the Phi Phi islands are lovely and so are you!
Have a marvellous weekend!
Tu hijo tiene una buena aficiΓ³n, la mΓΊsica nos ayuda mucho. Que lindos son tus tus ratones VerΓ³nica, me encanta como los mezclas con tus fotos.
ReplyDeleteBuen fin de semana.
Un abrazo.
What a fabulous collection, I love the snorkelling mice :-)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful series of photos.
ReplyDeleteVery nice photos of your travels.
The AI mice are cute and the food looks delicious.
Greetings Irma