Maybe this is what elves do the rest of the year...

Sometimes I wonder how far western pop culture really makes it around the world. Proof that you are never all that far from the comforts of home is Santa's hamburgers in Bangkok. Where else would you combine that jolly old elf in the red suit who brings me presents with delicious All-American hamburgers. I'm not really sure what they mean by "great tasting gifts", but after living in Uzbekistan I would call a hamburger a great gift. I have to confess that I didn't eat here and only took the picture because it's so funny (I actually ate at Hard Rock Cafe).

The Eternal City of Gelato

The Tiber River brings life to the city of Rome. The city has many great bridges that span across the river. This one is the Ponte San Angleo, which leads to the Castelo San Angelo and Vatican. If you cross this bridge and walk towards St Peter's, you'll see some souvenir shops and restaurants. The place to go is the gelato parlor. It is literally the best gelato Julie and I had in Rome. The first time there, we got some gelato, ate it outside on a bench, and then went back inside for another bowl! And of course on we were back in Rome, we stopped by again.