Getting a sense of everyday life.
Hi there! Pickle Deli Square is a collection of my experiences living, eating, and traveling the world. Currently an expat based in Valencia, on the Mediterranean coast of Spain.
All tagged first impressions
Chongqing Impressions
A vertiginous, overgrown, slightly faded vision of a future city.
Naples Impressions
As gritty as the guidebooks make it out to be, Naples turned out to be incredibly exciting city, and the closest in feeling to the energy of a thriving Chinatown.
Impressions: Strasbourg, France
Strasbourg is fairy tale charming. It's probably one of the things that compelled me to visit - it just seemed so "European!"
You imagine Beauty and the Beast taking place in a town like this; in fact, it's said that the town from which the Disney animators drew inspiration is just south of Strasbourg.
I think there are probably a few American apartment developments or subdivisions inspired by the Alsace region!
Impressions: Ibiza
Before visiting Ibiza, I used to think of beaches and partying when I thought of the island.
I'm sure the partying is quite spectacular - the road from the airport to town was plastered with billboards promoting parties and clubs - and the beaches for sure are among the most picturesque in the world.
But I was surprised by what a charming the old town Ibiza was.
Modena Impressions
There are some cities where I've not even gotten out of the taxi from the bus/train station/airport and already feel stressed and hectic (Rio de Janeiro). Others where I feel refreshed and alive (Oslo). Others were I only think of how soon I can get to air conditioning (any city in Asia in summertime).
Modena is a city where, just by walking a few minutes from the train station to my Airbnb in the city center, I felt calm, relaxed, and immersed in a sensation of refinement.
The colonnaded walkways, the streets gently curving about. It's such an elegant city.
These features are also distinctive. Watching the second season of Master of None with no context or background, I knew it was Modena where Aziz Ansari went to study pasta making before they even said it.
Marrakech Impressions
Marrakech lived up to the magical image I had in my mind...
Sevilla Impressions
My first trip after moving to Spain was to Andalucia - to Granada and Córdoba which I both loved. Then I went a couple times to Basque Country, a couple times to Barcelona, and several times to Madrid. But somehow I'd not yet been to Sevilla, the capital of Andalucia...
First Impressions: Warsaw and More Bubble Tea
Warsaw! Before coming to Poland, I watched Krzysztof Kieślowski's Dekalog (Decalogue) series, and was expecting a city of concrete apartment blocks...
First Impressions: Rome
It's been a while since I wrote one of these first impressions report! Rome really made a big first impression on me. Well, two big first impressions...
First Impressions: Istanbul
Back to a bustling city! After the relative calm (or isolation) of South Africa, it's sort of cool to be back in a city with a lot of people, a lot of energy...
First Impressions: Cape Town
Cape Town is definitely one of the prettiest towns I've ever visited...
First Impressions: Sao Paulo
I like Sao Paulo a lot so far. Maybe because people told me that I would hate Sampa, and so I like it to be contrarian...
First Impressions: Rio de Janeiro
My first impressions of Rio are about 180 degrees from Buenos Aires.
First Impressions: Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires really reminds me of traveling in Asia's developing nations... I know it must be some sort of travel writing no-no to do this sort of compare/contrast exercise, but I guess for me, it really put me at ease since BA seems quite familiar already...