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Old style brunch in the middle of Tribeca. From time to time we forget about counting calories! Square diner

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One of the most important things when travelling is to make sure you know something about the local language.

First of all, there is a practical reason to state this. This is because we all need to feel ready to handle an unexpected situation or ask for help to some locals if we need it. Usually, we memorize some common sentences to make us understandable in the languages that are most different from ours. For example, when we went to Japan we carried all the time a little notebook with some Japanese idioms in it to use them in case some local did not understand English. It proved to be very useful, especially when travelling around by public transport!

However, there is also a cultural motive to learn a little bit of the country’s local tongue before travelling: to enjoy your trip better. Language is meant to unite people and express national feelings that may have their origin in historical events. Knowing about a country’s way of speech is necessary to understand its tradition and culture. For instance, there are some words in each language that are impossible to translate and that can tell a lot about the people that use them.

Paris

This topic came up when we visited Paris and we met some local friends. They explained us the meaning of some French words they were unable to translate directly. This is the case of “l’esprit de l’escalier” -referring to the ability a person has to be witty in his answers but when it’s too late- or “faire du lèche-vitrine” -its literal translation is ‘to lick the window’ but it means ‘to go window-shopping’-.

As we’ve seen, French culture is rich in this curious phenomenon. That is why if you are planning a trip to France in you early future, we recommend you to learn some French. Learn it fast or just write down some words and phrases and take them with you!

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Go ahead in most bars and restaurants in Brussels but will all be surrounded by touristy. But it is Brussels and weekends only tourists. In fact, until our European parliamentarians seem to do more tourists than anything else, but that would get into politics and we are for these cabbages and also for Brussels.

Our top recommendation for dinner is the classic Chez Leon with mussels and fries and eat the Da Piero in his quiet terrace and then give a good account of a few Belgian mojitos on the deck of the Zebra Bar

But if you want a healthy option here’s a good list. As always each and every one of them have personally tested. On the Way Away planner for Brussels route, you go indicating where to go, in what order and how to reach the site. In our Smart Route you go all these places indicating also for breakfast, lunch or dinner, everyone just at the right time so that you square with the itinerary!

For breakfast in Brussels abound coffee chains, such as well put that almost look life. You have the Paul, with good coffee and better croissant, but the best bread sandwiches (from 3.75 €). On the Boulevard Anspach with the Rue de L’Eveque Bisschops, you have a good central Paul. The other alternative is Le Pan Quotidian. In the Rue Antoine Dansaert find one, decorated as your dream kitchen, with one long wooden table from which you will not want to lift.

To drink a beer on a lively terrace, any time you can go to the Jardin des Fontaines Olives, right in the Marche au Charbon. From € 1.90 draft beer from € 2.60 or the bottled. For if it is full you have the bar right next Llanes or Au Soleil, the two also friendly and nice terraces.

Another area with good environment is the Plaza de Santa Catalina, with several bars with terraces beneath a large pine. The beer is just as cold in all but our favorite is the original Onthaal for their hammocks. Furthermore, in this square you will find a kind of bar-seafood or “tapas bar” as they call them led by Spanish. Ask for the “duos” by 13 or 15 € (tapas combining two of shrimp, octopus or squid) or “triple” with three options (21 €). I chuparéis fingers! But beware that only open for lunch and closed on Sundays.

If you eat when caught by the elevator of Louise, you can go to Point Chute, a burger with a nice terrace in the square below. The burgers are huge (from € 11.20) but you can also order a bagel for € 8.50.

For the “sweet tooth” have some bad news … The famous waffles have entered into a price war that has made € 1 but much worse than that you can take at home. Now, to prove that it is not … Next to the Manneken Pis have a couple of them, but I can not recommend one before the other because they both know like that … Of course, since you are there if you love chocolate and you carry a wallet full of banknotes, come into the Godiva chocolate shop opposite. The “strawberry cone” (€ 5.50), chocolate dipped strawberries, is not to forget. Or the “chocolixir” that will cost you not drink them in a St. Hilari …

If you have been late and you have pressed the stomach to hunger and greasy snacks, a lifeguard can be a kind of locally owned fast food on the street Fritland Henri Maus, under the big Platz. Ask in the bar and sit on a table of its banks. And since you ask of the Mitraillette atravéis (€ 4.50), a baguette with meat, onions, salad, salsa and chips …!

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Restaurant Chez Leon in Brussels
Rue des Bouchers 18

Formule Leon (moules avec frites) 14,90€
Croquettes de Crevettes 13,95€
Steak tartar (americain) 17,95€

Well yes, we know. It’s the worst of the tourist streets of Brussels, that of the “butchers”. That says it all. Full of tight and maitre blowflies terraces that will persecute to the hotel with the letter of your restaurant. But if you want to try some mussels and fries, go to Chez Leon. It would be comparable to the King of the Prawns in Barcelona, famous among local restaurant for twenty years and prostituted by tourists since. But with a difference. They all eat shrimp, the tourists and we, in restaurants and at home, so there are hundreds of better places than the Rey de la Gamba to eat a good meal. But in Belgium the only ones to ask avec frites mussels in restaurants are on duty turistoides. So if you want to take them and the good, to the rue des Bouchers and sit at Chez Leon (a good recommendation to avoid the tourist hubbub is sitting on the cross street).

If you only take one of the table mussels, go to Leon formula, a kind of menu that includes classic mussels (moules speciales), fries and a beer for € 14.60. If you are more than one, ask “les Cocottes” ration of 800 grams (Leon formula are 500gr), with “frites à volonté” (All potatoes want). You’ll have more than enough. In this case, you can still opt for the classic (€ 22.55) or stop being purists thinking “what is the best or the most traditional?” And ask for more sauce you fancy because after dip it be you who potatoes and bread!Attention that sometimes the classics may surprise some of the flavor of “céleri” … a kind of pickle! Forewarned is forearmed …

For snacks, you can always try the shrimp croquettes typical super (crevettes croquettes) or tomatoes stuffed with prawns, which for some have come to a place of tourists! And if in the group have to always hating mussels, we can recommend the steak tartare (filet americain). A special little more matted than it serve for our lands, but also tasty and a good deal!

Of course, where you will be nailed in beer. Make them the idea and forget to look at the price, so not what you say. But forget about sophistication and do not go out of Maes beer, the cheapest of the letter.

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In Brussels costs a little separated from so many tourists, so much as seek all end up with touristy restaurants everywhere. But at least you can feel that there are places where you mix with local people. And that’s what happens in every bar in the Place Saint Gery. In the upper crossing Rue Van Praet, the terraces are mixed together. We recommend taking a spectacular “Belgian mojito” at the Zebra, first-facing terrace and sun bursting on weekends. As sure to fall more than one, before you fill you recommend good belly and a fantastic option is the Da Piero.

In the bottom of the square, around the market that fills the middle, you will find this Italian from outside does not look great, but its inner terrace is to forget for a while that you are in the capital of Europe. We recommend the spaghetti bolognese, adopted as a national dish by the Belgians, and parmigiana pizza.

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None. So clear. And I guess one will be good. But dinner alongside two hundred tourists it’s not done for us. Want to know what the locals really do? For some (not all, of course, or even most) are opting for the “canning” in the street. That is, buy a pack of beer cans in the supermarket because in a bar is stealing the kidney that can cost you a pittance of cane, and the Nyhavn to take it all zipping around. And in Rome, do as the Romans do, so I suggest you take a can of supermarket cold and give you a ride. Normally in these sites what you do is sit and watch those passing. Well here is the opposite. You’re walking and you’re looking at those sitting.

Copenhague

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National Market Curitiba

One of the mandatory stops in Curitiba (and, if we were to listen to all the guides, now in any city in the world) is the National Market. If you go to there, take advantage to go at lunchtime. You can choose from several options, from Mister Dea buffet (menu R $ 12.50) to Thai Box. But our favorite Japanese Fujii. To be in Brazil and a daily market, salmon and tuna give the trick.

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L’Etoile du Berger, rue de la montagne Sainte Genevieve 42
Best book by phone (0143263887)

Pain Vin Fromage, 3 rue Geoffroy l’Angevin
Essential to book by phone (tel January 42 74 07 52)

Located in the Latin Quarter is not easy to hit a place where you eat well even if surrounded by tourists. And on top on that site you can try fondue meat or cheese is of note. And to top it off if they have a menu for € 16 with first and second, going to bingo. Even the background music accompanying and just why you’d end up asking if you listen to it removed.

If you go to menu, to first ask the onion soup, but you do not like! It is delicious with melting cheese and croutons. And second the pepper steak or duck confit. But what worth are the two fondues. If you are two ask for one of each. The cheese is a little strong but very good. The bread, however, is the day before but the trick is to ask for more bread that is perfect desktop. The flesh is very good, but the sauces are not anything special. If you ask needless fondue request a first because they are abundant (accompanied with a really good triangular chips and some salad), although it is a shame not to try the onion soup …

Menu € 16
Onion soup € 6
Savoyarde Fondue (cheese) 16 €
Fondue Bourguignonne € 18
Chocolate Fondue for Two € 16
(although not as good as the other dishes)
Bottle 500ml house wine € 12
Wine Bottle Bordeux € 18

And if you are on the other side of the Seine, just behind the Centre Pompidou, you can not miss the Pain Vin Fromage! In the small rue Geoffroy l’Angevin have this lovely restaurant that, although most of the tables are in a sort of cellar without windows, you will feel very comfortable in addition to eating a blast!

Cheese fondue for 15 €, meat (Burgundian) from 16.50 € and raclette from 13.50 to € 19.50, but our recommendation is to try the first!

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Restaurante Dom Mario

Risotto de polvo (octopus) 85 R $ (for two)
Mignon al molho with gorgonzola R $ 85 (for two)

If you look at all the tour guides Brazil, appear to have been copied because the Dom Mario appears the first in almost every list. And to top it off, it’s also the number 1 on TripAdvisor. So we had to try it. And so we can talk about it. And therefore do not recommend it unless you may have that typical day where you do not mind paying a lot or pay more than it’s worth something.

It’s good, there is no doubt. But it is also expensive. And considering where we are. If you are of those who do not like complicated dishes, and you have the perfect excuse because at Dom Mario, setting aside a couple of recipes, the rest always put a special touch, not too much but just enough to be original (passion fruit sauce, coconut milk, etc …). If you want to have dinner watching the sea, you have another excuse, that’s definitive. The Dom Mario is the most hidden restaurant in Vila do Abraáo. It’s at the end of one of the streets leading from the promenade to the sea.

So, if it’s fine dining, take a good flashlight, walk along the beach to the south and outisde Sagu mini resort. Overlooking the sea, is the best that you can eat in Ilha Grande, in his restaurant Toscanelli. But only on the weekends and always when you do not mind dining alone because few come here …

Risotto com camaráo 31 R$
Farfalle al pesto 31 R$

Ilha Grande

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The Pips, rue de la Montagne Sainte Geneviève
Le petit cafe, rue Descartes 6
L’Etoile du Berger, rue de la montagne Sainte Genevieve 42

If you go to the Pantheon to see the most famous Parisian dead, from there you can go down to the Latin Quarter. On the right you will go to stop the rue Mouffetard, equally crowded with tourists and restaurants. On the left will lower down the rue de la Montagne, also full of restaurants, just turistoides but maybe a little less and eat better reputation for good. If you’re hungry the best is The Pips, right on the little square that intersects with the rue discards. French home restaurant with good atmosphere. If you fancy a fondue further down, you have L’Etoile du Berger.

If you simply want to take a break and have a coffee in the corner opposite The Pips have Le Petit Café, with covered terrace for smoking and cocktail happy hour from 17.30 to 19.30h. Not the cutest coffee Paris but at least here you will hear French in more than one table.

And if you’re after something sweet, walk a little further and you will come to rue Monge. On the right at number 14 have the famous Kayser boulangerie! The croissant is the best around Paris and the Viennese chocolate, chocolate chip bread (1.3 €), is to take the suitcase full home …

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Mother, in Hokerboderne 9-15 

Porcella Pizza 135 crowns
Bufala 125 crowns

And if not the most fashionable restaurant in Copenhagen, just missing. As a kind of meat market or slaughterhouse, the Meat Pack are already several restaurants that have placed their backsides around here. Of all the best is the Mother. Super diner, decorated with wooden furniture magazine, very good food and surprisingly not that expensive for what it’s cool. Although a little far from the center and this “fancy restaurant” always gives a little lazy, do not fail to come. You will not regret! As usual in Copenhagen, have their blankets when cold pressed on the terrace.

Copenhague

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Cabana do Sol in Praia de Calhao

Possibly Cabana do Sol is the best known restaurant in Sao Luis from knowledgeable people here and the rich over there (well, we, the tourists …). The only disadvantage is that it’s really expensive to be Brazil. The meat dishes, the best thing to take into the cabin, are around 100 R $ (40 €), but it is also true that it is per person with all the accompanying needless ask for anything more …

It is a large wooden hut on the other side of the beach promenade of Calhao, with huge room upstairs.

To get you have to take a taxi or a bus because it is on the beach in Calhao. In Brazil Planner will tell you what bus and how to take it, but as the bus drivers drive around here, if you will not marearos, best Pass directly to the taxi.

If when you get there, do not go for the eyes, you can always go to the pizzeria Vignoli, is also a fine site, good quality, you will find a little beyond.

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Maison des tartes, 67 rue Mouffetard

Located in the Latin Quarter is difficult to find a place without tourists, but at least if there are some who have a real point. As the maison des tartes. With four tables and a waitress who does everything, even sell lunches, here you can taste the typical quiche lorraine and others curious as spinach, eggplant parmigiana, etc.. If you take it here I will by 4.5 €, one less if it is to carry.

All are rich but the eggplant is especially good! And also the chicken with mushrooms. And if you want something sweet, the lemon cake, though perhaps too acidic, it also leaves more to eat.

And the house wine, the red burgundy, also worth a try. Pint Bottle by 6.5 €.

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Bar pastry Hembygds

If you have planned going to the archipelago, your ferry will gone through Vaxholms. They call it the “door of the archipelago” and all tourists are tempted to stay here. The other islands inhabited sound like too little and always gives a little scary not knowing what they will find one … Hold on wanting to get off and go for an hour or more on the ferry to reach the island of Grinda. Worth not just be to continue enjoying the boat ride!

On his return, however, yes it’s worth stopping at Vaxholms (all ferries stop here). But watch out for the cost of the ticket because then you have no temptations to get off. There is no way to understand it but even a “stopover” if ye Grinda to Stockholm and you go down a bit in Vaxholms will cost almost double that if you go directly …

In any case, if you do not go just budget, give the little walk from the back of the Hembygds Vaxholms until a white wooden house with a garden facing the sea. His law pies like something out of a film of Saturday afternoon. But you can also eat salty if you prefer. In any case, the short time that I will spend sitting under an umbrella in your garden, it will be a good way to end the day in the archipelago.

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Confectionery Colombo, inside Fort Copacabana

Entrance to Fort 6 R $ (2,8 €) (required pay to get to the terrace)
Pesto pasta Salada 25 R $ (10€)
Pie of Belem 7 R $ (2,8 €)
Bohemia Beer bottle R $ 6.50 (€ 2.6)

The Colombo is famous confectionery that appears in all maps. The original is near the old center near the Av Rio Branco, but we recommend you do not miss that are within the Fort of Copacabana. Not only eat very well but you will have the best views on the beach. It will cost you 6 R $ into the fort, but it’s a cheap toll.

Situated at the tip that separates Ipanema Copacabana, come into the fort, go straight walking the walk that overlooks the sea and find the Confectionery 200m Colombo. If you continue straight you will come to the point where it pays to look out to see the cannon guarding the bay. Unless you come at rush hour is easy to find a place in any of the tables are on the terrace overlooking Copacabana.

Though Colombo is known especially for its cakes, both without hesitation accompany you inside so you can see and choose them personally, the salty are first, especially the pesto penne. With a serving almost eat both.

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Rei do Caldo

Although they are experts in “broth”, soups, you will see that if you ask for one they do a weird face. Here people come to eat the moqueca de Peixe (60 R $ – Brazilian dish with tomato and onion sauce), the Peixe to Brasileira (69 R $ – fish with peppers and onions) or Filet de Peixe ao molho of camarão (69 R $ – fish with shrimp sauce). The price for two people, if you ask half portion 60% overcharge.

All real good … provided that no cilantro ia!! “Cuantro” in Brazilian … Moreover, you can follow this recommendation for all Brazil, because this herb more than one will be bitter night!

In the street leading to the walk but very close to the beach, the place is nice, well decorated and with a couple of windows facing the street next to that we recommend sit.

IMG_2640 bis

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L’estaminet, 39 rue de Bretagne, in the market “Le Marché des Enfants Rouges”

Le marche des enfants rouge. The market for red children, named for the former orphanage that was next where children’s uniform was red. Although slowly and many home markets that are beginning to offer authentic sites to eat, we still miss the concept of food-markets in London reaches once and for all. Real sites, not the San Miguel market that has everything as well as ashamed to touch. And that which we love, but we would like a street-market where you could take different specialties, each made like a different grandmother.

“Le marche des enfants rouge” is not this exactly but at least in a small space you can do a brunch at L’estaminet ecological or grab a burger with fries (supposed to also ecological …) or try Moroccan specialties or even some sushi. None of these positions will win a Michelin star but it’s a start!

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Boteco at Rua da França Borges dos Reis 24

Frango to passarinho do Abilio (chicken fried in garlic and oil) 22 R $ (9 €)
Frango the parmigiana (chicken with tomato sauce and melted cheese) 27 R $ (12 €)
Tournedos Joáo Hegouet (steak sauce Paris cafe) 62 R $ (25 €) 

From Rio Vermelho you will which is the bohemian neighborhood of Salvador. That said, do not expect to find a piece of Paris Here … It’s just an area with good weather is nice and quiet walk, which, without being anything special, it is much to be Salvador. You can see the Peixe market, sit on one of the terraces, see a small little beach on the corner of a church high on one end … and you can also eat in the “boteco” chosen for the eighth time by the guide “Veja Salvador eat & drink “as the best of all Salvador.

The Brazilians call “botecos” establishments that are halfway between the bar and the restaurant. Some equate to Spanish tapas sites but not exactly that. Their dishes are still, as in Brazil, always giant portions for 2 people, but the service is more informal and faster (which is appreciated!).

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With very few tables, if you go at the wrong time may not give you good impression, but food for Brazil is really good. Although the site look more to prove “petiscos” or tickets to itch, which is out in a little more elaborate dishes like chicken parmigiana, rice or tournedos camarao Paris cafe.

If you like oysters, also you can go into the “Cofradia give Oysters” on Rua Fonte do Boi 8, near the Boteco da França.

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The Flying Frog, a hidden gem in Riga!

Ieala Jersikas 31st

We love the phrase! When you see it written in any criticism out there, whether restaurant or hotel, put your beards to soak. It is the favorite expression of owners sleep at night and by day are dedicated to creating (or worse yet, to buy) profiles to amass a review after another on their premises.

But is that the Fyling Frog earned it. Although after several Latvians recommended to us, we find it in one of our typical hunter trips restaurants because we did not have in the typical pre-selection we always do before traveling after searching and reading reviews on all possible sources. Terrace Local crowded but not enough to not get a table. You can try the typical incoming Latvian, their “garlic bread”, pan fried in oil with garlic, but if there are four or more, is a dish that you can knock down hunger. And here it is better that you may keep a place in the stomach for steak, but chicken, burger or lasagna also give the trick!

If you follow our Smart Route, if when you come over here do not have the body to a hearty meal in the corner just beyond you indicate a site with a little more class, less fat and more glass of wine that you can serve with combined an appetizer plate that will rise from the place.
ranas

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Rodoviaria Zinhos in Paraty (bus stop)

The day that you may possibly Paraty toméis the first bus to Rio de Janeiro, at 7.20 am in the morning or so. Chances are that at that time in your Pousada still are sleeping so manhana coffee I’ll have to improvise.

But nothing happens because for less than 2 R $ in the same season “rodoviaria” Paraty (that’s how they call all central bus stations in Brazil) you can take a cake to scrumptious chocolate. Remember that the journey to Rio lasts longer than 4 hours! Although you will have the stop bar shift at the company’s own bus …

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Choco Café

Liliová 4/250

Ideal to relax in the afternoon and eat something like a snack with a hot chocolate. It’s really thick so do not be tempted by the cakes. With a cup of “cokoláda” will have more than enough (CZK 59 to 2.5 €). More if you ask for a bit of cream above (CZK 69-3 €).

23 08 12 Praga 181

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Bakery in Vila do abraao, Paes & co, in Rua da Silva

R $ 3.50 large water

In Ilha Grande more than walking tour will do. On the Way Away planner as the days we will tell you to be what it is worth.

When you touch walk, worth taking a little water along the way. They are good walks and beaches although there is always who sells you something to drink, until you get worth going served.

Also, if you go to the beach of Lopes Mendes, the most famous on the island, there to eat there is nothing special, so we recommend you to acquire something from Vila do abraao. In the Bakery Paes & co, you can do that I cut a little mortadella (R $ 14 per kilo), the typical meat from here, and buy some bread to make sandwiches on a tris (R $ 3.3 rolls bag ).

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Pain Vin Fromage, 3 rue Geoffroy l’Angevin

Essential to book by phone (tel January 42 74 07 52)

Like many sites, the best place for a nice dinner with friends is in your home. So it is common to see groups of young and not so young going down the street each carrying one of the ingredients. The most common bread, cheese and wine.

Pain, Vin, Fromage is that. A nice place to have a nice dinner with your friends. Very near the Centre Pompidou, going to Le Marais, on a small street you will find it. Do not fail to book especially if it’s the weekend! Although they bring you downstairs do not worry that you will be at home. The best, the cheese fondue. With that and a bottle of wine that you will have more leftovers for dinner!

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Barraca da Teka, 5 km from the beach

Possibly the most famous place to take a caipirnha in the sand of Praia do Forte. What’s more astonishing, you can pay with VISA … and no wonder they are the most expensive caipirinhas we’ve had around here. Ten or twelve reals by type of cachaça. There are spectacular but not exceed them elsewhere, the truth, and you will become at least a few laughs with the people who run it are friendly than most.

Praia do Forte

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It is a chain with restaurants everywhere but possibly the most enjoyable of all is in the old front of the subway station: c / Sturegatan 12

98 kr pasta dish

If you like the kitchen from the inside worth that you enter the Vapiano. Swedish is a chain of restaurants that began to spread in northern Europe and any day is a new Ikea but the food …

It is a kind of Pastafiore but well mounted. Two queues: one for the pasta and one for the pizza. Forget the second and first try ‘. But not to put the boots but to see how you prepare it ahead of you in two minutes. You choose the type of pasta and sauce. On one hand, boil the right amount according to the dose that you have prepared. And on the other front of you cook the sauce.

And after eating. I said, you won’t suck your fingers but it’s funny to watch.

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Café Gaucho in Rua Sao Jose 86

Sandwich of Linguica 6 R$ (2,8 €)
Cerveza chopp (caña) 4,90 R$ (2 €)
Suco de limao 4,5 R$ (1,8 €)

The old center of Rio de Janeiro is the entire office area. It would be so far from the metro station Movieland, where the Municipal Library and the Opera, to Uruguaiana. From the first you can take a taxi for you approach the neighborhood of Santa Teresa, but it is best that you pass along Rua Uruguaina to Av Presidente Vargas, always when leaving work (from 17.00 to 19.00 h). You will see the markets but most people leaving in droves. Some towards the sea to take the ferry and go home, others looking for a good deck for an after-work beer.

Río de Janeiro If you want an authentic zone, crossing the Av Pres Vargas and outisde to Largo Santa Rita with Rua Miguel Couto. There you have Tesouro coffee bar with an animated terrace where you can taste sardinhas for less than 2 R $.

But our recommendation is to take a peek also the area to the right of the Rua Uruguaiana to the Tiradentes Palace. In the Rua do Mercado have the Adelos with good atmosphere and the Rua do Ouvidor, which intersects with the previous, you will see several terraces crowded. Returning to the metro station, at the junction of Rua Sao Jose and Rua Rodrigo Silva, find the Cafe Gaucho.

Here itself you have to do a mandatory stop! Linguica sandwich, a kind of little sausage with onions, and beer “chopp” (the shooter), and it shall be an inhabitant of Rio de Janeiro. You can also try the provolone sandwich is great, but typically the linguica!

(see the “verao” or famous barrack)

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Pizza Rossi, 24 rue Blondel

Napolitain Bistro, 18 avenue Franklin Roosevelt

It’s a pity. Pizza Rossi is far from the most interesting places of Paris! It is one of those places that one would like to have around the house to go every Sunday. Pizza pretty cheap and lovely.

That’s why we recommend the Bistro Napolitain, just above the Champs Elysees. If you read their reviews on TripAdvisor, and Homer Simpson would give free though. But look, there are few reviews, are all French and most are asking “the best pizza in Paris?”. The conclusion? Indeed it may be one of the best pizzerias in Paris, still undiscovered by tourists. So just Parisians reviews and so wonder how it might have that reputation.

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The Pizzaria, next to our favorite pousada in Sao Luis, Hotel Portas of Amazonia

Actually share space and possibly the owner. Only have pizza but very good, but if the cheese had a little more flavor would be just perfect. But this is a chronic disease of all the pizzerias in Brazil…

Go on! Drink a good caipirinha while eating the pizza. Sit at a table right at the entrance, as well, to keep the doors open, oiréiss the bands that play in the street.

Sao Luis La pizzaria

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Aed Von Krahli

8 Rataskaevu

Best of Tallinn. Very good, very cheap and very nice. Better for lunch, here the nice part is inside. And best book to keep them, to do the cousin turistoide and end up dancing with some mediévola in the Holo Turn.

The pasta with salmon and delicious dirt cheap (5 €) and the steaks first. Relax, take two plates and regadlo well because Tallinn is small and give better afternoon nap and go as they cruise the streets emptied.

Von Krahli Aed, Tallin

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If you are from Montmartre on rue Lepic, where tourists often return walk to see the Sacre-Couer, you have the Fromagerie Lepic, where oddly enough the neighborhood, you will hear more French than other languages.

If you are on the other side of the Seine, one of the most famous stores but no more expensive than others is Chez Barthélémy in the Rue de Grenelle 51.

For other districts, here you can find a good list of recognized small cheese shops in Paris.

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Restaurant Feijoao Na Chapa, to try feijoada on Sundays.

Feijoada, even if some people say that it’s like paella on Sundays for Brazilians, is worthless. It’s always taking accompaniment, but this time with mixed beans with meat. Actually the dish comes from the time when slaves were given cool white boys on Sunday blacks fucking their feasts leftovers sabadinos. The poor starving wretches of course mixed their daily diet (beans and rice) with bones and bits of greasy meat left over from last night’s feast.

Chapada Diamantina

But even so the want to try, this is a good site because only tiraréis away 12 R $ (5 € more or less). With 3.5 R $ plus you can accompany a large can of beer ice cold Schin as ever in Brazil.

You can sit on your deck facing the creek and the bridge (yellow tables Senhor dos Passos Avenue, parallel to the river, just one street before reaching rodoviaria bus station), or inside where you will see that the bar is simple but well put.

Chapada Diamantina

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Sodra Teatren
Mosebacke Torg 1-3

72 kr small bottle of Australian wine

Sunday afternoon. 6:00 p.m. . At home one would be starting with the blues and pre-week gigs. Where I live they do not think. They go to Sodra Teatren, ask for a plastic wine bottle and hot dogs. This terrace is filled almost every evening. It’s like the elevator behind but getting Gotgatan have to climb and take the second street on the left in Hökens cat.

There are those who also call a hot dog or some plastic salad bowl. The site is worth it. Even the Australian wine will ever knowing the size just right.

When you find these types of sites where tourists do not go beyond 20%, it is always a great joy. And if there are temperature above the terrace is fresh and there is some view, we can not complain.

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Kiosk Vaga Lume

Isco do Peixe ½ R $ 18.50 (8 €)
½ medium Camarao 26 R $ (11 €)
Brahma Bottle 6.50 (2.5 €)

If you go to Paraty can not help but make the trip to Trindade but do not even think an agency! With the bus line goes that shoots! In Brazil Planner explicarmos where you take it and what a walk is worth doing in Trindade.

In the village of Trindade not worth eating, this is much better done in one of the kiosks or barracks Praia do Meio. Of all the options, do not hesitate even a little more expensive: go to the kiosk Vaga Lume. No wonder it is recommended by the Guia 4 Rodas, because both the fish and the prawns are first. Not that others are not kiosks fresh ingredients they are, but this is the “restaurant”, take better care of hygiene, will best serve you and above have some hammocks to not turn to ask why you can not stay to live in Brazil …

Although the letter put the portions are complete, are so abundant that they make you ask half portion of each. So you can try both the fried fish (with a touch marinated) and the camaraos. Of these have small, medium and large but with the middle finger and chuparéis you!

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Apart from the Sunflower, the pizzeria, the burger, the sandwich shop, the Veril and “bar”, have another five or six places to eat in Caleta de Sebo, which is to say around La Graciosa (because Peter Beard, the mini -urbanization find north of the island, in case you had doubts, no, thanks).

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Enriqueta
Next to the grocery store, a couple of streets behind the little walk from the port. Neither bother entering. The food is slightly worse than the other sites and you’ll quickly abundant sand (not on plates, missing more, but if your deck in the middle of nowhere and on the floor and tables).

The Sailor
On the street of the church and supermarkets. Well nice to be La Graciosa, with a neat well maintained and nice start recently. It is of note that Romero, the wealthy family of the island. Too bad it’s in the middle of the west and not facing the sea. Honestly, although the food is good (hey, as long as paella or the like do not ask …), so that better the Sunflower or the Inn of the Earth that will have views.

The Inn of the Earth
Terracita twin to “The Bar”, the other side of the mini-space hippies, almost touching the port port. The same dishes that everyone at the same prices. Sunflower prefer, because the more good mojo but little else. Do not ask fish for two, because I will be expensive (30 €) and it is not the tastiest in the world. A nibble little things that are two days.

House Chano
In the alley that runs from the fish, at the end of the harbor, up the street from the butcher, the parallel to the “principal” (the church, first aid kit, supermarkets and civil guard). The best, their fried calamari with fries. Worse, they do not make them feel like they have it because the fryer at home and not in the restaurant. If you are more than two weeks in La Graciosa, worth a try one day. If not, they miss the views.

The Brotherhood
Going up to the Barranco de los Conejos, address Pedro Barba (incidentally a great ride and a great little cove of the ravine, great for weekends where French beach may have planted the ferry there, and if in Las Conchas west wind blows or the tide is high -> and therefore the waves are more exaggerated than ever), if you go stuck at sea, you will pass in front of a kind of bar-brotherhood. We’ve never seen open, rather than for family dinners, including wedding, but still have a poster that says: “Saturday’s steakhouse for 6 €”. Any day we spent …

The Varadero
Right on the harbor, to the right of the ferry ticket office. Newly remodeled air remains the same soulless. Too big, too lonely. Perhaps the food is like in other places, but the company does. And no one likes to eat alone …

La Graciosa

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Le Mont Blanc, in Svaertegade 1A

A lot of Danes are fed with takeaway food and of these, most of them prefer pizzas. If you want a taste them go to Mont Blanc. Slice of pizza for 30 crowns and don’t forget asking about the garlic oil to throw it over it. From the outside will seem insignificant, even crappy but fable smells and tastes better!

Copenhague Amalienborg Castle

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Angelina, 226 rue de Rivoli

We do not know if this is the best hot chocolate in Paris but it sure is the most expensive because the cup to 7 € I doubt that others can overcome … In full rue de Rivoli, in the center of Paris, you have this chocolate crowded Japanese, Russians and other tourists. All of them by sheer reputation of the site and say they’ve been here. But we recognize it, sometimes we also exploring that, so that is without sin cast the first stone.

If you don’t want to lose any time neither feel as a tourist try the chocolate Angelina, a great option is to buy the hot bottle have in store. For € 10 you will have chocolate for a while and may be expensive but you will leave not a drop …

Such is his reputation that has now opened branches in many of the museums in Paris (such as Luxembourg or the very Versailles of Louis XIV). If Angelica, the protagonist of the books of Anne and Serge Golon, revived but this time beyond the role would you have copied the chocolate that eventually led him to conquer the Sun King himself!

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Definitely the best place to watch the sunset in Jericoacoara and also take a good caipirinha is the giant dune. Impossible not to see it because the sun starts to heat stop you will see that everyone starts to go to there like a pilgrimage. Curiously, few people take the opportunity to drink a caipirinha, so most days there is only one cart, so you can not choose a lot … They are not as good as those of the Barraca do Socorro, our favorite Shopping Village, softer and not as strong, but we did not complain!

Mind you, if you take a peaceful and comfortable caipirinha on a terrace facing the sea, the best place is the Mosquito Blue, on the beach of Jeri. It is also the most famous because it was one of the first pousadas in Jericoacoara. Ideal for mid-afternoon when there is still light to see the sea. You will see that also serve food, but is a bit expensive and although the Peixe is good, not even remotely better than what you can take in the barracks when you go hiking with buggy (and less abundant, both in quantity and accompaniment ).

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Ostermalms Saluhall

If you have been in the market of San Miguel in Madrid that will remind you a bit. Although only a little. Here is more of a shopping site to bring some great places to eat on-site rather than a food-court in the making. In any case, is so beautiful that it seems more an opera that is not a market. You can snack although sites to eat with spoon and fork with no hands. In fact, prepare also the portfolio because you did not come cheap. Come on, that we recommend to enter, see the atmosphere and only if you see something you’d want to sit to taste!

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Central Kavehaz in Karolyi utca 9
New York Coffee in Erzsebet krt 9

The cafes of Budapest are another must. If you want one “real” coffee can go to the Central cafe. Coffee 600 guilders (€ 2.1). It’s not bad and you can accompany with 3 eggs omelette (bigger than the dish). But the truth is that it is a little decaf … In the guides without update still marketed as a popular site, but you have not take away the dust.

In contrast, in the New York Palace will not find even a speck of dust. And if there will be gold, not for nothing say he is the world’s most beautiful coffee. Closed a few years after World War II, the Italian group of hotels Boscolo left it as new. If you are tired of walking and you need to refresh yourself, your lemonade is first but also will pay the price of gold (1890 HUF – 6.6 €, plus 10% gratuity to the charge by the nose). But if you have a little idem (nose), you need not let a kidney to him. Enter through the door of the hotel (the cafe is on the corner, the entrance to the hotel on the same street Erzsebet), cross your very dignity the hall and go to the left. You will pass in front of the bathroom and go down the stairs to the coffee. Paseíllo ignoring the waiters and depart with dignity high.

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Restaurants Oxossi and Maria de Sao Pedro on the top floor of the Modelo market

Zonzeira Bar on the ground floor of the Modelo market

One of the attractions of Salvador de Bahia is the market model, just below the elevator and opposite the ferry that takes you to the wonder of Morro. In Brazil planner will explain how to get and the best route for Salvador, Morro de Sao Paolo or even if you want an island Boipeba wilder still and quiet.

Hay dos uno para cada lado con terraza gustosa por el viento bisIn any case, for the day that you be visiting the Pelourinho have a good choice to eat. When bajéis to see the market model, if you are tired and want to relax for a while, go up to the top floor. They have two restaurants turistoides cufflinks. Do not panic, cross your semi round the room to the terrace outisde. Award. Among the fresh wind that passes and harbor views, although Repay food from tourist to tourist price worthwhile. But not even need a ticket to let yourselves grand. If you are hungry ask some petisco (dish for snacks) and if not, only beer and worth it.

And to eat go down to the floor below. Just inside the market but ultimately playing to the port you will see some jobs market or traditional bars. Dan a little scary but if you try the fried fish superáis of Zonzeira (before leaving on your left), sururu or lambretas, including clams and barnacles. And if something goes “good”, do not worry. I only have cost of R $ 5-10 (2-4 €). And the beer is just as cold for just 5 R $ (€ 2) Bottled 600ml carafe.

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L’Avant Comptoir (pancake), on rue d’Odéon just over the Carrefour de l’Odéon, under the square of the same name.

Almost every corner you will find a dresser with baguettes stuffed to bursting. Are the sandwiches to Parisian. Neither good nor bad, just to stave off hunger. If you are lucky and the baguette is made recently that I love. And if you take a couple of hours in the window will not tell you anything but will fill the gut.

They have good press the de l’Avant Comptoir in Carrefour de l’Odéon and the truth is that they are good, but perhaps more fame comes to them for being the younger brother of the neighbor and always crowded Le Comptoir. Beware that many plans do not get the Carrefour de l’Odeon and many go crazy looking for them in the plaza of the same name that is a little higher. If you are there go down the left hand rue Odéon and find them at the time.

If you are on the Boulevard Saint Germain, you can always approach the rue de Seine, No. 54. There have Cosi, a small place with sandwiches made at home. It will be the best in Paris but will like and you can sit in a place not very special but nice to take a break between both Paris ride.

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Tylovo nam 1

It does not look Italian and in fact it is not. But their pastas are for dipping bread. Not enough to say they are the best penne in the world, but enough to sit if you are in the neighborhood behind the museum and station, near the Plaza de Miru.

If you ask people here for some area restaurants and bars will tell Three: bars and pubs in Milady Horákové (the street behind Letná Park, north of Prague), more bars per Zizkov (to the east) and Korunní restaurants down the street. The latter made ​​us all. And parallel streets. And a little more … And we’re still looking for those trendy cafes and restaurants. It is true that if you come to the TV tower, will go find some bars and restaurants but are too far apart from each other as to call it “restaurant”. Stop and inn in the can do Sokolovna (Slezska 22) for a beer always good atmosphere, but if you stay at the beginning, at the junction with Rumunska Tylovo find the Matylda as we said before. On its terrace half are tourists sent by the hotel which is two portals and half local.

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Beach barracks
4 R $ can of beer
5 R $ bag of chips 
8 R $ sandwich chicken, tuna, cheese or turkey

If you don’t bring anything or if you have something more than hunger, the most famous beach of Ilha Grande, the praia Lopes Mendes, have several barracks that we still ask, sell exactly the same: bags of potato chips that are not worth anything and bread sandwiches with chicken, tuna, cheese or turkey, perfectly wrapped and they know better than you’d expect … Well, not much, but at least you can eat!

Praia lopes mendes_ Ilha Grande

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In the space between  Linke Wienzeile and Rechte Wienzeile

Mon – Sat 6:00 to 19:30. The bars and restaurants until 23:00

There are other markets in Vienna, such as that of Brunnenmarkt in Yppenplatz (more alternative and ethnic), but the famous and that, although it is full of tourists, it is worth going for breakfast, lunch or dinner is the Naschmarkt . Even for us, the most enjoyable time is mid-morning to make a kind of brunch. Ideal for example if you have no breakfast included in the hotel. If you have a strong stomach and original sandwiches like you, do not fail to try the wrapps of tuna or salmon, or shrimp sandwich in the Nordsee, a chain of fast-food but pestles that Naschmarkt decided to its flagship store. The famous fish-market as Berger in Norway could learn more than one thing from these people.

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If what you will is a traditional breakfast and sat down, you can go to if you are hungry or Tewa better Naschmarkt Deli if you want to try a latte coffee first. Decorated either mono, the dishes also have the same suit, but not just been fantastic … From 7-10 euros, will have several combined coffee, juice and different types of breakfast (Vienna, English, etc …). Yes, at night for a drink is the most themed street.

But if you want to come to eat we recommend the Piccola Italia! Like La Bottega is an Italian deli with a few tables for eating. I love stuffed pasta!

Viena Naschmarkt

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Chez Janou, 2 Rue Roger Verlomme (+33 1 42 72 28 41)

Le Marais is a trendy district in Paris and no wonder. Old Jewish Quarter, is the image of Paris that many imagine before coming. Streets or great or small, some pedestrian, with lanterns and cobblestones, romantic balconies and pleasant light. Nothing royal estates as though everything is a Paseo de Gracia, but low houses where it is easy to imagine living another life.

If you want a quick bite, it’s best to try the most famous falafel Paris. But if you want to eat well and relaxed, the best choice is Chez Janou. Such a good option is that you can not forget to book! But you nailed why. That’s one of the things that makes it great to Chez Janou, the dishes are really good without having to leave average portfolio.

You have the classic duck breast (18 €) or bistro 300g entrecote (21 €), but if you dare to something a little different will surprise both the risotto with scallops (Saint-Jacques) (20 €) and the spaghetti with snails (16 €).

And at the end of dinner, if you like a drink, you can approach the Centre Pompidou address rue Sainte Croix de la Britannique. The weekends always find friendly. At the junction with rue des Archives, you have the Open Coffee for example, but in any of the sites you will be at ease. If you want gay, right in this area will find several bars and even trendy restaurants.

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Berliner Republik (Schifferbauerdamm 8)

Any site, this is the answer to the question of which is the best bar, tavern or beergarden to have a beer in Berlin.

But if you also want to go to the original site by the river Spree is the tavern Berliner Republik (Friedrichstraβe off at the station, cross the river and is on the right). A very popular site, where there are politicians and journalists meeting, Berliners and visitors to Berlin castizos to enjoy the traditional Berlin cuisine “home as mothers do.” Curiosity is your “bag of beer”, with 18 types of beer on tap, whose prices are going up or down according to the demand.

If you’re hungry you can try the famous knuckle (€ 11.90) or currywurst (8.50 €), or try their Flammkuchen, a kind of pizza served on a wooden board (8-9 €).

berliner republik

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Audi Camp, small camping site in Botswana, near Maun.

Sossusvlei dunes, Namibia

Forty-five years old, black, big as a closet and very nice. If they saw him in Hollywood they would cast him in the role of the good-natured father on a TV show. Bob is the barman at Audi Camp, and even though he has nothing to do with the German car, he is totally in love with the Toyota four-wheeler we have rented and used to cross Namibia to get to Botswana. Just a few weeks ago, we landed in Africa to do a self-drive safari. Our car is in fact a machine, even though it looks like a snail because we’re transporting our dwelling: a tent on the roof, folded out like an accordion, especially made for people like us: i.e., clumsy. That’s only one of the advantages. The other is that at night cats and other indigenous felines circle our car without bothering us.

Our next destination is Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls. But to get there we still need to go through a couple of parks, namely, Moremi Park and Chobe Park, almost 400 km of dunes cut through by rivers and without any bridges. In addition, we will have to sleep out in the open, with no fences or anything that protects us from the abundant lions. They say the best thing to do is to join other groups and park the cars in a circle, like the caravans from the Wild West did when attacked by the Indians. That’s why we’re sitting in Bob’s bar, drinking a cold Heineken and gaining strength for the remainder of the trip.

Are legends or braves born, or made? Heineken is trying to discover that with their new campaign. Maybe in a couple of months they will have the answer but we will check it in short time. Meanwhile we feel like an empty beer dropped in the middle of nowhere….

Luckily, our favorite barman gives us advice on how to avoid the traps that await us. Like yesterday, when we had to cross a river filled with crocodiles and the waters almost reached the roof. These are his last words of advice and we want to share them with anyone who wants to travel around the world: “And if something happens don’t stress, that’s adventure”.

 

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Cafe Gelato Felice Caffè in Rua Gomes Carneiro 30, Ipanema

If you are from Ipanema and I want an ice cream, you have it easy. Near the beginning of Ipanema, on Rua Gomes Carneiro, ranging from the beach to the metro stop General Osorio, Felice find the cafeteria. By 8 R $ (3.2 €) you can take a “casquinha” (small cookie for 1 ball) or 10 R $ and take two flavors.

The site is trendy, so you will see that the tables are full of people watching the time!

FELICE CAFFE

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Trattoria del Gallo Nero Tallinn

Lai street 32

Find a dining terrace with local people in the old town Tallinn is mission impossible. Who says what I have covered each and every one of its streets, both at lunch and at night. So, if you want to sit and have a pleasant evening on a terrace, you have to pay the toll to be surrounded by tourists, eating recipes for tourists and tourists pay price. But it will be worth it, word of tourists! Because Tallinn is a charming city, but especially when the sun begins to fall, the cruise back to their ships and medieval streets appear again for a while. In the City Hall square and down to Viru there are the more touristic places, so how more farther from that better.

The first case you do not want to walk too is the trattoria next to the Café Amore (Harju street 5), the Karme Kuulik. The terrace is nice and the food good. A little further you will find the Gallo Nero but not the first one on the street Rataskaevu but is a little further away, on the street Lai. The original has more charm inside and owners can see in action, but the deck more solitary and therefore nicer is the other. Do not expect Italian cuisine, and here we are in Tallinn good cooks and ingredients are sought equally tasty, but not be disappointed, neither the food nor the price (Spaghetti del Pescatore € 9).

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You will find again and again “wurst kiosks” in Vienna, although most seem more a falafel, shawerma or pizza-taglio vendors not the famous wieners. Among the locals, one of the kiosks that have the reputation of being the best is right in front of the Albertina Museum in Albertinaplatz 1 (behind the Opera): Würstelstand Albertina. Another you might as well take the prize is the one next to and behind the Opera in Kärntnerstraße 42.

Other recognized is the one in the area known as the “Bermuda Triangle” (so called because one can get lost in all bars and … but the truth, there is no deal … These Viennese certainly never have been lost San Sebastian’s old town). It is the area between Rabensteig, Seitenstettengasse and Ruprechtsplatz. More or less looking at the map in the “ring” (the ring are different avenues along the Danube to the east, around the old town, right where they were before the wall), top right. The third in the running would be to Hoher Markt, near the Bermuda Triangle.

And if you want to sit in a room with clean soil, which leads the medal is the Xpedit lately Schleifmühlgasse Kiosk in July. But what can I say, much better take on the street sausage, tastes the same, it is cheaper and you have to go to Schleifmühlgasse. Also, before arriving would spend the Naschmarkt and I of you would stay out there (in another post I talked about this market).

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Tropicana Creperie

From 10 R $

In the same way of Vila do Abraáo port you will find the Creperie Tropicana. The French owner made a Pousada there and took tables to serve crepes. Well it does, because it is a good way to dine in Ilha Grande, when weary fish.

The “tropicana” with ham and cheese is a basic but good and if you want something sweet you can get it, although chocolate might be better, they will want to repeat …

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Chez Marianne, rue des Hospitalieres 2

Famous among Parisians and tourists increasingly being in the fashion district of Le Marais, Chez Marianne triumphs for its easy formula: the assiettes composées. Assortments where you can choose 4, 5 or 6 choices from 15 different of which I recommend the following (depending on number of assortment will cost the plate 13, 15 or 17 € but with 4 you will have enough, and if you like any particular can always repeat):

Falafel
Beldi Thon (tuna with mayonnaise)
Kefta (fried meat balls)
Tuna and potato Brick
Humus
Feta

We serve them in small portions on one plate. Pray bread to accompany them. The pita is 1 € and the other 2, but we recommend you try them all, or at least the onion and bagel.

The house wine, tagged curious, is not bad and for the price (11 €). As in most places in Paris, you do better coffee elsewhere. But the dessert yes you can do it here: the chocolate gateau (€ 5) is rich and full table eat a single dish.

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Riga terrace, a must!

Dzirnavu iela 67

Out of the old, but perfect for a visit around the streets of Art Nouveau. Enter into the mall down the street and left hand XXX Take the elevator. 7th floor and go up one more walk. Comfortable photographing Quedaros 360 ° to the entire city and when weary sit in any of the many months they have. Ideal to have a drink before or after dinner, but if you are hungry defends sushi is very good, the pizza seems to give away because spare in every dish. And for the looks of it the terrace, it is expensive.

They are of those moments you’ll quickly be on the road and forget everything. So with your permission I close the tablet and dedicate myself to my beer you’ll quickly pint of cold you have.

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Madero Av Jaime Reis 254, Plaza Garibaldi

Bacon Cheeseburger Classico (2 hamburgers) 260 gr: R $ 25.60

Junior Durski, Curitiba star chef, and owner of the most expensive restaurant in the city. And the major hamburger chain, Madero. And the fame has gone to his head a bit because there cut hair to announce their burgers as “the best burger in the world”. And, man, not bad but just has been a couple of people … Of course, if you’re a couple of days in Curitiba worth going. Although to later say there was no deal!

They have several throughout the city so do not struggle to find one …

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Apotek

St. Kannikestraede 15
Cor 198 Stonebeef

If you want to dine in a typical Danish restaurant with local chefs, local bartenders and surrounded by locals, the Apotek (pharmacy in Danish) is a great option. For that reason, it is usually packed but not be alone. The wooden tables and low ceilings make it almost seems sometimes a cottage and therefore perhaps you will see a little carca. Yes, the flesh to stone, without being very rich is very good. And do not fail to ask these Danes chips mislead and this is taking a meat french fries is not the same!

 Copenhague

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Supermarket to buy food for excursions in the Chapada Diamantina

If you stay a couple of days in the Chapada Diamantina, I recommend doing two tours. First of northern caves, near the Morro de Pai Inacio and the Three Brothers, and after Pozo Enchanted Outing. If you followed our recommendations and have come by car hire, excursions yourselves ye can do. If you have chosen the option of taking the Royal Express bus from Salvador de Bahia, you have to go with mini-bus and the guide on duty. In the second case will directly provide the output to go with lunch. Neither case, even if only 15 R $ per person is not worth anything anymore. Much better go to a supermarket and I montéis your picnic bag. Cheaper and more good.

We recommend the supermarket Meat House Terra Nova you will find up to the left along Rua Almirante Barroso (from the central plaza next to the bridge, on the left and above). At the counter of the fund, but not display their meat quec and you can ask queijo alleged first to make you your own snacks for a few real. Right in front or on the sidewalk before a couple of bakeries have. For the drink do not worry because on the way and especially in the places to visit always have refreshments “frozen”.

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The Renaissance, Arnaud Delmontel, rue des Martyrs 39

Arnaud Delmontel

Not for nothing have won awards for best croissant in Paris, the best baguette, etc … But the best reward is to ask who you ask, in all ranks, in all lists, always ends up appearing Delmontel Arnaud. In our list also appear and the first of all. Great croissant, flavored butter point but only just, crunchy but soft and fleshy above, nothing to eat air! The pain au chocolat is also first and you may have or not hungry, buy you a baguette, normal or traditional, single or sandwich (beware that the ham and cheese is Emmentaler), but compradla and probadla!

I end up hurting your jaw to chew! Not used to eating real bread! With taste, consistent, crisp, … should call it something else because this is not the bread that we sell in our bakeries …

Croissant € 1.15
Pain choc € 1.30
Sandwich € 4.50

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Leonardo da Vinci Restaurant

The only Italian restaurant in Jericoacoara in which the owner is Italian … Enough said. You’ll see in the very near Rua Principal praia, left hand down with a chop sea terrace.Do not miss the “penne with fresh tuna”

To get dessert at the same ladito have a confectionery cakes catch the eye …

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Bagelstein, rue Saint Lazare 8

You still do not understand how home might not have become fashionable bagels sites. In Paris and around the world, it is difficult to find a small bagel shop. The best are usually the ones that have that look of unvarnished wood, like a last century boulangerie. Bagelstein is but they also have a historical backdrop with covers of Paris Match, Life and others (Lady Di, Steve Jobs, Woody Allen, etc.) and a curious pedigree of the figurative (or not) family that owns the property.

In any case have all combinations of bagels from € 2.20 to € 7, with the guarantee that serve no more than 500 bagels a day per person … Just have passed but the Leontine (salmon with creme cheese and onion) or Henriette (tuna mousse with tomato and cheese) are to repeat.

However, to the cafes have no limit and no wonder because it is so worth it. So what we recommend it only to catch the bagel and keep walking.

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Malar Paviljongen
Norr Malarstrand 63

BBQ Burguer 174 kr
Cesar salad 178 kr

This posh chill out by the river with prime views, is one of those where you are left with the question of whether to recommend. It’s a bit expensive and the food is not spectacular at all. But the site is one of those that go through the door and you’d be sitting there with the glass of wine in hand …. So it’s up to you. If you finally decide to go, think you have to order at the counter and give you a number. Sit wherever you want and when the food is ready and will seek them. In the “land” I recommend looking table in the “aviary”. On the floating, any table has good views, but watch the movement of the water that you can leave more stunned than the wine itself …

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Before or right after dinner in Sarau at Praça da Matriz

Late in Paraty 33 on Rua Maria Jacome de Mello 357

To make a caipirinha in Paraty forget about the beach kiosks. They are far from the pousadas, the beach is not worth anything and at night it is likely that they are all closed. The best is the town square, the Praça da Matriz. The good thing is that the competition between the different terraces has made most the price down from 10 or 12 R $ per caipirinha to 7. The downside is that they also compete to see who gets the highest live music. The best caipirinha Sarau we take in, where there is usually a bit more lively but basically any of the bars is correct. Also, if there is any game that hurts fúbtol the most likely to miss here is that you put it!

If it’s raining or starts to cool and prefer meteros within a facility, it is more enjoyable Paraty 33 although there are caipirinhas market price: 12 R $. If you have wanted and money (R $ 18), you can try the Paraty 33, made with cachaça, mango, passion fruit and a few other things.

Also, if you are lucky, in the Armazem, Rua do Comerco linking the main street, Rua da Lapa with Praça da Matriz, more than one night a week playing samba. The caipirinha will ye also more expensive than in the square but worth it. That said, if you do not see that there is a band playing, the better the Sarau or Paraty 33.

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If your hotel is in the area of Mala Strana and you’re too lazy to cross the Charles Bridge, you have three options: put you pants tweezers and go away to get robbed the portfolio to restaurants overlooking the river, go to the Café de Paris which we discussed in another post or, if you have no desire to talk with any waiter, throw yourself on the Kampa island. Pass under the bridge and you’lll be in it. There you will find a mini food-court with three or four things typical of the Czechs. Their sausages, parma your ham (nothing to do with the authentic but tasty), potato salad, cinnamon roll cake (trdlink), etc … And for his alleged beer. And wooden benches for you to sit without problems. Four crowns and you have already eaten.

Praga Goulash

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Vojanuv Dvur

U Luzickeho samináre 21

As a German beergarden, is a good place to have a beer and relax the ass on a terrace around the castle (if you had walked from the left). You will be surrounded by a mix of locals and tourists while waiters seem fresh from the typical lifetime bar. Of those coming your beer without looking and take note before you start talking, as if he knew what was going to ask. Here the beers and laughter are alike, and is 1.6 euros a pint of blonde that is. If you are tempted to order something to eat, keep you from your crown. Not that you go to eat much better than other restaurants, but we are going to recommend a site where you won’t be able to finish the dishes … But if you want anyway, the most famous dish is the roasted pork.

Praga

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Romano, 11 rue de Marbeuf

Relais de l’Entrecote, rue de Marbeuf 15

None. If you are on the Champs Elysees and blind you choose a restaurant it’s likely to be a “tourist trap”. Between fast food and brasseries for tourists, there is no room for a decent restaurant. It is best you go down a little to the Alma Bridge and go near the rue de Marbeuf. They have several options, usually high price and the closer to the big avenues, more full of tourists

If you will not give many turns to the head and you have wanted a good pizza sitting in a nice place, go to the restaurant Romano. Among so much on offer if you want to hear French in the tables, Italian in the kitchen and that the account does not rise too this is the best option. It seems pretentious (and probably is) but do not be scared. Sit quietly and you shall take a good pizza. Dishes range from 13-20 € but with one head shall go well. The bread that I will try it with grated cheese on the table, a great combination! To drink the bottle of house wine is a Valpolicella, good flavor but a bit watery. The pint I will to 13.50 €, so for two euros best Valpolicella ask the letter. And if you have the body to prefer a pizza and pasta, a great option is the cocktail with three types of pasta and three different sauces: tomato, pesto and three cheeses.

Now if you want to taste a good entrecote, with chips to burst, right next to the Roman, have the Relais de l’Entrecote. To choose you have it easy because it is unique plate: for € 25.80 shall take his famous entrecote bearnaise rooms, with a small side salad and chips brought slowly like meat, so it does not cool. If you have not ever had, you can not miss the occasion. Although in some ways is a copy of the famous Café de Paris, eventually almost has become more famous than the original Geneva.

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Casarao Rua da Ilha in Avenida da Praia with Queiroz
Meia peixe frito 19.90 R$ (8 €)
Meia batata frita 11.90 R$ (5 €)
Cerveja garrafa 7 R$ (3 €)

The most homely restaurant in Ilha Grande is the Casarao da Ilha. As in all villages, everytime you see people eating. Or drinking. The speed is not the main value, so if you go hungry best you leave it for another day. So if you stay, do not compliquéis life with no moqueca. Here Take the fried fish (fry it in large pieces and with the same skin) with chips and chuparos fingers.

It is a covered terrace for rainy (usually do in the evening depending on the season), overlooking the central piazza Abraão Village and harbor, but with so many people going forward will cost see the sea.

Casarao da Ilha Grande

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Sfaar

Mere puiestee 6E

One of the hottest spots in Tallinn between local young people. It is in the newly renovated industrial neighborhood that revolves around a mall. If Amancio Ortega has put a couple of shops around here, this will take a while and for good. And no wonder because the combination of a pair of curious buildings, with shops and three or four sites monkeys to eat, goes a long way. More if it is only five minutes walk from the old part of the city.

Worth it to a safe ride and if you are tired of medieval atmosphere and turistoide and you fancy a bit back urbanites FEEL, not what you think. Sfaar throw yourself in and look around you, people and decoration. And on top of the dish you can eat, for no one will complain.

12 08 01 Tallin Estonia 191 bis2

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Cafe Sacher in Philharmonikerstrasse 4

Chocolatiers in Kohlmarkt Demel 14

Ok, they invented the sachertorte in the Cafe Sacher Hotel with the same name. And it always will. As the name, but nothing more. With strawberry flavor too, looks more like a Bony not a chocolate cake. Nothing to do beside which you will find in Demel. Original top out at € 4.90 while in Demel for € 3.70 will taste a cake for chuparos fingers!

Viena Sacher

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Acarajé da Claudia, 5 km from the beach

As for taking acarajés, on the beach, between the pools of Lord and Potato People

Mini vatapá acarajé with sauces, caruru, camarao and pepper 10 R $ (10 units)
Acarajé with prawns 6 R $ (without prawns 5 R $)

Not the best cook in the world, but if one is already lying on a beach with coconut trees that look like the photos of Paradise, also need to have a Michelin star dining. On the way to the Pope People swimming in the 5km (a km from the village which is in the 4km-that no one asked why not start at zero because they go unanswered … -), there is the best piece beach to stay for a while rest when you return ride rigor (in Brazil planner will recommend you get to km 8). Right there you have a few places to eat and drink vendors and Claudia is the cleanest of all.

Main course: acarajé with the sauce you want. A kind of dough for dipping in salsa refried and take it to the belly. Although the mini acarajé are 10 units, as always in Brazil, you can order a half portion and do not say no. So for just 5 R $ will taste all the sauces, but it is more likely that acabéis always to vatapá wetting, which is a favorite worldwide.

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L’Esperance, rue Université 36 (corner of rue de Beaune)

On leaving the Museum d’Orsay, where lunchtime, most likely fall into one of the “tourist traps” that surround the entire area. But if you go down a street and you should turn down the rue Université, in five minutes you can reach the coffee L’Esperance, a place to say it is easy to meet with journalists and politicians who work nearby. On this I can not say if it’s true or not, but what is certain is that you will eat well, quick and cheap for Paris.

If you’re hungry you can ask the formula noon: for € 14.50 have an entry and a main course or a main course and a dessert. But in reality with a single dish have more than enough. The steak and fries or rotate poulet (roast chicken) both for € 11.50 are safe, but for the same price we recommend the Blanquette of veu (veal with mushroom white sauce), soft and delicious. And ask with chips which, although frozen, are those just as much as I have so many that are out of the dish. Or even a good place to try the traditional croque monsieur (ham sandwich with melted cheese, croque madame if you will with a fried egg above) for 8 €.

If you ask the formula noon combinéis better than with dessert. The chocolate mousse or apple sauce, if not it seem homemade.

Attention that close on the weekends! The best proof that there is a place for tourists … To conclude, if you want to keep a good memory, do not enter the bathroom. Not everything could be perfect …

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Sunflower Restaurant, Avenida Virgen del Mar 

They are good people but most have the best place on the island. Terrace slightly raised, with perfect views and where the wind blows. If you want to go reserve a table in front, because it is the best they have. Not to say that the food is not good, which it is, but do not expect great fanfare. So don’t ask for a paella (here in the restaurant or anywhere in La Graciosa!). If you are too lazy to think, ask a barbecue but not for two but for one. In the letter they say that it is mandatory for two, but is neither mandatory nor is it for two. From there they could eat three, four or more. Insist that only want a taste, I will bring it for one, will pay two and only eat half (15 € instead of 30).

The grill will have some fish, fried something back. Some limpets, mussels and the like. Although it is best you to ask what they have cool and ask the country and half portion of what you fancy (I will then dishes between 2 and 4 €). They usually have sardines, fried longorones, etc.. And some fish of the day but for one that is more than enough. According fishing but cost more or less will be between 11 and 16 €. Just ask at the back, the typical way of cooking fish in the Canary Islands (grilled), and comes with a pair of wrinkled potatoes and a little salad. Typical Canarian fish, the best of street is sama bocinegro and then. If you offer cherne or old, you yourselves but for us best left for another day …

The Pension and Restaurant Girasol is in the little walk-port Virgen del Mar Avenue, past the bakery and before reaching El Veril.

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At night Lençóis is more than pleasant. The only bad thing is the uncomfortable floor to walk, especially if your feet hurt from the walk of the day and you have used the flip flops … Most restaurants are very good looking, all with terrace on duty. In another post you can recommend the pair but if you are more days here you have some more:

Grisante restaurant in Praça Horácio Matos at the beginning of Av. Rui Barbosa
In case you want to try typical food here, it is best Grisante restaurant, right next to the pizzeria Natora, although with far less environmental

Rodoviaria bar in Lençóis (bus station) on Avenida Senhor dos Passos
If you want the coldest beer around Brazil, here it is. With its self-service fridge, Schin beer 24 hours a liter just R $ 3.99.

Grisante Chapada Diamantina

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Brocéliande Creperie, 15 rue des 3 Frères

It is impossible for anyone to have tried all the multitude of restaurants on the streets going up to Montmartre. So it is impossible to know what the best of them all. But after going to a few and asking where we are left with the little creperie Broceliande.

The find walking up the rue Dancourt, when broken down into two left at the rue des 3 Frères. Pancakes as such are sweet and dessert, but are their specialty crepes and galettes call.

From € 8 to 14 the have of all types, although they are often more in all tables are Paris (lovely with mushrooms) or Catalan. And if you like the raclette ask the same, a crepe with cheese and potato and ham on top, although they are more flavorful the above. And for dessert, a classic Nutella pancake!

To drink not forget to try the cider Bolée d’Armonrique, served in cups that will have already served (€ 3 cup). Or else I will ask cider craft beer white or black British (€ 5.50).

And if you fancy a crepe and prefer an Italian, under the lively rue Abbesses, have the ristorante Al Caratello, at 5 rue Audran. Authentic Italian, with waiters pranksters but bearable, small tables and tight as it can not be anything in Montmartre, and most important of all real good pasta dishes at reasonable prices.

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By order of the route: ask the taxi to leave you in the Jobi, at the end of Leblon

1. Jobi Ataulfo ​​de Paiva in 1166, with Rua General Artigas (fried sardines, filet mignon with cheese, casquinha siri)

2. Belmonte boteco Rua Dias Ferreira 521, corner of Rua General Venancio Flores Boteco Belmonte (all kinds of boulinhos and cakes from 4.70 R $)

3. Bracarense Bar on Rua Jose Linhares 85-B, almost Ataulfo ​​de Paiva
Bolinha camarao with catupiry, or feijoada bacalaho unit R $ 2.90 (€ 1.2)
Dried meat pie catupiry 4 R $ (1.6 €)
Chopp beer (on tap) R $ 5.10 (€ 2.4)

4. Chico and Alcaide on Rua Dias Ferreira 679, corner of Av Bartolomeu Mitre (barquinha de peixe e camarao for 5.60 R$, caldo de frutos do mar for 17 R$)

5. Cachaça Academy in Rua Conde de Bernadote 26 (would be the continuation of Rua Dias Ferreira, once across the Av Bartolomeu Mitre)
Sampling of caipirinhas

Brasil restaurantes 017 bisYou can not leave Rio de Janeiro without do the “botecos” route in Leblon. Between a bar and a restaurant, the botecos or botequims are traditional bars with terrace most of them and most of tapas dishes but are not as abundant as those of a normal restaurant. Here you have two options: either you follow the path that we are going to propose and going testing or you choose one of them and pass the evening there. Our recommendation: if it is a weekend or holiday, will all crowded so you better get in line at one of them and once you enjoy it you are sitting quietly. In that case, the two best are the super-classic Jobi or relatively new but already famous Chico and Warden.

If you do the route can start by Jobi, go through the Belmonte (it’s a chain but it is always crowded), outisde to Bracarense (by the way if you go by the Rua Umberto and other boteco encontraéis you thirst for a crash) and after somewhat to back and up to get to Chico and Warden. When acabéis, if you still feel like you are either close have Cachaça Academy where you can take the “sampling of caipirinhas”.Just to have a little bit of charm would be a great site! In any case, a capirinha is a caipirinha!

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Steak & beer
Aldaru iela 11-6

Another gem in Riga. A really good one. The guides will tell you that if you visit Jackobs barracks have to eat at one of their restaurants. Well, you can always try and even a local guide I will argue that, even for tourists, there is a site that surprised himself how good  were the local recipes. These people just cook at home and that’s why the locals do not appear by these boundaries.

But if you take the middle road and you get closer to the Cathedral, in just a few meters you will find the Steak & beer, with a couple of waiters and cook a few buddies that seem not a gourmet. But their burgers (4.95 lats), from meat to bread himself, seem made as if they were carrying a deli and not a neighborhood bar. The day I return to Riga I will not miss it!

12 08 01 Riga 016

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Kaze Sushi Bar

The first Japanese of Jericoacoara. Good and nice. The terrace on the first floor is very quiet, right next to one of the most beautiful Jeri pousadas.

You’ll find it at Rua do Forro almost reaching the praia right. It’s a bit pricey, even by the standards of Jericoacoara, but the site is worth and sushi holds.

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In every corner you will find someone who swears that his croque monsieur is the best of all Paris. In the background is as if someone asked where to make the best bikini or sandwich joint in all of Barcelona. In the corner restaurant. While iron has the “bouquet” of having done thousands of bikinis before, sure gets the smack middle roasting. Well with monsieurs croques comes to the same thing. No bistro that does not have in his letter.

That said, one began to try a few and leaving aside that about tastes there is nothing written let alone when there bechamel by the way, we are left with the following:

The stranger, at least among the tourists, L’esperance on rue Université 36 (below the Musée d’Orsay)

The turistic Colibri in the Place de la Madeleine

The famous Le Comptoir, at the corner of Odeon (le Carrefour d’Odeon), where you can innovate and try the croque-monsieur salmon or chicken.

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Kimama sushi

Observatoriegatan 13

Sushi tor 140 kr

It is not situated in a mandatory neighborhood. Nor a particularly pretty street. But if you like sushi and have taken the “Bicing” Stockholm Public pays to shop around for the neighborhood Observatory (even get a little above) and back stand in the Kimama Sushi. The name sounds like a modern bar with plastic seats. Not at all. It is the typical Japanese restaurant set by modest, which left everything to pay the ticket and left them were rented a small place, far from the most expensive neighborhoods. Four color photocopies to show the dishes they have and a mini buffet for you serve yourself water, covered and soybeans. You ask the Japanese bar and nothing will be eating good sushi, simple but quality. On top is hard to find cheap as in Sweden.

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Macaroni fried with vegetables and prawns 45 R $ (18 €)
Green Curry with squid 38 R $ (16 €)

If we rely on the collective intelligence of the best restaurant Advisor dry Paraty would Voila Bistro and, taking into account the value, the Thai Paraty. Eat eat very well and, in addition, the site is very tastefully decordado. From where you enter the hallway, to the bottom terrace, past the tables and dishes each as the mother who brought the world.

If I have to recommend a restaurant in Paraty would put forward the Divine point, mostly because the letter gives a little more options and if something does not crave too much Thai flavor blends Paraty not be the best choice. But if you fancy a Thai touch, not what you think. Here eat first.

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Cafe-bakery chain Paul

If you have no clear where breakfast, wherever you are in Paris, it is likely that about your Have a Paul. It is a chain of bakeries that although the word “chain” panic, will not disappoint. Good coffee and better pastries. Even very next to the Lovre there is a small one.

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Cafe (on corner Veteranenstrasse Fehrbelliner St)

This is a very fashionable curious local among Berliners to go for wine. When you enter you have to pay 2 € and you get a drink and a token (counterfeit currency) that you return at the end. With this money going to the bar and you can choose different wines. There is no fixed price for the wine, but you pay for what you want leaving the money in a boat. In any case, it is recommended that between 1-3 € per glass …

It is in the district of Prenzlauer Berg, one of the most fashionable in the city and formerly communist area. Throughout this area there are many bars and cafes that seem decorated with pieces of furniture before the war, like the East Germans, the fall of the wall, had been launched to place business with the things they had at home.

The result? What I’ve said, one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Berlin, sometimes a little bit hippy but charming.

Berlin

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In contrast with the rest Brazilian coastal towns, in Villa de abraao there is a stretch of beach restaurants for dinner in the evening overlooking the sea, with a candle to decorate the table. The pity is that there are a lot of mosquitoes … so those allergic to stings, do you see the picture and then you are going to dinner for the two streets that get into town.

Those who, even with help from Relec, aguantéis to mosquitoes can choose the Lua & Mar. It is the farthest of all, not much but at night and in the dark for more than one beach too lazy to get there. Only worth doing on Saturday to make BBQ on the sand. Both eat, whether you pay.

And if you end up going to a restaurant for those inside, at the end you can always return to the beach to assail a coffee or hot chocolate in the basket of “Café da Praia”, for only 3-6 R $, we find in the same walk.

Lua & mar Ilha Grande

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Pizza Grande

Vaike-karja 6

Within the walls of Tallinn are two local sites where the bill is cheap and you come out happy. Pizza Grande is one of them. The more you get in the restaurant, the more difficult it becomes. You will have less desire to keep going, but if you manage to reach the end and order a pizza at the bar, you will not regret. Make it clear that this is not the Belle Napoli, but the pizzas are good and cheap (3 sizes from 4 € the small), especially tuna.

Our trick to always find the best pizzeria in a city is a bit complicated but it works. We entered and looked in Italian Google.it “what is the best pizzeria in …”. Our neighbors, the opposite of what we do, are those who when they leave their country almost always end up sitting in restaurants with checkered tablecloths. That and because they know what they say, are the best to indicate where to find the best Neapolitan pizza outside of Naples.

Another thing is that they always say that there’s no one like their pizzas… and they’re rignt…

Pizza grande Tallin

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Pizza alla Pazza in Alameda do Sol  (almost reaching the beach)

Beer Bottle 9 reales
Alho Pao traditional 8.90 reales
Individual Pizza from 18 to 24 reales

In Brazil we have said more than once that food is not your forte. So pizzerias (pizzarias as written in Portuguese) are like mushrooms everywhere, especially if it is a street, town or city tour. One next to the other, as if the had hooked melted mozzarella. Praia do Forte is no exception and pizzerias can count the pairs. Interestingly, as happens in most sea peoples Brazil, the streets and restaurants are built back to the beach. Understand me well, leaving aside the typical barracks kiosks or sea. This means that in old fishing village, do not expect the typical restaurant with a terrace overlooking the sea or on the promenade overlooking the sunset. No. All restaurants crammed into a street overlooking the terrace next door.

So find a good pizza place that is quiet above sea almost a miracle. In Praia do Forte this miracle is called Pizza alla Pazza. With three tables (yes, only three tables … well, I exaggerated, I think there are four) and nothing else, make a pizza, Brazilian style (type dough bread is not bread, neither fat nor thin, and the cheese was not noted for its quantity) but which does not leave any on the plate. And if you are lucky over the restaurant next door is still empty, the better, because you will be on the terrace above quieter around Praia do Forte.

Do not forget to try alho pao! Best traditional to hold the spicy because you have to have a good stomach for …

 Praia do Forte

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Julien, 75 rue Saint-Honoré
Arnaud Delmontel, rue des Martyrs 39
Eric Kayser, rue Monge 14

Julien is the overall winner in the ranking of best Paris chocolate bread and if you try it a few can say they do not deserve. I have in the rue Saint-Honoré. But it is not the only one who deserves the laurel of being the best. The pain-au-chocolat Delmontel, as usual, is amazing (this boulangerie-patisserie embroider it all: croissants, baguettes, etc …). Or the Eric Kayser on rue Monge.

In any case, we leave you with the ranking according to Le Figaro in case you want to go from neighborhood to neighborhood trying them!

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The Hamburger (Los Nietos) and Sandwiches (Rosa’s Net Ciber Café) of La Graciosa

Well near the pizzeria, going to the village to the left, following a sign that you will see out there. First is the Hamburgers and on the sidewalk above the Sandwiches. Send eggs which are placed next to each other …

First hamburger. More consistent and recognized flavors. To connect to the internet and to see fúbtol matches the second. They have free wifi (though they also Gather from Hamburgers …), computer for 2 € the half hour and put a TV screen outside when no game. If you are hungry ask the fries, period, no inventions like the proponents. Chuparéis you are home and fingers.

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Cozinha Aberta on Avenida Rui Barbosa, in front of the Banco do Brasil

The Lençóis more elaborate restaurant, although that’s not saying much, just enter you will see that it is not like other people’s sites.

Fusion cuisine, will cost considerably more than what is usual for Brazil (the price of a dish is as rations for two at the other restaurants), but basically if you look at it with eyes and portfolio of Europe remains a cheap place. More if you think you can try dishes such as tortellini cocoa for 33 R $. But, having not as glamorous as the previous dish, so we recommend eating here is the “passanda” beef curry cooked in yoghurt and accompanied by couscous or meat ravioli du sol.

You have a terrace on the street with a couple of tables or sunroom quieter still. Lovely service.

Restaurante-Bodega_52581

 

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Lido, the buffet’s palace.
Tirgonu iela 6

The palace is because the name sounds like such. Chain restaurants of which I speak everywhere but not necessary. When you see a long line is there. And makes sense, at 4 euros (2.90 lats) a super skewer pork or chicken, grilled fact with a pint bestial and does not know of all evil, then that says it all.

The original is in the outskirts of the city, so do not think that is for tourists. The Old City of course and so is bursting with this new Homus Turistus street sweeping with rose marked on maps, but the rest did not. Although I do not recommend it. The wait can be done standing eternal and elsewhere you can eat almost as cheap as here and better. Yes, the own-brand beer is especially good and serve cold, so if you are confused between terrace and I weigh so feet cortéis not to sit here (although you will have to send someone to the bar, because now the ones who collect the tables are some homeless that leverage remains).

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Cafe Central

Herrengasse 14

Near to the Spanish Riding School, you have the Café Central. It appears in most of the guides and it really worth it. If you are tired and want to sit a while, try the typical Viennese coffee (wiener melange). 4.20 € for a cup will seem a robbery and it really is, but it is good and the place is worth it … Just do not bite the and not even think to ask for anything more, even if it’s embarrassing take only a couple of coffees! The cakes are worthless and less than 4 € you won’t find anything …

Viena cafe vienés en Cafe Central bis

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Divine Point 129 Rua da Matriz

Spaghetti Calamari 39.90 R $ (16 €)
Pizza gamberetti 41.90 R $ (17 €)
Artistic Covered 7 R $ (€ 3)

Divine Point is one of the best Italian restaurants not only in Brazil but also Paraty. That said, I do not expect to eat like in Trastevere in Rome, but it’s one of the few Italians in Brazil in which the pasta al dente make. Besides its terrace has nothing to envy to the Roman. Buenísimos spaghetti frutti di mare both as calamari (lula in Portuguese, which together with prawns abound mostly in these seas). If you are lucky and have the ravioli di pesce are also first. They make themselves so even though they are on the card, not always available.

Seeing their wood oven have temptations sure to order a pizza. Are thin and tasty but would lack a little more substance, both as cheese and tomato ingredients. Come on, that however much the poster put Divine Pizza Point, ask you a plate of pasta!

Recommendation: Although you will have to order two dishes to quedaros full, the ration given almost for two, so if you are a couple and tell them that you will share and I will bring them on two plates.

When Repay do not be surprised to see 7 R $ by “artistic covered”. Is the toll to pay to have live music, but at least does not bother Divine Point. Elsewhere Brazil one would pay for stop playing …

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Huitrerie Regis, 3 Rue Montfaucon (under the Boulevard Saint Germain)
Oyster Shack, 4 Rue Antoine Bourdelle
Mercerie Mullot, 19 Rue Brea

If you are a love of oysters and like also everything that goes with them: the serve in a bowl of ice, pristine white tablecloths are good champagne and you have to water them, then the Huitrerie Regis id. Just have some table only four and the last time we were still not able to book (one day end up changing …), but if you go early and sit you fast weekday. The dozen oysters ranges from € 15 to 34 €.

However if you want something faster and being at home stopping by Oyster Shack. With its formula 13 oysters for 13 € you can take away the itch. Ideal place for the typical companions never have decided to try them for their appearance that no one dares to describe Non remove the glamor, finally Lanzen to.

Besides, actually in most French restaurants and bistros that are easy oysters, such as the Mercerie Mullot on Rue Brea (22 € a dozen oysters). So Paris will never have an excuse not to order them!

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Fisk Kakjas Hotorgshallen 3-6

Pasta dish 85 kr
85 kr Chowder

The worst thing when you’re traveling is that when you know a site like Fisk Kakjas you know that you can possibly never to return. More if it is for Sweden. Tucked into a small shopping center in the building, exactly, you would arrive if no one will ever notice first that there will taste the best food in Sweden. On one side bar where you can sit on a stool, the other line to order in the box and go to the tables. What you prefer. But with food you can’t choose, not because it is a set menu but because, for too lazy to give you, you can not leave without trying their fish soup with garlic sauce. And if by chance the dish of the day is pasta with seafood, or what you think … You’ll end asking if you can repeat, although the portions are large enough to kill more than full.

And on top will be the cheapest meals in Sweden … Why there will be no Kakjas Fisk in the Eixample???

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Tamarindo, recommended by Lonelyplanet

Need we say more! Good food, expensive prices, full of tourists. The fans sure will prove Lonelyplanet. For us though is rich, is too Hens only. The truth is that all Jericoacoara is for tourists but there are places and sites. And this, although looks good and the terrace is fine, looks a pint too turistoide. That said, the fish is very good and should be repeated every day that are in Jericoacoara …

It’s in an alley that goes Lining to Rua Rua Principal (the lane closest to the praia). Like most places in Jeri, closes at noon.

As always, the letter has everything but the Tamarindo is famous for fish.

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Must Puddle

As usually you will be two nights in Tallinn, so here you have another place for breakfast. Terrace inside, really a hippy. It reminded us of a cafe in East Berlin where to get some took capitalism furniture granny flat, they had painted a large chest and around curtains communist past glory, rode a few tables and serving coffee that is two days. And so because charm have business sites.

As the Must Puddle, nice to have a coffee and try some of their toast. The of “smoked ham” delicious egg found, although most the irrigated with fresh white sauce with a hint of cheese that someone can sour the breakfast but others will love.

12 08 01 Tallin Estonia 085

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Herman’s in Fjallgatan 23B

You will have to walk a while to get here. Besides cost you but when you do find it, you will stay happy. If you’re hungry, you will enjoy his firm vegetarian. And if not, assail a beer. In any case, it is an excuse to sit in one of their wooden benches on the terrace overlooking the harbor with views across the city.

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Bar Aperitiv en Praia da Abraáozinho
Peixe frito 30 R$ (12 €)
Lula crocante 40 R$ (16 €)

Point do Verao
Suco natural 8 R$ (2,4 €)
Cerveja de botella 6 R$ (1,8 €)
Lula a doré – fried calamari 40 R$ (16 €)

One of the best tours in Ilha Grande (and easier and cheaper to do) is to walk quietly to the Praia da Abraaozinho. And once there take a plate of calamari or fried fish. To choose table you have it easy: there are only two restaurants. They are equally good but given the choice we are left with the “red”, the Point de Verao before with the “yellow”, the Aperitiv. The waiter is famous for the nonsense jokes he does but don’t worry because after the second beer he will start to look funny!

Bar aperitiv Ilha Grande

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Café de Paris | Entrecote CZK 289

Maltézské náměstí 4

If you have the bad luck that you play the bartender or the entrecote edge is smaller than it already or sauce usually has left them with less flavor than usual, so you may go all happy. The chips will like, you will love the sunroom and the account will surprise you even more, positively clear. The truth is that you will get lazy but for the area of Mala Strana (Prague Castle below) is one of the best options.

12 08 26 Praga 009 bis

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Le Petit Cler, rue de Cler 29
L’Éclair, rue de Cler 32
La Cremerie, rue de Cler 38
Gusto Italia, rue de la Grenelle 199

Best of Paris is that all houses are wonderful. So you end up kicking shattered. You’re walking and you can never stop you, always gives the impression that the street is still interesting to see. One after another all the apples and their buildings are beautiful. So occasionally, you can not continue and will need as desperate for a place to sit and rest.

In the rue Cler, a small pedestrian street near Los Invalides, you can grab a beer or a snack before or after dinner. You have the L’Eclair or Petit Cler, although usually full, or the terrace of La Cremerie stoves where rare are those who do not smoke.

L’Eclair: fine wine from the house, with three price levels: low cost, eco and business. 3.30, 4.10 and € 5.90 the cup.

If you have seen the Eiffel tower from Trocadero just at dusk to illuminate it, a good plan is to take a 10min walk up here, have a glass of wine and then go to dinner at any of the restaurants you will find in the rue de Grenelle. The best option an Italian Gusto Italia, at No. 199 rue Grenelle. Fantastic their pizzas (9-14 €) and also good pasta with sauces always (10-14 €).

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Toca do Morro, mountain climbing, walking to the Pousada Nido del Águila

Caipirinha 8 reales
Caipiroska with passion fruit 14 reais 

Neapolitan Pizza

Entry 5 reais per person

 

 

 

 

One of the best sites around Brazil, maybe of the world, to see a sunset and rethink life. From the church of the village of Morro, to the left is the direct path down to the port and the right of it you will see a road up to the hill fortress. Above all to the left, past the Eagle Nile pousada, you will see the entrance to the Toca do Morro. The hubs turn the door will explain how it works. One card per person, to ask what you charge on the card and you pay out so consumed more 5 R $ for the input. Ratéis No, because if we were you, and now we were in Morro Bay, would spend every night in the Toca do Morro.

Take your time to choose the site. You see there from chill out to stretch, to banks and low tables in the front row, which are our favorites, missing more. You can just have a drink and watch the sunset or, what I recommend because the site is spectacular, make dinner and stay here until they run out of caipirinhas.

To start the table is spectacular with some cheese, olives, sausage alleged and some more. When you start to rise caipirinhas, ask you a couple of pizzas (the first will fly …). It shows that those who run it are Argentine and they have good taste in food!

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Zirup in Laederstradet 32 

A good terrace and better hamburguer in the tourist center. Not the best area for dinner because it is usually packed with tourists but hunger catches you here, the best option is the Zirup. Between their situation and that the more of a fashion is also home may cost you find a table but worth the wait.

The burger is consistent and will fill. And to accompany the juice you can try typical of the site, a sort of lemonade with herbs so that eventually you will think that you are a cow …

Copenhague

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The schooner Netuno II of Paraty Tours to visit the praias and islands of Paraty

Caipirinha 12 R $ (5 €)
Lula grelhada (grilled squid) or doré (a Roman) 28 R $ (12 €)
Molho of camarao com Peixe (fish with shrimp sauce) 30 R $ (12 €)
Trip price R $ 30 (12 €)

In Brazil planner will explain the best way to choose a ship with which to make the trip to the beaches and islands of Paraty and, above all, how to get the best price and do not be fooled!

If we do most likely case is that acabéis in Netuno II. Captain of the first (a must because more than a scare tourists have seen addressed by your own boat …), lovely crew and also cooks posh.

You’ll have to ask for the menu before you get to the first stop to getting everything ready to go. The fish with shrimp sauce is great with rice and squid, which together with the camarao is the most abundant in these waters, even better. Although the letter is to grill, so you can ask fried (“dore”). As always Brazil, tend to make it too salty but with such notice is sufficient. As with cilantro! (“Cuantro” in Portuguese) If you endure, which is standard, Warn whenever you note!

The caipirinha, the price in the area, they are expensive but good. The strawberries in this region are very tasty so that you can use to request to “morango”.

Coffee and fruit are free throughout the journey but beware of the sweet that I offer at the end of everything. It seems that also enters the gift set … but no. Although it looks good and looks like a truffle is very cloying. And if you end up paying R $ 3.50 when you thought it was a nice touch!

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Le Pain Quotidiane, rue Lepic 31

Above all, at the junction with Rue Joseph de Maistre, but the finding will go in different neighborhoods.

This chain of boulangeries, cafes deserves a separate post. Few could believe that a chain of bakeries could become a phenomenon, but it certainly is. And not for the marketing, also because all their decorations one would take them home to make the kitchen of your dreams. But by how well you eat. Finally seems to come to southern Europe, because so far only in France, Belgium and some Scandinavian country could enjoy.

We already have clear. Whenever we see one near breakfast there. I do not know if you thought so or chance, but like the idea of ​​Starbucks was to have your living room in the middle of Manhattan, Le Pain Quotidiane is breakfast in the kitchen of the house mountain with which many of us dream the day we win the lottery (though never let’s play …).

Petit déjeuner: croissants, pain de blé, baguette, fruit juice and drink for € 9.90.
Brunch: normal or royale for 23 € or 26 €.
If not, ask directly the pastries you prefer to (from 2.50 to 3 €) and drink (from 2.50 to 5 €).

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Terrace Do Sousa 

If you go down from the central square in the Largo do Comércio to the bus station, in the last place just before crossing to get to the terminal, you will find Do Sousa.

This place really is to park but in a corner you will see a caravan and a terrace tables. Just have hot-dog (puppy quente), served with a kind of chili and some cheese, chips and peas all mixed up sausage. Served with tartar sauce and ketsup to taste. And it only costs 5 reales each (2 €).

It is the hot spot in Sao Luis among youth. And it is true, is a little piggy eating and at some point the square may smell bad but it’s true!

Sao Luis

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Getting away, whatever the time of year, is always going to be a welcome prospect, with thousands of families, friends and couples jetting abroad for a piece of adventure annually. While some are content with a stint on the beach, it’s no wonder that others are looking for something a bit more and with Neilson activity holidays, they can achieve just that.

It doesn’t matter when you decide to travel, somewhere within Europe or beyond; there will be an activity or adventure perfect for you. Take a look at these options, whatever the season, and make a choice that will fulfil your dreams this year.

Summer

The summer months are a time to spend on the beach and while in itself, relaxing on the golden sands isn’t what you may associate with activity-laden, the watersports in many resorts are inundated with adventure. From windsurfing in Sivota to sailing along the Lycian Coast, watersports are an ideal way to enjoy the thrills at the same time as working on your tan.

Autumn

As the weather gets a little cooler, it would be a perfect time to head for the hills and enjoy a mountain biking or cycling holiday. Whether you prefer the gentle inclines or the steeper, more thrilling descents, there are plenty of routes and trails across Europe that would be perfect. Consider Riva in Italy for some outstanding views from atop a saddle.

Winter

As winter draws closer, the focus is on skiing and snowboarding and rightly so. With plenty of resorts available, including Soldeu, Mayrhofen, Les Deux Alpes and Chamonix, you will be spoilt for choice. Choose a resort that suits your proficiency and make sure you book a slot in a ski school if you’re a beginner.

Spring

As spring fills the air, grab your hiking boots and head for the lakes and mountains to experience the joyful delight of exploring the winding lanes and craggy hills of your resort. The Austrian Alps are perfect as the snow melts away, during May, while Slovenia provides picture-postcard moments at every turn.

Adventure, whatever the season, is waiting for you – just head online and choose the best option for you!

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When you come to La Graciosa for a week, what you expect is that the best restaurant on the island is one of silverfish, by the sea, with a terrace from which to watch the sunset.

Not really. there are restaurants like that. More or less … But we wouldn’t give them a michelin star. Although neither would win the pizzeria, when one has traveled several times every restaurant on the island (not very hard …) and asked “your wishes for the holidays last supper?”, Is clear: one Pata pizza (or kanibal also leg with bacon and mushrooms).

Mass homemade cheese from here and three huge and fantastic round tables planted in the sand, facing the harbor. A couple of tropical waiting to take it easy, that you’ll need. And enjoy. If you are lucky and Caribbean music has an edge, you will have the feeling of being in San Pedro in Belize or some island in the middle of the sea.

7-11 € Since pizza is a gift. Across the walk from the port, Avenida Virgen del Mar, you can not miss. You will see a large painted wall “Pizza”.

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Grinda Wardshus y Framficka

The people planazo Stockholm weekend is catching the picnic basket, fill it to bursting with food and beer, and catch the first ferry to the archipelago. So they call the dozens of islands, islets and others that seem to have been bringing Stockholm to indicate the exit to the sea.

Do not fail to imitate them! Only the boat ride and worth to see all the houses and casones with its own jetty and some even included the ferry stop. The good thing about these boats is that you pay inside before going down, so no need to decide where to land until the end.

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If you do not want to spend more than 2 €, in Salvador you will be still able to eat something. Iros to Pelourinho, the Largo Terreiro of Jesus, near to the Cathedral and find a couple street barbecue with skewers of meat to 5 R $ (€ 2). Tasty are even smell better than not know. But what more do you want for two euros! Well over chair and table where you will have to sit. And if you fancy a caipirinha, no problem. Who will never want to bring her from a cart.

12 10 16 Salvador y Morro de Bahía 073 bis

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U Zavesenyho Kafe

Úvoz 6 | Praha 1

If you go down to the Prague Castle on the right (looking at the city from above), on the same street where you shall go up, make 180 degree and you will find the U Zavesenyho café. It’s actually in the street that climbs, Uvoz, a little above. Zero pretentious but tastefully decorated and detail, it is a good site with fewer tourists than usual to relax with a beer, a bite to eat something even if you fancy. If instead you go down the castle on the other hand, in another post we recommend where to relax.

Praga castillo

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Figlmueller Wollzeile May street (although next have another)

Schnitzlwirt in Neubaugassee 52

If you search on Google you”ll see it clear: Figlmueller. Your own website gets the first of the list and the top 20 results speak about it. Also, the guys are not ashamed:  you can read the advertising on trams “We make it big”. His position is clear. And, I must say, they comply what we expect. Although we tested larger your “wien-schnitzel” does not fit on the plate. It is also true they do cheat a bit different because the dish, without being dessert, it deserves the diminutive. But the batter is impeccable, the service perfect and the place has its charm. Beware of the time because it’s easy having to queue. Best to eat and always after 14.00. Forget beer also because here only have wine, but with the decanter you will be more than satisfied and although at first it seems expensive (€ 5.20 on 1/8) of the jug you can get more out of a glass.

To accompany you suggest your potato-salad. If you want to try (not bad) with a two-will have more than enough. If you are like us who eat meat do not know about “french-fries” you will stay with the desire (and do not think that their “roasted-potatoes” can act as they have nothing to do …).

A € 13.80 Schnitzel does not seem expensive to go to the most famous site around Vienna … until you test the the Schnitzelwirt, Neubaugassee Street 52. Only € 6.50 the plate and that it does not fit the same, so they have to cut it into two pieces. Take one for two and go out to burst. Not so fine, in every way, like the Filgmueller, but if you love the breaded meat and want to eat for four dollars is a great choice! And if you like the Cordon Blue, Give a reward but give you almost double the pleasure! Yes, always come hungry or will leave half on the plate. And here, do not fail to try their beer. Fresh and original flavor.

Viena Schnitzlwirt restaurant

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Bar do Mineiro en Rua Paschoal Carlos Magno 99
Adega do Pimenta en Rua Almirante Alexandrino 296
Aprazivel en Rua Aprazivel 62

When the tram “badinho de Sta Tereza” still worked, this neighborhood was more charming. Now is not the same because their rise and cobbled streets are not the best for walking. In any case, if you finish up to meet him, the Bar do Mineiro and pepper Adega do are possibly the two most famous bars or restaurants.

In the Bar do Mineiro can try feijoada broth or meat pies for 10-30 R $, but the truth, is not famous we taste. Our recommendation assail one cerveja freda and greet the staff with a good smile when they say if you want to eat something. To eat something, we prefer the Adega do Pimenta. Try the sausage and roasted potatoes (R $ 20).

Yes, if you want to make a good dinner those paid in Sta Teresa have the Aprazivel that every day is becoming more famous. Hopefully it will not end up being too expensive or too touristy!

Bar do Mineiro brazil

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Cafe du Centre, rue Montorgueil

One of the many streets worth strolling in Paris, the rue Montorgueil. In the center above Les Halles, is a pedestrian street with a friendly atmosphere. Places to buy cheese, delicatessens, the occasional restaurant and many other cafes. If you’ve wanted to take a break or, if you have pressed the cold and want to warm you we recommend the Cafe du Centre. Although it is a chain it would still be a good site, with background music which accompanies packed but just enough to find the time month. Coffee, tea, beer and house wine at a good price and good temperature, so you can serve it warm with a little cinnamon, a classic in Paris.

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Maiasmokk kohwik

The oldest cafe in Tallinn, typical grannies and pleasant decorated for breakfast. And, although the hotel you you can not deliver breakfast included (do not stop trying because it is waste of money …), will be so bad that some other site will need to take the dose of caffeine that you touch. And if a shift kanelbulle best (this cake typical of Sweden and surrounding area is made of cinnamon and even let you eat the tougher you’ll quickly).

cafeteria estonia

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Coffee Kladdkakan and Chokladkoppen (Stortorget 18-20), in the Old City

Chocolate to 39 kr / € 5.6

If you are in the Old City or Old Town of Stockholm, is mission impossible to find a local site without tourists. But at least it does tell you a couple of places to at least eat well and / or being in a nice terrace. Kladdkakan Café is a good choice, nice inside, outside terrace, it is usually those who assail tourists. And kanelbulle not win the award for best in the city but is rich.

Although perhaps the best place is the Chokladkoppen. Amid Stortorget, tourist place as any, I shall give from elbow to sit, but worth it although it seems a turistada. Chocolate for our taste too runny but whatever. The straw seat is fluffy, adapt buttocks that give taste and faces the sun terrace. Above usually run a sea breeze that leaves you at the ideal temperature. Well it costs about 6 € but this is Stockholm and for something not into the euro.

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Even the most abstemious knows the Brazilian national drink is the caipirinha, but not everyone knows that juice comes from sugar cane slaves mixed with fruit. The traditional is “limao” but do not fail to try any flavor! Especially to “morangos” (strawberries), passion fruit (passion fruit) or coconut. Or even with vodka instead of cachaça, the famososas and caipiroskas. Depending on the area will cost you from 6-12 R $.

Although if you want to drink without you to perish, the best option is the “cerveja” (beer). By about 6 or 7 R $ have the “bottles”, 600ml bottles of beer brand. No country in the world where you shall feel cooler! (“Gelada” if you want to ask in Portuguese). It will be because the heat that burns the beer here is hot in two minutes and are well prepared. But there is no place where you serve it cold but not freezing, and always in a kind of bucket-shaped bottle closed.

Our favorite beer is the Bramha, traditional, or Bohemia, with a touch of banana flavor (although no one has been able to confirm …). The Skol, however, falls short of flavor but still good cold. Itaipava the Schin and medium would be not as rich as the Bramha but Skol above.

12 11 01 Río de Janeiro 067About Brazilian wines, we have great doubts … A priori we would say or try them, but it is true that we have always taken any we liked, or to be a poquinho … The best advice, always ask for a drink and if you like hurl you!

We can not end this without talking about the traditional coconut with a straw you will find on all the beaches. By 3-5 R $, I open the coconut and drink ahead of you are four days … Although I have saved between ice and out is frozen, few times the “suco” becomes really cold. And, if we’re honest, not worth much but to prove that it is not!

Although test, do not fail to put you cups all “suco” (juice) of every kind you’ll find in all the “coffee do manhana” (breakfast). In many sites are too watery or have strange flavors for a European, but in others you yourselves have gone the jar!

12 11 02 Ilha Grande 174 bis

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Buy you a backpack-fridge

mochila nevera

The best recommendation to go to La Graciosa is buy a backpack fridge in Decathlon. Put every night in the freezer one or two large water bottles, and so will make the “ice” during the day. Forget the typical blue plastic plates. It’s too heavy, only last a couple of hours and then you can not get the drink as if about water bottles.

Do not let either of bringing you a couple of tupperware to take you salad, fruit or whatever you want to the beach. Here, thankfully, the beach bars or beach kiosk is science fiction, so all drinks and food has to come from home!

11 09 14 La Graciosa 234

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Cafetería Tango Café, Beco da Felicidade, Praia do Forte

If you don’t have breakfast in your “pousada” or you want something sweet in the , you can try the cafe-bakery Tango Café.

You will find it in the Rua de la Felicidade, the penultimate street leaving the Alameda do Sol on the left before you get to the Plaza de San Francisco at the beach.

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Zawodsky

Reinischgasse 3

Maybe the translation will be “winery”, because in southern Europe there aren’t these kind of sites. Lie, in Tuscany I know a couple of fantastic villas surrounded by vineyards where you put the sausages almost overshadows the cup of their delicious wines. The Austrians are heuriger home, without losing the charm but without being as informal as the garages of the “guachinches” in Tenerife (we have one on our list scrumptious …).

These are small family vineyards, to promote your own broth, started serving wine glasses. After all accompanied with some snacks, cheeses, emutidos and some “spread”. And now most are restaurants. Without the “almost” find a few but neither ye seek. Or have prostituted or were born crooked. The real costs get computer and we were lucky enough to find one of them. One of the most typical areas to go to Vienna heurigers near Grinzing. The good thing is that with tram 38 will arrive directly in about 40min tops. Get off at the last stop and you will feel like in a village.

Viena heuriger Zawodsky bis

“Heuriger” means “this year”, a kind of Austrian “beaujoleu” and most of them serve wine in its “courtyards”, something like a biergarden. However, if you walk a little more you can get even the best of all Zawodsky in Reinischgasse 3. It’s a little hard to find and you will probably have wanted to leave it alone. More if you come to the door because for anything is palatable. No!! One of the best experiences in Vienna. Come inside and, if you like, id first garden to the left of the house. Just seeing the wooden tables scattered among the vineyards and the stunning views as if you were in the middle of the mountain, you will have you will have successful course. The wine you serve it at the table, the food will have to get yourselves in the lower floor of the house. Bought to weight as if you were in a deli you can choose from several options, but I always come cheap (from 2.20 to 2.80 bottled wine glass, the half carafe cheap and the food for 10 € per person will have more than enough ).

In the Smart Route is explained more specifically. We tell you how to arrive and which wines worth it, but in any case do not let go!

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Not just one but several. You will find them all in the rue Sainte Anne. So many are already calling Tokyo street. It is impossible to prove all but among those who were able to eat and what counts people who usually come here, there are two that are palm sticks or better:

Yasube and the You, both next to each other and at No. 11 rue Sainte Anne.

In any case if you want to see what I own Parisians say, here’s the ranking of the top 12 Japanese according to Le Figaro.

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Kalciema Market

Fantastic and incredible spot which you can’t miss … Do not expect the typical street market full of stops because rather appears as just a corner of any open-market in London, but a corner of the good. Pray organic burger (of “beef”, not vegetarian) and while you do it, pick one cerzeva CESU. The place where you will shoot like a house the film and so is the beer. Like a movie.

Sit in some of the banks and listen to great music with background. And if you’ve still hungry, grab by just 1.5 lats (2,3 €) hair soup spicy “lamb, tomato, rice and beans”. Tastes grate!

12 08 01 Riga 091 Kalnciema Street Quarter bis

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Madolosso Velho, Avenida Manoel Ribas 5852, Santa Felicidade

Free Rodizio R $ 34 per person (14 €)

The most famous restaurant in Curitiba and according to them, the largest in the world! Just for this one and would not want to go … but they were all so heavy that we could not go, that we went. It’s in the Santa Felicidade, that when you talk about it, between what you have and the name, I can imagine a nice neighborhood, on a small hill, with beautiful houses and pedestrian streets. None of this. A street that almost looks like a highway restaurant atrocities on either side competing to see who makes it fatter.

The “new” Madolosso looks like a Las Vegas casino, so best we recommend the “velho” which is right in front. But if you want to FEEL may cast a few laughs and you’re on a middling macroboda not cortéis and to the casino!

In any case, the two sites will eat the same. It is the typical Brazilian restaurant “Rodizio”. They are free bar food, the cheapest with self-service buffets and more expensive (so to speak, because the price is very economical and more thinking about what you are eating …) they will serve in the same table. Madolosso is the latter. Pasta, meat, salads, itchy bites, so much food … in the end you do not know where to put the fork. And above, if you have a craving, you asked to not be the first time I cooked for someone!

Just do not expect you the best quality in the world but it’s not bad! Among so many things like chicken wings will go unnoticed, so I better warn you that is most good!

And to drink, if you still have it in the letter, do not fail to ask the red Ikella. An Argentine cabernet sauvignon Parker loved … and us!

If you like the subject of repeated rodizios and want another alternative is Batel Grill, Av Nossa Senhora Aparecida 78 (before Rua Teixeira Soares). Not as famous as the Madolosso, but according to many about the same height.

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From breakfast to dinner:

1. To make a breakfast or brunch: Le Pain Quotidien in Kalandeberg street. According to a franchise but in this case have a front terrace in a pleasant square. Or if you hand is more Appelbrug street, you can go to Brooderie also a nice terrace but a little more expensive (brunch with champagne € 22)

2. To make a waffle “on the go”, the Australian Ice-Cream in Velostrat street near the Cathedral. Street turistoide like nothing but waffles and ice cream are the most famous in the city (1.8 € a scoop of ice cream, two scoops € 3, € 4 three balls).

3. To take an afternoon beer on the terrace overlooking the river or in the evening on the terrace of the street, the bar Koeiaert in Pensmarkt 3. Come inside to the end to reach the terrace overlooking the canal. Glass of wine by 3.5 € or 4.5 € cava.

4. For coffee or tea in the afternoon or after dinner: Mr Beanzz. The waterside terrace is enough reason to go, but if you enter and sit at one of the tables next to the windows, will cost rise up! His “special coffees around the world” are a bit expensive (7 €) but encourage anyone (irish coffee, baileys coffee, coffee with russian vodka, etc …).

5. If you are a glutton and I like ribs (ribs) to die, do not fail to spot on the street Amadeus in Plotersgracht street (15.95 € all you can eat spareribs). And if not hungry, nothing happens. Just walk across the bridge and back Krommewal down Plotersgracht and worthwhile.

6. If you prefer is that you see with the beautiful people of Brussels who comes to spend the day, assail one deluxe burger BBQ at the Belga Queen. Famous Chef, to look decor and terrace next to the canal. Who gives more? But prepare ye the Visa. From 15 € of the “croquettes crevettes” (fried shrimp) to 52 € the steak to share, you have everything, including lobster, oysters and caviar. Graslei Street 10.

7. If you want fine dining but without that I see so many people, the brasserie De Tempelier. Only open at night, you have to book because they have few tables and is always filled. For 15 € the main course eat more than fine. On the street Meerseniersstraat 9.

8. And if you want fine dining but without all heck, nonsense and go away leaving you to Marco Polo, right next to Pink’s Flamingo on the cross street, Serpentstraat no.11. A trattoria with wood oven that says it all.

9. If you are tired of the Belgian food, which will notbe very strange if you are here more than a week, on the street Sleepstrat and Oudburg you will find ethnic restaurants of all colors and continents. The most famous is the Tibetan (do not miss the Yak meat!).

10. For if there is hunger and too late: Orient Pita in Groeten Market. Beware of shawerma regalima oil! However, first it will seem (from 4.5 € to 6 €).

11. If going well dressed and have dinner despuéss forward to a drink by the Belgian socialite, in the same street Oudburg at No. 16 have one of the “secrets” of the city: the Jigger’s. Cocktail bar reserved for famous people. If you have no shame to ring the bell and put famous face, enter into “the noblest drugstore” Ghent.

12. If you are curious about the cuisine and dishes prepared, do not miss Toog in Voldersstraat 24. Just being able to look your shelves and refrigerators and worth it!

And do not forget to try the Westmalle Trappist beer! A little stronger than we are used but I love it! Besides subiros a bit, of course … 😉

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House Coupe in Praça da Matriz

Philomena Burguer 19.70 R$ (8 €)
Batata fritas 10.90 R$ (4.4 €)
Suco de limao 5 R$ (2 €)
Chopp cerveja grande 6 R$ (2.4 €)

When you get to Paraty is that it takes many days for Brazil and perhaps ye fancy a change of menu. In any other country in the world, pizzerias and Italian restaurants are ideal to give rest to the stomach. In Brazil no. The paste usually make pizzas too old and hard to find some that is normal. Too thick or too thin. With sometimes a little cheese special. Or the different ingredients such as caramelized onions or cut into pieces egg above.

So if you are of those who need a break from both “refriçao” with rice and beans, do not fail to go to the House Coupé! In the same Praça da Matriz, the central square of Paraty, with a nice terrace but also beautifully decorated interior, which is already well here when abundant rainfall.

And have no doubt: hamburger. Impeccable, with the taste of good burgers. And with real Heinz ketchup. The sweet potato fries you have to order them separately but do not fail to do so. With the cheese over them cast are fantastic.

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Cremerie, rue des Quatre Vents

First it became fashionable brunch and now plays the appetizer, the best way to make a afterwork with friends. And Paris is no exception.

In the Rue des Quatre Vents, near Odeon, have the small Cremerie, although the name deceive. Here everything wine breathes no to milk or cheese. From the 17 to 19.00 h have the “make aperitif”. For 10 € you can choose one dish from pate, cheeses and other delicacies, also a tapenade and your glass of nice wine.

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Ristorante Carmelita

Ujezd 406/31

If the Petrin funicular back you pull the hungry, you can always make a lasagna in this Italian with a terrace step more than enough to rest your legs. The pizzas better let another day because they are well worth. A couple of streets have the Café de Paris is best option, although sunroom worth it for the night, so you have a romantic.

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Folkkubs Ala Pagrabs
Smilsu iela 16

They say that their best moments have passed, but no matter where you ask, people always recommend it. And the phrase is always the same: “is crowded with tourists, because it is full of locals.” Although it has a deck is to get inside the cave, so stairs down and do not fail to see the door with the left, old camera around a bank!

The waiters are used to tourists so I attend fast and perfect. Their signature dish is meatballs (meat balls in the letter, 3.50 lats) and worth a try, especially because they are one of the most typical recipes of the country. Towards evening there is usually live music and that’s when most environment has. If you are here at nine or later, leave you fall!

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Bla Lotus in Katarina Bangata 21

If you are preparing your trip to Stockholm sure you have already read about his famous fika. By now you may have noticed also that more than one has some trouble with this in the fika … In summary, these Swedes when they feel like it, go the gigs and take a walk to sit in a good terrace, take a coffee and, if you squeeze the hungry, wet it with a cupcake. No hours or specific sites. Simply desire to take a break.

By Skanegatan or the Latin Quarter as it is called, there are several pleasant outdoor cafes to start practicing this the fika. The Fabrique, for example, although it is a little further away and is usually so full of only women that looks like a private party. Our favorite, Lotus Bla. And near him find the street or walk, Lisa’s, but here fikas anything. This is more to eat as if you were in your Swedish grandmother’s house. And just for the moring, that something is a grandmother …

With Lisa’s confuse the Lisa Elmqvist is Ostermalms Saluhal market, a kind of market in San Miguel to the “Swedish.” Even if you do nothing happens, because it’s kind of seafood restaurant where I shall put the boots!

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Natora Pizzeria at Plaza Horacio Matos (in front of the bank)

Small pizza 14 R$  and large 30 R$

Pizzeria also with typical Brazilian dishes with picanha or meat do sol. Terrace always set to have a beer before dinner, for dinner or for typical caipirinha after dinner. Although the best, their pizzas.

Chapada Diamantina Natora

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Joe Limonádový

Revolucni 1 Kotva Pasaz

(in the same plaza Revolution, at the beginning of the street of the same name, on the left if you look towards the bridge at the end, there is an entrance to a passage just to the right of a corner pizzeria. Enter, turn right and a few meters on the left you will see an entry for the Top Bingo Casino Games. throw yourself into and left is a staircase leading up to the Limonádový Joe)

The beer is not as cheap as you will in other bars in Prague, but is the minimum price to get rid of tourists and be in a 100% local bar. Although more than bar is a former cinema converted to mini hall. Although if you go early (after 19 or 20 h) you can even dine while some pasta dish begins to animate it. A few rows of old armchairs, modern projector film serves Czech and old movies showing a courtyard with no roof to see the stars if you get tired of drinking beer.

An ideal place for those who have no desire to get into the hotel after dinner and diambular are sick of tourists away from the center.

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Kleeblattgasse 5

Mon – Fri 11:00 to 2:00, Sat – Sun 17:00 to 2:00

If you follow this blog, you will notice that one of our obsessions is, when we travel, we like having a good pizza near … In Vienna you will find the best in Leopoldsgasse 23rd , or a good and cheap, the “mafia” in Reindorfgasse 15. The first falls far ways away and the second is between Mariahilfer Strase and Naschmarkt, where there are already too many options so do not touch (our “commitment” is never given so many alternatives that you turn crazy picking … but say only clear and direct recommendations ).

But the center of Vienna, in the ring, it is not easy to find a good site that is local and wallet can handle it. Tourist traps of all colors find. And some really nice. Terraces and charming spots, with candles and wooden tables. Surely some will be a great time but there scouter travel the world that has tried them all … But if you ask local they never go to these sites and there must be …

But there is one exception: the Kolar. If you manage to find it (it is a very short street in a “U” that leaves and returns to Tuchlauben), you prove, and, “Fladen”, a kind of pizza folded like a mix of calzone and pita. Do not miss the tuna! (€ 5.40 large portion that will leave you full of everything, but there from 3 €). Their beer is also Krügel first (€ 3.20 Pitcher 0.5 lit).

Viena Kolar restaurant

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Girasol restaurant, behind the church, above the alley where they sell tickets Fretcar (once in Jeri’ll understand perfectly …)

If you ask here and there are always two restaurants in Jericoacoara that everyone recommends. Written Tamarindo. In words the Sunflower. The first is the Lonelyplanet favorite. The second ours.

It is a little off, a quiet terrace, perfect for a nice dinner away from the bustle of Jericoacoara (clos at noon). Do not forget to try the “massa frutti di mare” (seafood pasta) or picanha (grilled meat with different sauces if you like mushrooms or capers.’s A bit pricey but Jeri know that most arriving by Turisas here is not that they are poor precisely, so overall I struggle to find cheap places in town with terraces of first (cheap seats for locals or leveraged guiris exist, but are usually hidden corners and not too clean truth …).

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L’As du Fallefel, rue de Rosiers 34

In the rue des Rosiers, in the old jewish neighborhood, find places to get falafel or shawarma one after another, but there’s only one where you have to queue. And it’s worth. L’As du Fallafel. Although it is green on the outside, the color of the muslims, is run by jews. For € 5.50 you can get a falafel and a very good shawarma for 8 €.

Do not be confused with any of those around you!

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For breakfast are famous the chocolat pastries from the bakery because they have chocolate from start to finish. But if you want to watch your weight, their whole grain croissants ara addictive!. Also great with cereal wholemeal bread, black bread black not passed from dark brown.

The bakery’s find trouble in little walk through the port. Open from 8 am until 21.00 h. If you come just for the day or have no desire to cook to eat, here you can always buy you snacks of all kinds … while having.

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Leib Resto Ja Aed

Uus street 31

Number one city official. And the outdoor terrace deserves. I said in another post that the farther the better cento. So the best terrace is bordering the medieval wall. Do not fail to reserve because the site is to be outside as it comes in all rankings and guides are nice tables but wanted.

The two founders whose mission is “to provide a simple but tasty menu, at a good price and with a non-staffy-service”. If we have to be honest not meet any of the points. At least, totally … but the dishes are rich and the terrace is spectacular.

Recommended dish Leiburger € 12

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Flutuante Bambubar, restaurant in Praia do Pouso

Peixe moqueca for two 70 R $ (28 €)
Lua to doré Petisco 50 R $ (20 €)
Garlic Camarao 80 R $ (32 €)
Peixe fried 35 R $ (14 €)

If you have no tendency to dizzy or if you want to get drunk fast with the caipirinha, the BambuBar is the original restaurant around Ilha Grande. Floating Bar just few meters from the beach, with a small boat will take you up if you want a drink.

The fish is fresh and not overcharge more than other kiosks for the fun of floating, but it is still a bit expensive, in line with many restaurants in Ilha Grande. The problem is that here you will expose less profit because the small reciprocating eventually you may end up getting tired. But yes, the pictures that you will draw will be more Will Teach you around!

Ilha Grande Praia de Pouso

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Fazenda Bazars
Baznica iela 14

Featured in several local sites, do not let go if only for making a coffee and a cake. Wooden house like a story, you’ll want to take the kitchen with you. Each corner is a different and, although some furniture may seem Encants those who like but in the house of another, the set is lovely. As I mentioned, especially the open kitchen.

12 08 01 Riga 124 bis

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Sete Pizzas in Alameda do Sol s / n, with the Beco do Arlindo (near the beginning before the square)

Pizza for two people of 39-53 R $
Pizza median of 35-48 R $

If you will not waste much time deciding where to dine, this is the best alternative. In the same Alameda do Sol, as 99% of restaurants, a relaxing terrace, nice waiters and wood oven for pizzas, finite and served with a lid that is not cool. On top are good.

12 10 16 Salvador y Morro de Bahía 017

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Boulangerie Yhuel, 11 rue Jean Lantier
Arnaud Delmontel, rue des Martyrs 39
Eric Kayser, 14 rue Monge

As always happens with these things, each year saw the list of turn with the best croissants in town. The pity is that many of them are in the suburbs or near the periferic. But one falls in the middle and, if not, you always have the classics, famous among all Parisians.

One of our favorites is the Yhuel boulangerie on Rue Jean Lantier 11, halfway between the Louvre and the Hotel de Ville (care barely see the name on the outside). Ask Acordaros of butter (beurre)! For just a euro, you’ll see more than one get two … And if you are tired you can sit down for a leisurely coffee. In that case, try the hot and cheese croissant!

But our winner for the best croissant in Paris is the Delmontel Arnaud, on rue des Martyrs 39, below the Boulevard de Clichy. Crispy on the outside, soft inside, delicious to eat. Just stroll past the smell and is one of those that forces you to enter. No wonder Delmontel was the winner for the best baguette in 2007.

Even if you are by the Latin Quarter, do not hesitate to get close to try the Eric Kayser on Rue Monge 14 and then you will not know who to give the gold medal …

Here you can see the list of winners of the 2012 best croissants!

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If you are in Sao Luis and want to eat somewhere truly local, come into the market. Do not miss it. In the center of town in the old town you will see. Enter through one of the arches and you will see all crowded tables.

If you want something less noisy and safer (in terms of the quality of the food!), The other option is the D’Antigamente, also in the center in the long do Comércio. With a pleasant terrace, at night the expanded to the entire walkway. Also at night are released to play live music. It depends on the voice that can touch you or be an unforgettable evening can finish asking the earplugs!

In any case it is a good place to eat. You pay at the counter to check out and no cards. We recommend you ask for “meia meat du sol” (meat paella served hot with cheese, with half rations have more than enough) and try the provolone. The cerveja, as always in Brazil, frost!

Restaurant D’Antigamente in the Largo do Comércio
Provoleta con azeitonas 14 R$ (6 €)
Carne de Sol 30 R$ (12 €)

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Tokyo

1

As most of you will know, Tokyo is the Japanese capital and therefore an obvious destination of choice when visiting Japan. Aside from being the most populous city in Japan, Tokyo is also the most populous metropolis in the world. This cosmopolitan labyrinth consists of 23 city districts stretching over some 2, 000 square kilometres; which each boast their own unique character and charm. The larger province (or prefecture) of Tokyo consists of numerous mountain towns and villages to the West as well as various subtropical islands to the South, such as the Izu and Ogasawara Islands. Tokyo is a vast, bustling metropolis offering all manner of entertainment and attractions from museums, gardens and historical sites in areas such as Asakusa and Chiyoda; to shopping districts, restaurants and lively entertainment in neighbourhoods such as Akihabara and Shibuya. The best thing to do in Tokyo is to simply wander and explore! Hop on the train to get from one district to the next and simply immerse yourself in the multidimensional Japanese travel experience through the sights, sounds and smells of traditional restaurants, bizarre shops, innovative technology and modern design grouped with ancient tradition; all of which is shared by over 12 million people.

Matsumoto

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Located at the centre of the Nagano Prefecture, roughly 2 hours and 40 minutes from Tokyo by train, Matsumoto is the second largest city in the area and famous for its historical castle and picturesque landscape. The Matsumotojo Castle, dating from the Bunroku Period (1593-1594), is the oldest remaining castle tower in Japan and is considered one of the most beautiful monuments and a national treasure. Matsumoto is also a popular base for hikes to the Japanese Alps and Utsukushigahara Heights. The city itself demonstrates a metropolitan vibe that has managed to retain its historic importance and traditional values, and this well-run city is embodied in its clean streets and friendly residents. Aside from its castle and historic importance, the city of Matsumoto is also famous for certain gastronomic attractions such as soba noodles, juicy apples and raw horse meat. It attracts visitors in summer for the popular Taiko Festival (Japanese drum festival) held at the castle, and is well-known as the birthplace of the Suzuki music method as well as the contemporary artist, Yayoi Kusama.

Miyajima Island

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Also known as Itsuku-shima Island, Miyajima Island forms part of Hatsukaichi City which lies in the Southwest region of Hiroshima, roughly 4 and a half hours from Tokyo by train. The whole island is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site and is renowned for its colourful, mountainous landscape along with its many important historic sites. It is considered one of the three most beautiful locations in Japan and has been a worshipped location by the elite and powerful for centuries who believe Miyajima to be an embodiment of God Himself. The island is home to the ancient Itsuku-shima-jinja Shrine built in 593, which is magnificently lit at night showing off its bright red colouring. There are also a number of other important temples on the island worth seeing such as Daiganji Temple from the 13th Century. Aside from coming here to see the shrine and the various temples, the island is hugely popular in summer for its beaches and camping grounds.

Yokohama

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Located roughly a half an hour south of Tokyo by rail, Yokohama is the capital of the Kanagawa Prefecture and Japan’s second largest city. It established its importance when, in 1859 at the end of the Edo Period (1603-1867), it became one of the first ports to open to foreign trade. This move saw the city grow from a small fishing village into the major economic centre it is today. Yokohama is a popular city among expats and contains one of the world’s largest Chinatowns, housing some 500 Chinese restaurants. As well as the being Japan’s major base for foreign trade for over 100 years, the city also promotes international language learning exchange and lays claim to finding Japan’s first English language newspaper in 1861, the Japan Herald. This welcoming of international trades and customs has seen Yokohama grow into a uniquely open-minded and multicultural, modern city that now inhabits over 3 and a half million people. Business and culture alike thrive here and many international and national businesses have branches in the port city. It is also a trendsetting city for fashion, design and innovation which simultaneously fosters traditional art and cultural practises displaying a high level of respect for traditional Japanese popular and performance arts.

Kanazawa

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Capital of the Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa is located in central mainland Japan and with a population of 458,000, is the cultural and economic centre of Hokuriku – an area comprising the prefectures of Ishikawa, Fukui and Toyama. With mountains to the Southeast and the Sea of Japan to the Northwest, the city itself sits between the Saigawa and Asano Rivers. The city is famous for Kanazawa Castle Park as well as Kenrokuen Garden. The latter is considered one of the three greatest gardens in Japan along with the Kairaku-en Garden in Mito and the Koraku-en Garden in Okayama. Construction of the garden began in 1676 and over the next 170 years expanded to a 105, 000 square metre garden of spectacular beauty. The city also has numerous shopping districts popular with tourists from all over the Hokuriku region such as Korinbo, Kata-machi, Musashi, and Kanazawa Station, all of which sell modern goods as well as traditional handcrafts from dyed silk, (Kaga-yuzen), Kutaniyaki pottery to gold adorned craftwork (Kanazawa-haku). Although, extremely popular with the Japanese, Kanazawa remains a hidden gem among foreign tourists and is one of the best off the beaten track locations in Japan, and not just for shopping but also for some of the most well-preserved historical sites from the Edo Period. With numerous shrines and temples, most of which are gathered together in Tera-machi – a group of 70 such temples – not to mention artefacts left behind by geishas, lords, merchants and samurais, Kanazawa has been listed as a City of Crafts and Folk Art by the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. As if this wasn’t reason enough to visit Kanazawa, the cuisine here is hard to beat and is famous throughout the country for its high quality produce, particularly its delicious seafood.

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Bar Pink’s Flamingo, c / Onderstraat 55 in Ghent

I look like a street in anyone’s territory, but it is an area right next to the center and very nice to walk around, especially if you get closer to the river and have just crossing the bridge Krommewal. If you cross and you should turn right in Oudburg by Sleepstraat, there you will have a good sample of ethnic restaurants worldwide. But the beer I recommend doing at Pink’s Flamingo. Good atmosphere, locals and cold beer. And if you are hungry, for a few euros (thinking that you are in Belgium), I can take a plate of spaghetti bolognese, of those with Knorr pot flavored sauce and cheese on but end hooking. Not that they are not home, is that the sauces around here have this flavor, and the most famous companies are Dutch ready meals and just make copy …

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Grosseto Marina pizzeria

Manesuv most (on the right bank of the river, at the bridge over the Charles)

On a platform like a boat moored to dock, the Grosseto Marina pizzeria restaurant is the best views in Prague. From one of his two or three terraces or flight will see both the Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge. While you will be surrounded by tourists, even the people of Prague known to be the best place for dinner typical Saturday when one is of city-break. If you have not passed or call to book, best do not come before nine. After that time, the wait at most be 20 or 30 minutes, a short time if you become a sparkling Italian white (CZK 59 to 2.5 €) from the mini balcony with prime views.

While the pasta portions are small and when they arrive at the table will seem reheated food, not bad (and thinking that the diet goes for CZK 170-250, € 7-8). Even some are to repeat as the funghi e pancetta tagliatelle and ravioli salmon). But if you go hungry, ask you a pizza or calzone. Those that are out of the plate. To drink or what you think: carafe of house wine merlot (CZK 140-6 € a pint).

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Mar Bella Pizzeria in Rua da Praia 719

From R $ 30-60 for two large pizza

If fish are full of the Ilha Grande only have two options: either the Tropicana or pizzeria creperie Mar Bella. If it’s quality, best first. If it’s id number to the second. They are the best pizzas in Brazil, much less, but at least the beer is cold and the waiters are good people.

Although it is a “basic”, do not ask to “alleged” because here comes the worst ham only. Best assail the Frutos do Mar. .. but this is still fish! Well, is that the meat is not very well, so you better assail drinking a margarita and a good Itaipava which is the local beer!

lha Grande

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Peppes Pizza, Karl Johans gate 1, Oslo

In the main square you have a Peppes Oslo, but are everywhere around the country and … From 170 kr pizza, do not even think to ask the new style thin. Here are classic that will fill one’s belly if you have nostalgia of eating pizza.

They are like pizzas before the first chain that opened in London and one that made you open your eyes and mouth. So do not expect a pizza Neapolitan but to kill the hunger this is your place.

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Mama Bahía, Cravo & Canela o Negro’s in Rua J. Castro Rabelo

Picanha da sheet for 1 person in the Mama Bahía (steak) 38 R $ (15 €)
Frango to Milan for 2 people in the Cravo & Canela (chicken nuggets) 30 R $ (12 €)
Peixe moqueca for 2 people in the Negro’s 30-35 R $ (12-14 €)

At night, the center Pelourinho seems abandoned in some unnamed African capital and not wanting to keep fighting. Even the thugs move in slow motion, because most of the crack that has taken up the urge to steal. They look like a lost zombies instead of pickpockets about to steal the wallet. Despite this, it is better not to move too much or get by any street that is not another tourist.

In Brazil planner will recommend the best hotel to stay in Pelourinho without any problem. But if you want to dine here, here is our recommendation: go away to Rua J. Castro Rabelo and sit in one of the three or four terraces to see. To arrive, take the Rua das Portas do Camu coming out of Long Terreiro of Jesus (one of the two squares of Pelourinho, this is the Church and the Cathedral) and is the first right.

The first restaurant is the Mama Bahía. I will recommend everyone and the truth is that you can find more hits will be very well decorated. Both sometimes afraid to go. The price, without being exaggerated, it is still twice that of its neighbors. So pay 15 euros for a dish that is not anything special, when next you will be filled belly in half, not plan. That ends up being the emptiest of the whole street. And therefore we prefer to recommend either: the Cravo & Canela or Negro’s.

Brasil Argentina Movil 088 bisThe two have a nice terrace (to be the center of Pelourinho at night …), cheap and Bahian food. That is, moquecas (fish or meat made in a clay pots sauce with onions and peppers), Peixe fried carne do sol, etc … The Black’s is more restaurant and it shows female hand your waiter, although in the Cravo & Canela you will become a laugh with the maitre Jamaican. You are in Salvador, so the food is the least … but still do not compliquéis life. A breaded chicken with sweet potato fries, a cold beer and a caipirinha to close the night. Pretentious fish or meats always have the risk of equivocaros. Specifically, forget about the meats do sol, Picanhas and other dried meats Brazilian inventions. Over the two days sure are.

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Burger Meister in Oberbaumstraße 8

When we travel we do it, in part, to discover “hidden gems” like this “master of burgers”

If you cross the Oberbaumbrucke and you continue to Oberbaumstraße number 8, you will see just below the train tracks. Are or were better, the former sinks in the station. Potatoes are spectacular (€ 3.5), as prepared with cheese, sausage, gravy … and the burgers are also great places (€ 4). When you arrive you catch number and expect to ordering. When ready, we will notify by that same number. A site that you can not miss!

urger master Berlin

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Minas Grill, weigh restaurant, in Rua Raimundo Corréa 34-A

As throughout Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro you will find the weigh restaurants. That is, pay as much as you eat. To calculate it they weigh the plate. The more elaborate with more than one price level, as if salad, meat or fish. But most single price will between 1.8 and 2.5 R $ for every 100g. Do not worry to calculate how much you can get the food because it’s ridiculous … In Copacabana find several restaurants of this type and the truth is that, more or less, all knowing just the same. In any case, we recommend one where at least you will have the assurance that you can eat:

Grill Restaurant at Rua Minas Raimundo Corréa 34-A, one of the intersecting streets linking Copacabana with  Rua Barata Ribeiro.

 

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Alexine or Le Grenier à Pain, rue Abbesses

Arnaud Delmontel, rue des Martyrs 39

Each year the council makes a contest awarded € 4,000 to see that boulangerie makes the best baguette in Paris. Impossible to pick a winner but a district: Montmartre. Or even a street, the rue des Abbesses. Here you will find several of which have appeared in the top ten several times in recent years: Le Grenier à Pain or Alexine.

Or the Coquelicot, at number 24. Below you will see people queue to be the baguette.Y if you want to sit a while or even breakfast, they have tables inside, and if you see full do not worry because on the top floor have more.

There is a breakfast to remember the rest of your life, but the place is very cute and if you like coffee in commercial quantities here ye will not thirsty. Pray Energie formula, coffee, chocolate or tea, with half baguette and butter and jam spreads (5.5 €). Or you can try the pie of the house, the tranche de grand-mère brioche (brioche slice of Grandma’s), the same formula as before but is called Petit dej’Vitalité (€ 4.80). You will return to feel like a children drinking coffee from a bole so great that you will be as if you were small.

Also close to the rue des Abbesses, down the Rue des Martyrs have La Flute de Pain, the “flute earn” their specialty worth trying to have a different flavor twist. But without doubt, the best is to Demontel, Martyrs in the same street but a little below. Their baguette and croissants are the best of all Paris, but that we tell you in another post.

For if when you desire to put you tighten a baguette under his arm, Montmartre you far away, in the middle above Les Halles, curiously Montmartre street have the boulangerie Regis. Winners of a lot of awards for best baguette, make this clear teaching all his glasses. Or on rue des Petits Carreaux, the continuation of the rue Montorgueil, near the top of all you have the craft Eric Kayser boulangerie, where it is normal to queue to get on the road to take a baguette under his arm (the original is in the pastry 14 rue Monge in the Latin Quarter).

In any case, the truth is that almost all the baguettes are boulangeries death. Remember, only order the “traditional”, which is the best.

If you want to see the ranking of the best baguettes in recent years, here‘s all the information on the “Grand Prix de la Baguette de Tradition Française de la Ville de Paris”.

And if you want to see the best baguettes according to Le Figaro here’s your ranking and score criteria.

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Bla Dorren in Sodermalmstorg 6

Strömming 134 kr (hearings sardine-anchovy species-fried)
Pytt I Panna 132 kr (very good this kind of ratatouille with fried egg but the Swedish, with meat)

For dinner in the Latin Quarter Swedish food, the Bla Dorren is one of the best options. While most are tourists but that happens in the best cities. Outside just gives you a bit of laziness because it’s a bit gray, but the food is quality and with some dish Pytt curious as i Panna (a kind of ratatouille to Swedish).

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Sometimes one comes to think that for Brazilians food is almost a nuisance. As they do not care too much. So the most popular restaurants are the “a kilo”, where they sell food by weight. The weight of the filled dish is the weight you pay. No matter if you it’s full of salad or meat. You can imagine, it’s not delicious but curious, yes it is. So try it at least one day!

For breakfast instead, it does take seriously the thing. Probably the “manhana coffee” will be the best you eat in Brazil. Warm cheese bread, fried banana, lots of different cakes, tapioca, any flavor that you choose, breads of various kinds, exotic fruit juices, jams and fruit to give up and deal. Test everything, especially the cakes and cupcakes, but possibly the best, and it says that the fruit one supremely bored him, is the pineapple. Sweet, delicious, soft, tasty.

Tapioca, however, is a bad copy between French crepes and burritos. When well mixed, comes to seem a good bread but it is no big deal. The bad, however, seem to have stones embedded. You can choose the filling, sweet or savory. The most typical of frango the (chicken) or presumed  queijo (ham and cheese), like a sandwich joint or bikini. Actually, the “misto quente” made with bread is the most typical Brazilian snack.

12 10 15 Praia do Forte 257The you come with a list of dishes to try I have been told that the first is the feijoada. They have their roots in the days of slaves when Sunday leftovers gave them what they ate the masters “whitey”. As did not allow for much had to add beans and whatever so I had something of substance. That sounds bad but it’s not that I know much better. Now you sell like a seafood paella price. Come on, that the best advice I can give is to cross it off the list directly without testing …

What we can not fail to try is the Peixe, the camarao, the lagosta or aratu (Hamburgers, Hot shrimp, lobster or crab meat). If you like “Refeições” or “grass especiais” always accompanying beans, rice and salad. If you like “tira-gosto” or “petiscos” comes with a lettuce leaf under his arm. It can be grilled, fried or soaked with moqueca. The moqueca is a sauce of onion, tomato and cilantro (watch because many Westerners cilanto gives them creepy!). Our favorite moqueca or fried (in many places, “fried” is rather passed through the plate with a lot of oil but in some it is like “breaded.” Both are very tasty!). In the coastal sites also tend to have “dust” (octopus) or “lula” (squid), delicious both!

As for meat, the most typical dishes are the frango (chicken), the picanha (a kind of steak but only worth asking really good sites) and carne do sol (sliced ​​steak grilled with onions and sometimes pieces tomato, spectacular if the meat is good. Brazilians are like “a cabalho”, on horseback, with a fried egg on top). They also have beef jerky but it is very tasty …

Apart from all this, one of the establishments is the typical Brazilian “Rodizio”, a kind of self-service or free bufette often combined with table service (the waiters are passing with various dishes and you are going to serve what You Like It!). That is, for a fixed price you can eat whatever you want.

12 11 01 Río de Janeiro 012In Brazil it is customary for the main dishes are always for two. So do not be alarmed with the price! But neither ask cortéis in for one. I will leave it without problems and in many places overcharge just half (in a few, a little more …)

As for the price, it is not as expensive as in Europe but it is a bargain. Also, remember that you must always add 10% for service. It’s not mandatory … but as if it were. Care not pay back twice because it always appears in the account!

Now, even more deserted beach, you can pay with cash card but always carry case. When paying with the “cartao” I wonder if credit or debit card. If you pay with European cards will always be with credit (Recollect that now with American Express, if payment is in abroad, you charge a% exaggeration!)

The best website to find restaurants in Brazil is www.viajeaqui.com.br Quatro Rodas Guide.

Brasil Río de Janeiro

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Tallin Kompressor
Rataskaevu 3

We said in another post that within the walls of Tallinn just discovered two local sites. Pizza Grande was one and Kompressor is the other. Between the two, we were definitely this. You will have really the feeling of being in a Soviet coffee. To us somewhere certainly reminded us of Havana. But they do pancakes are rich. Try the of smoked ham or bacon with melted cheese on top, very, very tasty for the couple of euros will cost you!

restaurant kompressor tallin

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Domini Canes
Skarnu iela 18

When we did the trip around the world, we recognize that in some places almost took Tripadvisor as our bible. But then had not yet reached a million users (or is 100 million?) And the system was not prostituted. Now we have a much larger list in which, depending on the profile of the site, we will checking and expanding. Besides asking clear, walk, ask, walk and when we see an option that looks good, pin the nose on the plates of those who have already chopped. And if convinces us we sat. And when it comes the waiter if we liked the letter and the environment, started asking. And if not, get up and go, that the customer is always right. And if we like, we extend the order. And if the thing ends well, started writing.

You were saying that TripAdvisor is prostituted by some and by others (there are many customers who threaten to bad reviews to get up a discount or something for free), but still valid, not to look at the ranking but to read between the lines. But, of course, by doing so we can not see the stars of the place and certainly it is Domini. After testing it is clear why. Well, nice and cheap, but perhaps in reverse order giving the level in all three. Do not miss the chicken stuffed with cheese (4.96 lats), the steak is good but almost double the price of chicken (9.80 LVL) and Seize for a wine because the price is right (eg pink Marques de Riscal 15 lats).

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You will find them all in the Alameda du Sol, the street that runs through the village from the entrance to the beach. For a change, as in all Brazilian resort towns, the most abundant pizzerias (the two best Pizza alla Pazza alla the small and quiet, and the Siete Pizzas with wood oven, but if you are on the other side of the Alameda and no longer have the desire again pizzeria also Passione, a little light off but with a good oven too), but there are some local food worth. The everyone will point as the best fish and seafood restaurant in Praia do Forte, the Sabor da Vila, good but too expensive to be Brazil.

Praia do Forte pazza

But if what you want is to sit surrounded by locals in the bar more acclimated around Praia do Forte, go to the street within the Alameda da Lua, which runs parallel to the Alameda do Sol and seek the Lanchonette Calma. Most of you will think it is not worth it, that’s already passed from authentic, but the truth is that you will see no guiris not one around …

Next door, in the Plaza de la Música, you have two good choices if you do not have too hungry: the pancake of the people and the deli.

The creperie called Totonho and has more than 40 combinations from R $ 14 to R $ 224. It’s the end of the square. The sandwich Exkinao do Lanche, however, is on the corner of Alameda do Sol and 12-14 R $ you can take all kinds of snacks. Do not expect anything special but to eat fast is a good choice.

What you can not do is stop the job tapiocas test center. Right in the middle of Alameda do Sol you will see the Casa de Farinha. Do not miss it because you always have a tail on the street. Not that they are the best tapioca from Brazil, but is a famous site that any Brazilian will tell you to try when you may tell that you are going to Praia do Forte. The ye have salty or sweet, to taste. Our favorite as “twelve” the banana, sugar and cinnamon, and “Salgadas” of frango with queijo (chicken with cheese). A 4, 5 or 6 R according to ask whether one, two or three ingredients.

If you fancy a sweet tapioca dessert, but you dare with something new, a little higher, up the Mall to the right you will see the Açaí. A kind of ice cream with terrace and posters too modern but where you can try the açai with banana tigela (360ml 8 R $). Do what we tell you. For a euro and a half if you do not like nothing happens!
praia do forte açai

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Toresus in Uzupio street, 40

9 lits wine glass

Tores Restaurant, Uzupis 40, Republic of Uzupis to be exact. So reads the poster there just before crossing the river that separates this curious republic within a republic. His own constitution, its own laws and their own leaders. At this rate at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro the parade of athletes will run all weekend and how you do it in his famous Sambadrome and not tell you!

Returning to Tores, up the main street of this curious neighborhood, more for its history than anything else, you will come to this restaurant on your left. Although the wooden entrance you a little lazy, so that nothing happens inside. Sit in one of the tables on the terrace overlooking the park and although it is the view of the entire city, it’s worth a beer or glass of wine. When you bring the letter of the food, look at it with eyes of connoisseurs and give it back the way it came. Here local forest wanting to breathe quietly up for a drink, the food left for unsuspecting tourists, so the waitress will look at you with a face ready to be the class. And not suffer if it seems that going to bite you, do the same but I dejarais 100 pichingueiros of yours!

In any case, if you get tired of waiting for the waitress, which can happen, and you have rested enough, go down the same street where little went up into and right hand grab a small alley that would fear the worst villain of the Model and hurl you down. Reach the edge of the river where city kids get wet feet while his throat lubricated with beer. The funny thing is that the lower river clean and nice and almost makes you want to join them. Following the only way you will reach the first bridge and before crossing the same border will get to the second bridge, the start of Uzupis Street where you will see the bar of the same name with a terrace that runs the air if it is nice to have a beer. For lunch I recommend other sites, although occasional local’ll see sitting there …

Vilnius Tores restaurant Uzupis

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Tutti Sensi on rue Norvins 14

If after seeing the Sacre-Coeur are in the main square charismatic throughout Paris, Place du Tertre, looking for the famous painters and artists among hordes of tourists and hunger squeezes you, do not fall into the trap of sit on the terraces in the around. As much get off the corner of the right to the lookout and there you have a corner with a bit of charm at least.

And if not, the best is the Tutti Sensi on rue Norvins 14, just behind Sacre Coeur before reaching the Place du Tertre. Do not miss it. You will see a line of people waiting for some of his famous Italian salsicha sandwiches, actually a sausage as Madna god. For € 7 eat two of a sandwich.

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Avenida Paulista Pizzeria, Rua Emiliano Perneta 680

Fetuccini ao funghi 46 R$ (17 €)
Big pizza 59,80 R$ (24 €)
½ rose wine de la casa 35 R$ (14 €)

More elegant than Bresser Mercearia but not as cozy, pizzeria Avenida Paulista is one of the hot spots in Curitiba. The impeccable service, while you sit in a restaurant of 5 forks. Do not forget to try some pasta because the sauces are delicious (especially the Fettuccine Funghi year), that it is impossible to be al dente, either here or in Brazil.

Meanwhile pizza taste will be spoiled for choice but we recommend the Margarita DOC, simple but tasty.

The good thing, comparing with the pizzeria Bresser, is that if you are in a hotel in the middle, you can walk without taking a taxi.

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Restaurant Bridge, c / Sint Baafsplein 21, Ghent

In Ghent options abound for lunch, dinner or just a beer. But if you are in the middle, no bones about it. The Bridge Restaurant with its terrace is a highly recommended site. To take a break with a beer in hand, or to try a dish of their own. They are scrumptious deli but not every day is jauja. The typical Stoverij (16 €) for two will kill hunger, a kind of beef stew in beer sauce that though they may be a bit strong at first, almost like wild game, at the end you’ll end up dipping bread. O chips which will bring you apart. The salads and pastas are worth 10 to 12 € and 14 meat dishes up.

It’s right next to the Cathedral. You see one stuck three restaurants side by side, the Bridge is just the middle.

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The caravan of Jorge Lanches, at Largo da Pedreira, between Rua da Lapa and Avenida Roberto da Silveira

Basic Burger 3.50 R $ (1.4 €)
Complete burger with bacon, egg and lettuce 6.50 R $ (€ 3)

Right where begins the pedestrian Rua da Lapa is a square (Largo da Pedreira) where you will find both the typical stalls of cakes and sweets as snacks and sandwiches. At the price of 2 € per burger nobody can put your hand in the fire the next day do not go to the bathroom more than usual, but we were seated right. At least those of Jorge Lanches caravan, hidden in the corner but looking better burgers and the best smell around Paraty.

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Asylet Kafe street Gronland 28, Oslo
Kjottkaker 149 kr
Lakseburger 159 kr

Although I give a little scary to walk across the street, is worth it. Enter the Oslo Oslo. Not that I can pass anything, but when you begin to walk the street you will stop seeing the targets appear all Norwegians and immigrants of all colors. The best thing is to get the public bicycle to the nearest stop (in the Way Away planner will explain how to do it) and then keep walking. That said, assured that nothing happens, but not be surprised. You will arrive to a couple of restaurants that are usually full of locals. The two are to the left of the street and the two have a nice sunroom. Our favorite is the Kafe Asylet, former orphanage, prison, hospital and a few other things. The tables and benches inside the restaurant are beautiful, and these huge fireplace is to die with envy

You must order and pay at the bar, and what you bring to the table. We recommend the salmon burger and, why not, try one of their dishes, the Kjottkaker, a kind of meatballs in sauce. My grandmother’s were better … but my grandmother was much Grandma!

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Just to see them again and again down the street will have wanted to try. Go on! They aren’t the best in the world, but if you speak with someone in Copenhagen will tell you that eat them is a tradition. And one tourist when going out into the world, he wants to test the traditions of others. Even if we finally prefer ours!

Hot dog in Copenhague

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L’estaminet, rue de Bretagne 39 (in the Marche des enfants rouge)

No city in the world that boasts where fashion is not brunch. To see when the appetizer arrived in Barcelona, the afterwork ideal for those not wanting to get home and not having a cat or who cherish. For now we have to settle with streets such as Carrer Parlament and have brunch only sites. Paris is no exception and everywhere you look you will see posters with a “formula brunch”. If you will not itch and go somewhere authentic brunch, L’Estaminet is your place, within their own Le marche des enfants rouge, the red children’s market, named for the former orphanage that was next to where the uniform children was red.

L’estaminet is a nice corner with tables of colors recalling the food-market of London. Until 12pm you can take a petit déjeuner by € 8.50, coffee and apple juice over medium croissant and baguette to eat with butter and jam lovely. And from then on the weekends you have the traditional brunch for 20 € (with sausages) and fish for 22 € (with salmon and herring), pick to taste but I recommend the second!

If you search online where to have brunch in Paris is easy it comes out an article in El Pais talking Catz on rue Rodier 57. So successful are having to only open from 11.00 to 15.00 h. Yes, the weekends are stretched to 17.00 h. However, we recommend it. For € 26 per head one expects much more, especially to go out in the Country … The bakery is fantastic and also orange juice, though fair it can not be repeated. The rest, as much buffet “to Volunte” it is, is worth little. Apart from the small “chocolate” in the form of heart, the rest of cakes are nothing special and, instead, not a single sausage or cheese.

What’s more, the coffee not worth anything, something that is rare in Paris but if you expect to spend two hours eating breakfast seems like it should be the minimum.

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Akki Sushi in Folkungagatan 45

Bitar Geisha 6 (6 pieces) 75 kr / 9 €

It will cost you and when you do find it you will wonder why you have made to come here? Well, for a sushi eating flawless. The problem is that on the site there are only two stools. Here everyone comes to take him and no wonder because it is delicious. And although are expensive beasts, as they attend to put a daisy in each dish.

Perhaps better if you do not come, even if you are a sushi-lovers like us … Only if you have uploaded all the walk from the river and hunger have anything worth stopping.

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Claudino Rua dos Santos

From the Bar do Alemao to any deck that you may find in the Rua dos Santos Claudino. This is the most lively Rua Curitiba all night. And on top in the center. Perfect if you sleep around here, and if not well because right in front of the cathedral have a taxi stand.

Our favorite of Holmes’ Pub on the corner, but the beers are just as cold in every bar!

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Kolkovna in V Kolkovne 8 (the square with the street Dusní)

Prague is the city of beer and micro-brewerys (breweries that produce their own beer). The most famous of the local people are far from the center, such as the U Veverky where you can test your Svickova typical, but it does not take too long to get there because, as many have made it their business, in the middle there are also good choices.

In all the guides it will leave the U Fleků, the most famous of his street brewerys Kremencova 1651-1611. If you love dark beer, specialty, surely you will have curiosity to go. But if not, or what you think. Not only is through streets that have no interest but no longer a “tourist trap” first. If even so you are curious, watch the shots (the house never invited to anything …) and with the caps (assail a beer, make your photo wisely to get away long tables and elsewhere!).

Although much less famous than the U Fleků, I also counted from Lokals breweries. Neither case, however much they are of a famous local businessman, are more a production line not a nice place to take a “pivo” cold. In contrast, embroider it Kolkovna chain. Besides the Czechs always dishes (goulash and other things), have some chicken wings of death (CZK 179-7 €). Or the steak tartar. It is true that beer is not his, but who cares if it is cold! In addition, its original site, the Kolkovne street has a row of tables on the terrace especially nice. Right next to the center, seems to be a stronghold without noise, no tourists crawling.

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San Sebastian has beautiful museums, informational and entertaining

San Sebastian´s museums have a lot of variety and many of them simply cannot be left out of any tourist´s “What-to-see-in-San-Sebastian” guides. Some of such museums that www.sansebastian.co.uk travel guide recommends are:

Eureka Museum of Science

Eureka is a formidable place for tourists from all ages to get a pleasant and more real approach to science. Kids can get to actually see with their own eyes what they are studying at school and science books.

This museum is interactive, which makes learning even easier while having lots of fun, despite if you are a kid or a grown-up.

San Telmo Museum

At the end of the 19th century, San Sebastian held numerous expositions which captivated the audience over and over again. The whole event was considered a huge an utter success, and so the idea of building the San Telmo Museum was born. Everything was set to go, except from enough money to build a competitive museum. Amazingly, it was San Sebastian´s own people who started to donate several objects worthy of being exhibited in the museum. Finally in October 1902, the museum was officially inaugurated.

San Sebastian´s magnificent Aquarium

Simply the oldest museum dedicated to natural science in the whole Spanish country. Ever since its foundation, this incredible aquarium has served as a beacon of information and recreation as it has always been a personal mission to create conscience about the preservation of wildlife and ecosystems.

Nearly 12 million people have enjoyed one of the best attractions ever, which is a 1 million 8 hundred thousand liters tank full of submarine species, including sharks. What makes this huge tank so special is the fact that it is cut in the middle and a tunnel was built to run all through the tank. As the tunnel is transparent, all the fish can be watched swimming above us.

Donosti La Concha El peine de los vientos

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Anna Blume (Kollwitzstraβe 83 Sredzkistraβe corner)

After Japanese food, now it’s the turn of the brunch as “food event” fashion. Wherever you go to any world capital, can be found somewhere great for brunch. And it does not do that in all the famous eggs benedictine New York.

Berlin is no exception. In fact Kollwitzstraβe across the street, in the trendy Prenzlauer Berg as is, you can find plenty of sites. Our favorite for Sunday is Anna Blume, cafe and flower shop all in one. You can taste delicious butter croissants, pancakes or pies spectacular, but if you go hungry, do not miss the “Special for Two”, a tray of three floors with bread, sausage, cheese, fruit … It costs € 18 but it sure shall not go hungry! They have tables both inside and out and is normal to have to wait a while to feel you, as it is usually very busy!

To go off at the metro stop Senefelderplatz (U2) and walk north on Kollwitzstraβe, will arrive in 10 minutes.

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You may have heard of Ferran Adrià, Spain’s most famous celebrity chef who has been accumulating so much kudos in the last number of years that the French became worried that Spain was stealing their culinary limelight. Ferran Adrià became famous for molecular gastronomy, the products of which he sold at his now shutdown restaurant, El Bulli. Just after closing due to the cost of keeping up such intricate chemistry-based cooking, Ferran and his brother Albert Adrià ,set up the modern tapas bar Tickets in the Eixample neighbourhood.  Albert Adrià, now head chef, offers a 33 course tasting menu of traditional tapas with a modern twist. The interior is designed in a playful, carnival type style featuring ice-cream carts and candy floss machines. This is a great place for a taste of some unpretentious haute cuisine with a traditional Catalan twist.

Tickets

Can Mano is a typical Barcelona style tapas bar that has been a long time favourite with locals for years and now draws in large crowds at peak times, particularly for lunch. If you arrive there at lunch time or at the later 8pm opening you could be waiting up to half an hour for a table. However, it is well worth the wait for some of the freshest and most authentic Catalan tapas in Barcelona. You can wait outside with a drink in hand and soak up the atmosphere and your name will be called when a table becomes available. The bar’s specialty is sea food freshly caught by local fisherman and you can eat really well here for very cheap.

O’Toxo Tres Hermanos is another highly popular tapas bar with a similar local feel but perhaps a little more up market, but only a little! It is still very reasonably priced and serves really good quality tapas. It’s a great place for big groups as well as couples, but can be quite loud and lively if you’re looking for intimacy. It’s located right in the heart of the Raval neighbourhood and like Can Mano, be prepared for a wait if arrive there at peak time. However, there is a bar inside where you can have a drink and wait and it shouldn’t be more than half an hour. The staff are super friendly and efficient as well.

Restaurante Puerto Plata: No matter where in the country you go, holidays in Spain will inevitably feature a large amount of tapas eating. If one night you get tapas overloud and fancy something a bit different to traditional Catalan then you could try Puerto Plata just off Via Laietana near the Jaume 1 metro stop. It’s a little hidden away Dominican-run food restaurant serving the best Caribbean/Dominican fusion food in Barcelona. The atmosphere here is always great, with random salsa dancing and impromptu drag acts performed by the restaurant owner. They cater for big groups too, in this way you can pay a fixed price per head to get plate after plate of delicious Caribbean dishes and glasses of various types of Caribbean rum.

 

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If it’s not easy to find a good restaurant in Brazil, still less in Morro de Sao Paulo where only tourists eat, as they come and go, nobody cares about leave them satisfied. Most restaurants will find them in the town, for a change back to the sea, very typical of Brazilians. I guess between who are tired of seeing the ocean and the wind atlantic nautical terraces end up being a pain, have good reasons to spend the typical “water-front”. But for a tourist no longer a shame …

At least in Morro de Sao Paulo can go to the second Praia (at first there is nothing), where you have a collection of sites and pousadas. Although these are more true to have a caipirinha after the evening bath not for dinner. In any case, for us is the worst part of the island, sometimes almost with a hint Lloret (Brazilian forgive me …), if not for the right hand islet that gives an exotic touch. In the third praia are a couple of good options, as the cabin or restaurant Canoe St. Lucia, although sup with season alone … And in the fourth praia for dinner and do not count with any site. Between that can catch the high tide and that is a bit far to walk without light, no one comes even cooks the barracks or pousadas …

We will recommend our favorite places to Morro de Bahía soon!

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The best place to dine in La Graciosa is on your own terrace. The restaurants are not bad, but the truth, for what is, better the comfort of being in your own home, with your glass of wine and dinner at your leisure. So, if you go more than a day, when thou shalt not lack seek to sleep until you find an apartment with terrace. And do not worry about the view, certainly have. Everywhere you look here for there are always sea.

To purchase, but here year to year things can change, you have two supermarkets, a butcher, a fishmonger, a greengrocer and bakery. The best supermarket (open from 8.00 to 21.00, every day) is the DOE, in Church Street (c / Garcia Escámez) twenty feet beyond its only competitor, the super Margarona (less range, more left ). The carnage you have it in the direction parallel street “channel” (sea passage between Lanzarote and La Graciosa). Cheap, good and super nice the owner. Watch the fish because the only time tomorrow (8 to 13:00). It’s down the little walk from the port (Avenida Virgen del Mar), past the taxi stand on the street that is on the left. There, before reaching the House Chano right you will see a couple of doors storage. The right curtain of chains is the fish. Do not expect a large assortment because here’s what they catch. Best when bocinegro, that something is the most expensive of all fish (10.50 € / kg). Sometimes they have donkey (black fish and a little more palatable to 7 € / kg) and some other local fish. The rest, squid and company, all frozen but not hide. Well, actually yes because they have it in the back but make it clear if it comes from Africa or wherever.

In any case, the most difficult is to find wine from Lanzarote. Bermejo, Princess Yaiza, Stratus, or any of these are volcanic malvasías death (careful, always ask to dry or semi-dry and fruity with a point but flee or semisweet candy!). Neither the port souvenir shop, or in any of the two supermarkets usually have. So if you are lucky to keep an eye on any of them, bring you bottles for the whole week! Our last great discovery was the mantle of volcanic Malvasi, the winery La Geria, a little more than 8 € the bottle in the Super Series.

Although for fruit and vegetables have the grocery next to the restaurant Henrietta, if you are going to the Super Series will do you need to go through here. It’s the same at the same price.

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Kohvik Moon

Vorgu 3

This really is a local site for locals. Outside the tourist circuits, with a sign trying to draw attention but until you go in and arrive at the end, not understand why we recommend it. A very nice sunroom, charming waiters and food very acceptable for Tallinn.

I will pass around to visit the neighborhood of wooden houses, if you you come to the Museum of Seaplanes and KGB prison (cycling is a very curious and walk around someone long you can do but if I do not press the sun as we recommend).

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Must do in Riga, it is worth the ride inside and out. And if it’s time for breakfast or squeeze the hungry, do not fail to try the donuts stop you will find in the first hangar zeppellins right (this was the previous use of the pavilions that are now the market). 0.1 lats on a unit (just 15 cents) will go to them taking a taste and you’ll end up bringing you a bag!

That’s the pastry and others. You will see that the “pica”, a kind of mini-pizza abounds but, although it is cheap (0.35 in most stops to 0.60 lats in the most famous), looks better than taste …

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If you have come to the Chapada Diamantina in line bus you will have taken the Real Express. Both the outward and the return will stop at the same place, a roadside bar next to a gas station about an hour and a half or two of Lençóis. The sandwiches are pretty bad, but they put the boots to sell “misto caentes” (bikinis or mixed sandwich) and burgers. If you’re hungry, go ahead, do not die and even after how low expectations we have put even some, albeit to be contrary, will like (3.5 to 4.5 R $). But I do recommend you take its orange juice (3 R $), made at the time and I shaked with ice!

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We Felteu, rue Pecquay 15

Don’t panic by motards adhesives it has in the door. If you want to dine at a French restaurant, surrounded by French, but going from the nouvelle cuisine and eating really well, open the wooden door and smell. This is your place.

You can chop poached eggs, warm salad of goat cheese or pate de campagne. A 10 € the plate more or less. But what good will come of a second. Entrecote Poelée for € 22.30 (one made ​​with enough oil entrecotte almost fried, and delicious as scrumptious) or traditional duck magret € 17.50 if you want a more traditional flavor, but if you like the viscera take the “fricassee of rognos de veau”. The meats are accompanied by vegetables and a potato gratin source, so unless ye hungry, with a single dish will have more than enough!

Better if you dip bread because like almost all decent places of Paris, is amazing! Just don’t expect also be nice, that would be asking too much. While here, rather than unfriendly, they are different …

To drink, wine of the week it will leave the house for 13 € a pint. Not a burgundy but I struggle to find a decent wine at this price in all of Paris.

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Vasaros Projektai (Vasara terrace) in Gedimino pr. 9

Special Mojito 27 lit
Macaroni 15.90 lit
Pork with pepper crust 18.90
lit

A thousand times I’ve read “trendy place” in many guides. I am sure, I bet my passport that people have copied to others and this makes what once was fashionable when it reaches the hands of a traveler is deader than mussels that we gobbled yesterday. Indeed, the very founder of Lonelyplanet explains in his biography that in a map of one of his guides made a mistake and over 15 years later found that all other companies guides contain the same fault!

So we say today’s date: August 24, 2012. Terrace Vasara, just above Gedimino prospektas (avenue in Lithuanian), halfway between the Cathedral and Vilniaus gatvé (street). 21.30 h, filled to the brim. 85% local, 15% of tourists. Two Porsche, two Mercedes and an Audi parked down the street. The splendid terrace is as high above the stairs that double cascade.

We predict that 2015 will go down in atmosphere but looks like it stay forever as a good place in the city. And after tasting the food and its mega-mojitos. Pork fillet with black pepper crust and homemade potato chips, scrumptious. And it was still better pasta with chicken (chicken always here you will see written in English and farda more, really. Especially because in the Baltic seems to have it a little better regarded than further south. You will see that there is no letter that price has not his, even in more than one case is the signature dish).

Gedimino is the best street in the entire city well worth a walk from one end to the other. There is almost pedestrian and have our Smart Option Hotel. Right at the beginning of the Old Town and just a few meters from the trolley stop 2 which comes straight from the bus station (if you come from Riga) and two blocks from bus 2 that brings you to the airport. More not ask!

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Saturn, Eriksbergsgatan 6

In Stockholm cafes all you can taste is the famous Kanelbulle as long as they still have one … (no wonder after an hour they are finished). And the truth is, more or less, everywhere is fine! Only sometimes (very few …) in ordinary cafes give you the one made the day before. And yes it looks like…

In any case, if you just love the Kanelbulle invention (you will not be the first …) and want to know which site to try the “best”, do not fail to go to Saturn. It is a little ways away from the center but will be just a couple or three streets. In all rankings that make the Saturn Swedes themselves always comes first. The funny thing is that very few guides (almost none actually …) include it. Never ceases to amaze how others make guides…

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The Jamiro in Rua da Baderna, n. 60

A couple of blocks from the center of town, up on one side or the other, will reach the Rua da Baderna. For all these streets have restaurants to give and take, most very cute, as you can find in cities like Antigua, Cuzco or Kathmandu. It seems that all these sites have in common. Tourist towns or cities that are empty during the day because people only sleep there as toll for hiking, trekking or see the monuments around. So, at night have had to reinvent and have chosen to do it all well. And this also costs choose. In other posts I discussed Lençóis other restaurants but our favorite is definitely The Jamiro.

When you get to the Chapada Diamantina, and usually takes a few days for Brazil. And, if not, you’ll end up going because it is the main destination of this wonderful country, so if you are here is because sooner or later you will have also gone to Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Jericoara, Fernando de Noronha, Morro Bay , Pipa, Amazon or Maranheses Lençóis. So you will be sick or have gone the typical dishes being accompanied by beans, white rice and salad. If you want to change or vary the Jamiro in Lençóis is a good place and time to do so. They take about Argentine kids and although the cooks are from here, the taste is still there. Pray for the graellada of meat (beef special mix) for 60 R $ for two. Beef, pork, chicken and sausage made ​​chimichurri sauce and served in the same pan where you cook so you can end up with the last drop of salsita. Accompanied by a first sweet potato fries, rice and scented only would a plate and possibly what stays shorter, a plate of salad with no mystery.

Although desiertan of recommending themselves, the Brazilian merlot served by the glass has a fruity point you will like. And if not, your fridge Heineken is to serve the coldest beer in Chapada. Argentine and Chilean wines that have them, and good, they will price some thinking that we are in the middle of a big city.

For dessert I insist for you to try their special chocolate brownie with sorbet made ​​with local fruit. The look is amazing but let’s be honest, it’s nothing fancy. And 13 R $, better go away to one of the two places to finish off the evening with a caipirinha!

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Bakeri in Parkveien Apent No. 27, Oslo

Baguette Gratin 73 kr
Bacon Egg og 89 kr

Of those sites that when you find it before you sit down and you’re happy. Full of local people, nice light, glass windows everywhere, semi open kitchen, cooking odor and great dishes.

Do not forget to try the eggs with bacon and beans. I know it’s a typical English breakfast and right now sitting in front of a computer does not crave a lot … But after having given a bike ride in Oslo (in the Way Away planner will explain how to rent public bicycles and what route do ), sure some of you will be cold draft in the body and I come to wonder!

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Terraijse, Genthof street, Bruges

Out of all the hubbub of foreigners, next to one of the channels, with a simple but nice terrace, overlooking the river and surrounded by worthwhile streets, or that it’s for a moment what it must be Bruges before tourists smash it, find the restaurant Terraijse.

With more than 45 different beers for choosing not be. While dining, we recommend one of their dishes: the Waterzool. A sort of soup with cream base that can be with chicken or fish. I know that sounds horrible and man is the best Iberian ham but atreveros more than one dip bread. I will go for 16 € (if there are two ask you just one dish, cutting more and more that you will have leftovers). And if not, have it all: lasagna with meat or fish, shrimp croquettes, omelets, …

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Coffee Lovers in Kaprova 9

As if your hotel does not include breakfast, the Coffee Lovers is a great place to stop for a cappuccino (in Prague always do very little milk and coffee, warning sailors) and one of its hot panninis. More if you can sit outside on their deck. It is also just two blocks from the Old Town Square, but as is to the Jewish quarter here the streets are much quieter. Recommended the chicken, roast beef and mozzarella with pesto. Even the spicy salami. Come on, any of them will leave you dissappointed. So much so that even the waitresses do not seem so unfriendly and often throughout Prague. Although they are, and that they do not have to come to take note because you have to ask in the box. But Prague is Prague and no self-respecting guide not make it clear that here, as much as you always remember that the tip is not included, few earn it with a smile.

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Barraca do Socorro on Rua Principal

At the end of Main Street coming to the praia, find all the huts where you can find caipirinhas and other mixtures. Depending on the seasons of 6-10 carts and counting ….

The price is the same in all. Depending on the type of alcohol and fruit, will set you back from 3-6 R $ (1.2 to 2.4 €). The most typical of Jericoacoara is the passionfruit caipirinha but today everyone asks all (tangerine, pineapple, also caipiroska, …), so yourselves what you like more.

In Noite Sorriso, looking at the right praia almost coming to an end are good but still better in the Barraca do Socorro (at the beginning, right hand down) our favorite!

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Di-Wine, right in front of St. Stephen’s Basilica (Szt Istyán bazilika)

In another post we told you that the people of Budapest like buns and cakes candy more than a child. But one thing I still like more: the party. And it will give the wine and beer they can. Budapest is like a big bottle, wherever you go, in all places, parks, gardens, etc. people find giving the bottle, all colors and all flavors. The most massive beer-park you will find it in the place of Daek. But more in, especially among tourists, is chargeable. The Di-Wine, right in front of St. Stephen’s Basilica (Szt Istyán bazilika), near Deák tér, is a cocktail bar where people takes glasses and drink them in front of the fountain.

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The Farm, Rua Claudino dos Santos, Curitiba

Strogonoff de Mignon 29,50 R$ (12 €)
Petisco The Farm 52,50 R$ (17 €)

With all well placed restaurants in Curitiba, one ends up wanting to just sit on a terrace to enjoy a cold beer. If you ask the better, you may tell the German Tavern, behind the cathedral. Do not even think, unless you want to get drunk before drinking. Just the smell of the wet wood with alcohol can destroy you…

Instead, a little above the street on the right, find an elevated terrace. This is “the place to be”. This rua is the liveliest of all Curitiba and that’s saying a lot, but in The Farm you can drink and eat taste even better. If you are a number, do not miss the “petisco The Farm”, a dish to nibble and share with beef, ribs, etc … and chips. And if you want something more, the mignon stroganoff is to drink the sauce!

To drink, if you will last night, ask for a bucket of beers. So now you will be a real curitibenses!

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Aux pipalottes gourmandes, 49 Rue de Rochechouart

A special place that few you will boldly enter. Looks more like a doll shop not a restaurant. His specialty covers Norman. The all you will see in the window. Try the combination Je ne mange du poisson from 16.50 €, fish stuff like octopus, anchovies and others. But if you have a little more hungry from 15.50 € have daily specials, the penis with pine nuts, risotto or vegetable lasagna or moussaka.

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Curry 36 (Mehringdamm 36).

They claim to be the inventors of the famous Currywurst sausage! For two people can order a combo with 2 sausages and chips (4.30 €). As the place is usually pretty busy, it’s hard to find a place to eat sausage, and much more difficult to find somewhere to sit. If you are too tired, you can sit on one of the terraces of the restaurants next door. They do not care that there not Eat Sausage Curry 36, if you take one of their beers!

The currywurst is an invention of those who when you see it and try it promise yourself you do at home every week. Sausage with curry sauce, even I do not like the curry I lick my fingers!

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Amarraçao Lanches in Praça Lopes Trováo

Hamburger with cheese and mayonnaise Gipóia R $ 4.20 (€ 2)

We have not been enough days in Angra dos Reis to tell you what your best restaurant. Not that you’ll need because we recommend not to stay any night here. From step to Ilha Grande in Brazil planner will explain the best way to get quick and cheap to Ilha Grande from Rio de Janeiro.

Yes, the same as the way there or back any time you stay in Angra dos Reis hung waiting for the bus. In that case, if you want to eat and you like sushi you can try the Japanese between the two ports: the catamaran and Santa Lucia. But if you want something faster, we recommend Amarracao burgers at Praça Lanches Trovao Lopes, almost touching the port of Angra dos Reis. Not the McDonalds, not even Bob’s, Brazilian chain fast-food hamburger, but are careful and can be eaten.

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La Tana, walk the harbor in Cabo de Palos

Caldron, at least two persons € 12.50 per person

“From sea grouper, and Mosqui the cauldron”.What a great advertising claim! Too bad the Mosqui not in front row with ocean views. So if you want to assail the best pot in Cartagena and surroundings, not what you think: go to Tana.

Like the Mosqui, the Tana is in the port of Cabo de Palos, at the beginning of the Manga and half hour drive from Cartagena. If you go early, you can take a walk. Head north to reach the lighthouse, south to pass in front of the houses of the harbor and dream of owning one.

The cauldron is the version of the paella here. Much stronger flavor, sweet and served is a kind of cauldron, taken with aioli (garlic is the local name) to lower it a bit. And while they serve with fish and boiled rice broth itself. Not that I have much flavor but the “meat” is juicy and goes well with rice. For snacks you can take the mussels first (half dozen € 4) which are large and tasty, or any typical fried fish.

All this accompanied by a chilled white wine, terrace with sea views and a sunny day, a little more than normal in Cabo de Palos, you will be in heaven.

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Chocolaterie Pierre in Tallinn

Vene street 6

Never quite understand how he could take from 1937 open if the photo they look to the entrance of the charming alley is 2000 and it seems that the place was then the backyard of a gulag and not a chocolate. But to sit in your cozy terrace you took away the urge to ask, and to try their hot-chocolate and did not want to know anything else (3,5 €). By God, how wonderful! But notice navigators, is one of those fluids (not runny), if anyone expected something thick it does not … But even then take it as if it were a cocoa beverage. What a pleasure, to repeat and to be so for a while longer resting on his terrace, which looks like the Harry Potter alley but good. I do not know if I can explain but when you enter you will understand …

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All along the coast of Paraty, Ilha Grande and around Rio de Janeiro, the French abound much more than in the rest of Brazil, both tourists and businessmen. Possibly so many restaurants in Paraty, very expensive and too luxurious. At least for us. That a small town like this has restaurants like Bistro Voila (road Paraty-Cunha km 4), the Caminho do Ouro (Pousada do Ouro, Rua Samuel Costa 236), Banana da Terra (Rua Samuel Costa 198) or the Refuge (just ahead port), where dishes can easily pass for 40 or 50 € not make any sense.

In any case, if you are of those of you who like to give you the pleasure of eating expensive and well when you are traveling you have come to the right place for you will be spoiled for choice! Obviously we have not tried them all but not anything for situation and environment we are left with the roof of the shelter and banana ravioli … but not stating that we recommend it! It seems a lot to spend so much money, when quality is not justified at least in the same proportion as prices rise.

So our favorites in Paraty are Divine Point, an Italian with the best pasta charming throughout Brazil, mainly because they are able to make it al dente, and the House Coupe, with fantastic burgers and full-blown Heinz sauce!

Three also have ice cream but no notable because their ice cream are wonderful, typical pastries and sweets carts street, a couple of places to take a sandwich or burger for 4 R $ (less than 2 € …) and some other bar caipirinha reduced to 7 R $ (in Paraty are standard 11 or 12 R $).

Besides, if you come by car and pass by Praia Grande there have the famous kiosk Sao Francisco to take Peixe.

Restaurants More recommended restaurants in Paraty

Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in Brazil

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René, “moulins avex frites” on a charming street of Vilnius

M. Antokolskio 13 gatvė, Vilnius

36 lit Moules Provençale

Yes, I know. It’s difficult to sitting in a Belgian restaurant, more so if you’re not in Belgium. But René worth. Terrace very nice at best crossing streets of Vilnius and mussels fantastic especially the provençal style but here each choose what you want to get scoops. Because the best are not the Baltic mussels abound that gives pleasure and somehow have to get rid of them, but the remaining sauce later. They only bring you a tablespoon, is nice. You will find it …

And the salmon was spectacular. Belén finally stole me the spoon, nothing more to say. The Smart Route you’ll see the prices and other but it was not expensive at all, especially because of how well we ate.

Restaurants More recommended restaurants in Vilnius

Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in Lithuania

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Sushi Leblon Rua Dias Ferreira 256, Leblon

Leblon is one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro, for living and dining. So it is not surprising that one of the best Japanese restaurants in the city is here. Just see it and you will realize that it will not be very cheap, but for a farewell dinner worth the trip! Nor are the world’s fastest restaurant, but if you are at the end of your trip to Brazil and you’ll notice that’s standard in the country … Do not forget to try the “special” tempura like camarao (R $ 40) or philadelphia. The dinner you may end up going for about 120 R $ (about 50 €).

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Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in Brazil

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Pizza 155 kr
Burger 165 kr

In the same port of Flam. Excellent Pizza, very special, as well as the site. A kind of upside-down Viking ship or go you know what it is, but even from the outside it looks like a walnut shell attracts not all, are within 80% of tourists Flam awake. Wooden furniture of special shapes, with benches and tables that will make you believe that you are in a mountain retreat. It is one of those discoveries that one wants to tell everyone.

Actually it is a “brewery” that produce their own beer and, incidentally, a wonderful cook. Pizza is a staple, and if you have more hunger, take the burger. To drink, the thing is easy: ask of wooden strip with a sample of each beer to five. From blonde to black through all the colors and flavors. We have our favorite but for taste there is nothing written and we will say what is yours!

Restaurants More recommended restaurants in Flåm

Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in Norway

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The second most recommended buggy tour from Jericoacoara is going north, past the lake Mar. seahorses Unless the commission Bugueiro want removed from another site, it’s likely to stop at the Laguinha do cake. The site is a breezy, with murky water, but you will be entertained watching those learning to kite-surf.

Here you can choose from three restaurants but we recommend the Barraca Tatajuba, cheap and good. You have no letter, directly will teach the Peixe. Normally fish and lobster camarao, everything to make grelhado with rice and some salad. I will say the price per piece or plate. The camarao and lobster dishes we recommend “negotiate” to take only half. You’ll have more than enough and will save you some real.

Restaurants More recommended restaurants in Jericoacoara

Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in Brazil

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Throughout Mariahilferstraße, a sort of Portal de l’Angel in Barcelona but in Vienna, find all the chains and franchises worldwide, global world. A little further up the alternative is Neubaugasse, at the height of the metro station of the same name. In addition, four or five blocks up come to a genuine site for the famous wien-schnitzel but that’ll tell you in another post.

Now we were about Mariahilferstrase. At number 45, you will see a small entrance like a cave. Meteros by this passage and go down watching the little shops and cafes a few find. Once across, a couple of streets and you will be at the famous Naschmarket. But that will also be discussed in another post.

Now Mariahilferstrase just wanted to tell you about. If you are in Vienna, it’s late and do not want to go to sleep, give you a walk through here. Not that they have bars and pubs, there are none. Not that late Habran stores that either (well, you have a small shopping center that is open until 24 but does not look too). It’s just that all day you will see people wandering up and down this street. Three franchises clothing and food. That is the extent, if within the shawerma include food, wurst kiosks and any Asian noodles with chopsticks and take out. Eating well does not eat, but go hungry either …

Restaurants More recommended restaurants in Vienna

Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in Austria

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Bar da Souza, within the grounds of the Tamar project in Alameda do Farol s / n (you can enter without paying admission to see turtles, sharks, rays and other fish, but really worth doing the tour the Tamar project !)

Bolinho de peixe 3 R $ the unit
Beer bottle 6 R $

Before no one dared to recommend the bars or cafes or similar museums. Then put both seemed exaggerated fashion. That said, of all the museums, tours and exhibitions you see in the world, bar with better views cansaríais you never look at, is the Tamar Project in Praia do Forte. The Souza has a terrace bar, just a couple of meters high above the beach, enough for the wind to run willingly and that the view of the sea and the harbor is spectacular.

Not doing much more to recommend it. The beer is cold, the service is fast and if you want a snack, you can try the boulinhas of Peixe. They are soft and I sit in wonder, especially because the accompanying environment.

Restaurants More recommended restaurants in Praia do Forte

Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in Brazil

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Hotel Amour, rue de Navarin 8

A fashion corner between Montmartre and the Opera

Three out of four Parisians and expats new ten will tell you that one of the trendiest restaurants in Paris is the Hotel Amour. Only so many flee thinking that the portfolio can withstand a good restaurant in Paris by the hair, but if above is fashionable can be a drain. Well, this time without a precedent which would have been wrong. Nor is it the cheapest place in the world but few dishes go from the 20 € and some are even below 10.

But that’s not good. It is best to have a covered terrace at the rear. And Paris mushrooms salad 9 € (raw mushrooms with onion cut in strips and pieces of parmesan). And macaroni and ham gratin Paris white with cream for 15 €. Or the burgers for 16-18 €. While most prefer to come for brunch (24 €), but then do not forget to book! The easiest thing to come at noon at the last minute. Few people, even if they are free tables and three and give you a few places to eat, I sit here not only when you bring it up with butter bread is to die.

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One day in Bruges is more than enough. Train from Brussels (the Way Away trip planner will tell you where and how to take it) or even from Ghent and, then return to Brussels (our trip planner will also tell you where to leave your luggage while walking around Bruges).

Therefore, no need to give you an endless list of bars and restaurants … To start and if you are hungry, on the way from the station to the center of Bruges you will pass by an outdoors flea market. There you can take a hot dog (€ 3) or a cheeseburger (4 €), the latter scrumptious … Coming from the station and entering the market, try the first stall you find.

For lunch, I definitely recommend the Terrasjte (see post), outside the “touristic circuit” and with a terrace overlooking the canal. If you do not fancy walking there or prefer to fill your belly with a pasta dish, we give you two good options:

– La Cantina, in Philipstock-Straat with Wapenmakers Straat, Italian restaurant for tourists but somehow disguised, with pasta and risottos of all types from 9 € and 32-inch pizzas from 8-14 €. Very central and close to Mark.

– And better than La Cantina but placed a little further in a very “cute” street (Academiestraat with Spanjaard Straat), the Attrium. It is frequented by locals and they serve homemade pasta dishes for 8,90 €.

And if you don’t feel like Belgian food but also want something less traditional than a pasta dish, go to Opus Latino Café. It’s hard to recommend Moroccan food in Belgium but at least their terrace is well worth it.

After lunch, if you feel like something sweet, you can try the waffles with chocolate (3.5€) in a small place just between the two central squares, at Breidel street. Or even better, go to Noordznds Straat. There you will find an ice cream parlor and very close by, the quite  Muntplein square, where you can eat your wafles quietly on a bench. Another alternative is to go to the most famous pastry at Bruges, Servaas Van Mullen, with a more than pleasant terrace.

If it is raining and need shelter, we give two cafeterias:

– De Republiek, in Sint-Jakobsstraat street, with a lovely sunroom

– Or the Rose Reed at Cordoeaniers-Straat, the cafeteria of a hostel, with those tables and antique parquet floors that still creak.

Restaurants More recommended restaurants in Bruges

Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in Belgium

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Sobieskiplatz 4

In Vienna, tourists barely leave the “ring” and if they do it, it’s because they are clear on where to go:

1) Palace of Maria Theresa,

2) Shopping at Mariahilferstrase

3) The summit work of Austria’s “Gaudi”, Hundertwasser.

4) Or, the Prater amusement park.

Well, it is not so hard. It’s as easy as start walking, cross the double ring of streets (old city walls, converted to tram rides) and cease being a tourist to start being a real traveller… The problem is to guess in which direction you should go. To the north, District 9. Take tram 38 from the University (next to Town Hall) and get off at Alserbachstrase stop. A couple of streets away you will find Sobieskiplatz, Vienna 100% authentic. Like a village.

There you will have everything. One fountain, a couple of trees shading, and local people seing how time goes by. And best of all, one brewery in which you will be the only foreigner: Highlander. To celebrate, try the beer they produce (3.20 €, 0.5 lt). It tastes quite similar to “weizbier” but with a lemonade touch, sure that you like. While you will be comfortable sitting at the terrace, do not fail to enter and see the two tanks where they ferment the beer. If you are hungry, it is a good place to try the local schnitzel.

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Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in Austria

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Mercearia Bresser Av Sete Septembro 5831 (cross with Rua Herculano)

Big pizza from R $ 40-70 (16-28 €)

Although few people know Curitiba, it is not a small town but quite the opposite. It is a fantastic city, safe, clean, tidy, with a museum of Contemporary Art designed by renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer (“Eye”), a great theater, gorgeus botanical gardens and many parks.

Amongst all these tourist visits, its restaurants do not clash at all, quite the opposite. Prices can become exorbitant sometimes, that’s true, but food is great, service is always impeccable, and design is enviable.

The Mercearia Bresser is a perfect example of this. Although it is a pizzeria, the design is like a big kitchen with antique touches, from the outside you can see their spotless kitchen, the service is fantastic (they only have the menu in Portuguese, but if you have any doubt about an ingredient or plate, they bring a sample of it to your table), pizzas are first class and prices are European.

If you ask for a large pizza, you can always choose two flavors (paying the most expensive, of course). Here or elsewhere, try someday Catupiry pizza, which contains this creamy cheese “registered” in Brazil. And do not miss their Mozzarella di Buffala! If you like to try new beers, here you can take the special Chop Brahma.

Restaurants More recommended restaurants in Curitiba

Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in Brazil

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Beergarden in Letná park

One of the main attractions for local people over the weekend, is drinking beers and go picnic in the parks you will find everywhere in Prague. From the Zizkov to Riegrovy, through the Vysehrad, although in the latter they will drink more esoteric tea than anything else.

Any of them can be right but possibly the most famous and most atmospheric is the Letná. Take the tram 17 and stop at Cechuv Most. Go up by any of the stairs that start there (you will be closer to the right one, but in that one usually hits the sun …) and you will get to a freak monument rare like few: a red communist needle moving from side to side. Now head east (looking to the city to the left). At 500 meters you will reach the so-called “big beergarden”, tables and tables ready for you to assault one salsicha and wet it with a good beer. A very nice place… but we recommend stopping a little earlier, at Na Baste poolside snack bar, right next to the tennis courts. Not as nice but has more musical environment. Most people come here to take their “grape”, a kind of shandy made ​​with orange. Do not fail to try!

Restaurants More recommended restaurants in Prague

Restaurants Other recommended restaurants in Czech Republic

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“Don’t Stress Planning, Enjoy Travelling”. This is the philosophy of Way Away. This is a website designed for those independent travellers who enjoy exploring new places and cultures on their own, but prefer not to waste their time and effort planning.

This picture was taken in Monte Verde (Costa Rica) by Way Away

Way Away has introduced a new travel concept with its Smart Routes: a trip planner that fits the needs of every traveller, saving money, time and stress. It is a more authentic and cheaper way than travelling with an agency and you don’t need to worry because the Smart Routes are designed by expert travellers.

In Way Away you can find all the necessary information for each trip. They provide you with full itineraries with scheduled daily routes so you can make the most out of each day. They explain how to get from city to city and the best way to book all transportation. They suggest authentic restaurants along the route. Way Away also gives you the possibility to book every single thing at the best price through their Smart Links. It comes to reducing the risks to the maximum in order to make your trip a success.

This is an example of trip planner

You can think that you are an independent traveller and you don’t need this service because there is a lot of information on the internet. But this is the exact reason why you need Way Away. On the internet there is too much information. It is a universe which can be hard to sift through, specially if you want to find something reliable. But you can be sure that the experts in Way Away have been in those countries and will do their best to let you know how make the most of your trip.

Ranakpur Jain Temple, India. By Way Away

Posted In: Travel tips

Most tourists when travelling to Paris think of visiting Louvre Museum or climbing up to the Eiffel Tower. We are different. We go crazy to find new places where to find the best croissants or those boulangeries that have won the prize of the major to the best baguette of the year.

This past Easter we came back again to one of our favourites: the Yhuel boulangerie on Rue Jean Lantier 11, halfway between the Louvre and the Hotel de Ville. For only one euro per croissant we got out with one on each hand…

If you are by the Latin Quarter, do not hesitate to get close to try the Eric Kayser’s croissants. They are on rue Monge 14. Maybe they don’t deserve the gold medal but are working hard… Any case, our winner for the best croissant in Paris is the Delmontel Arnaud, in the rue des Martyrs 39, below the Boulevard de Clichy. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, delicious to eat.

Luckily croissants are still cheap and luckily we still can find some cheap paris hotels so once in a while we can show us up there.

Boulangerie Yhuel, 11 rue Jean Lantier

Delmontel Arnaud, 39 rue des Martyrs

Eric Kayser, 14 rue Monge

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Las Vegas, often considered to be the entertainment capital of the world, is a truly unique location. Full of lights, wonder, and of course, casinos, few places can be thought of as more extravagant than this much-celebrated city. As spectacular as it is, it can be easy to get lost amid the bright lights and slot machines, so here is a selection of some of the best things to do while there to help you plan your trip.

Visit the Las Vegas Strip

The Las Vegas Strip truly is one remarkable stretch of road. Not only is it incredibly lit, with neon lights at every turn, but it is lined by some of the most glamorous hotels in the world. These are usually huge complexes in their own right, containing state of the art pools and massive casinos to keep you occupied all day and long into the night.

Gondola ride

Nothing is more quintessentially ‘Vegas’ than putting a Nevadan twist on a world city. Explore the Paris Las Vegas with its replica of the Eiffel Tower, or the world famous New York-New York resort and its very own replica of the Statue of Liberty. Another favourite is the Venetian, one of the most romantic offerings in Las Vegas. This spectacular resort contains its own picturesque waterway. Authentic Venetian gondolas float serenely along the canal, and the gondoliers are even known to serenade travellers, making a boat ride here a magical experience that’s not to be missed.

Shows

Vegas is renowned for its shows, so it’s certainly worth experiencing at least one. Cirque du Soleil, loved the world over for its mind-boggling feats of acrobatic and artistic skill, is arguably the most famous circus in the world. Alternatively, Penn & Teller are at the top of the magical game and will leave you scratching your head in amazement. For the more musically inclined, Las Vegas has everything from huge hits such as the Jersey Boys to the absurdly named Menopause The Musical.

Make your money go further while on holiday in Vegas with rewards cards from American Express. The range of American Express travel rewards cards allow you to earn exclusive membership points as you spend, which can be redeemed in exchange for great rewards such as flights, holidays and hotel bookings, making your next trip all the more affordable.

Posted In: Travel tips

If you’re looking for a cruise that can get you close to natural beauty, incredible scenery and picturesque vistas, a cruise on the Norwegian Fjords could be just what you’re looking for. With various liners having the fjords as a destination spot, you can be sure to find a trip that is perfect for you, including the NCL Epic and the P&O Oceania. If you’re lucky enough to secure a last minute cruise, you can enjoy rock bottom prices for this holiday of a lifetime.

As the deep Fjords slice through the rugged terrain of the mountainous landscapes, you can be taken on a journey through this awe inspiring part of the world whilst admiring the backdrops and the wildlife that you may encounter along the way.

Set off from Southampton on the south coast, as you head for Stavanger, a couple of days away. It’s a perfect area for hiking, including Prekestolen and Kjeragbolten. Perhaps you’ll catch sight of an adrenaline-fuelled BASE jumper plummeting off the sheer rock faces whilst you’re there. Alternatively, there are plenty of museums and an intimate city centre that would be a perfect spot for a leisurely afternoon stroll.

From here, you will continue to Flam = a popular village that has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s a perfect site to explore the surroundings, including the Kjosfoss waterfall and the Naeroyfjord – Europe’s narrowest fjord where you may catch a glimpse of dolphins or seals.

Eidfjord is your next port of call, where you can spy the 182m waterfall, Voringsfossen and the mountain plateau of Hardangervidda before continuing your journey to Kristiansand – a large municipality that is a perfect base for exploring the south coast of Norway.

Book a last minute cruise and enjoy a week on the Norwegian Fjords for a true taste of Scandinavian life and the natural beauty that this corner of the world possesses.

Posted In: Travel tips

Hey travellers!

How are you? We are happy to tell you about Haikugirl’s Japan. Her real name is Alison Muskett and she is passionate about Japan. Way Away interviewed Ali and here you have amazing recommendations when travelling to Japan:

– What is the most impressing place in Japan you have ever been? What advice would you give to someone who wishes to travel there?

It’s hard to pick just one impressive place in Japan, but one of my most memorable experiences has to be my trip to the Yuki Matsuri (Snow Festival) in Sapporo, Hokkaido. I had never seen so much snow in my life, and seeing gigantic snow and ice sculptures there was just unbelievable. As well as enjoying the festival while I was in Hokkaido, I was able to try local food, such as ‘soup curry’ (which certainly warms you up!), and visit other tourist attractions, including a chocolate factory. The Yuki Matsuri happens yearly in February, and it’s an unmissable experience. Dress for the cold weather – the snow will be piled high, and streets do become slippery – but remember lots of layers because inside it will be very warm.

Yuki Matsuri (Snow Festival) in Sapporo, Hokkaido

– What do you hate to forget in your suitcase when travelling?

I’m a big fan of lists, so I don’t think I have ever forgotten anything while travelling. I guess the one thing I would be gutted to forget would be my camera battery charger – I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t take photos.

– What would you say to those travellers who are afraid to travel on their own, and end up going to a travel agency even if they do not like taking part in organized tours?

The first time I went to Japan in 2006 I was 24 years old and had never travelled alone before, but I had the best two weeks of my life. I travelled around Japan, using a JR Pass (a kind of train pass only available to foreigners) and, although I couldn’t speak any Japanese at all, I really didn’t run into any problems. The key to my trip was planning – I was nervous about travelling alone, so I planned everything meticulously before I went, and booked all my accommodation in advance. I spent months planning, and was then able to relax and enjoy myself for the whole of my trip. Now, there are so many blogs and websites giving advice about travel, and it must be much easier than when I went 7 years ago. So, if you’d like to travel alone but you’re feeling a bit scared, my advice to you is to just go for it! Plan, plan, plan – and then have the best time of your life.

– What kind of food have you tried on your travels around Japan and you found it delicious/surprising? Can you recommend us any place where to try it out?

I’ve tried a lot of interesting food in Japan, and I really think it’s the country with the best food in the world. As a pescetarian (I eat fish but not meat), it was sometimes difficult in Japan, but I could always rely on sushi. For a genuine taste of Japan, though, I would recommend trying takoyaki from Osaka. If you just walk around downtown Osaka you will come across a number of stalls selling freshly made takoyaki – a kind of dumpling with octopus in it – and you can just stand on the street eating it. It’s very hot inside – so be careful not to burn your mouth!

Good food from Japan!

– Finally, tell us something that happened to you travelling and that you will never forget!

This is another difficult question to answer, because I had so many amazing experiences in Japan. Something I will never forget, though, is attending a festival with my Japanese friend. The festival was called Oni Matsuri (Demon Festival), and it was a proper local festival, bound in traditions. At the climax of the festival, lots of white flour-like powder is thrown out into the crowd, and you have to dive in and try to grab these lucky bags. We got covered in flour, but it was so much fun, and incredible to be involved in something so traditional that must have happened in that town for years. When travelling, I like to try to get involved in local things as much as possible, and to try to see the country as residents must see it. One of the best ways to do this is to attend local festivals and events.

Oni Matsuri - Haikugirl's Japan with Kazue

Ali, thank you very much for your time and your advices. We are sure, travellers are going to take them into consideration!

Are you planning on travelling to Japan? See our suggested itinerary around Japan
Do you want to know the best time for travelling to Japan? Do you want to know if you need a VISA? Wondering about the best things to do? Where to sleep? See detailed information about Japan

Posted In: Japan, Travellers Interviews

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We tell you where to find the best travel accessories at the best price: AMAZON

Universal plug (175 countries): see universal plug for just £4,99

Are you always travelling and your passport needs some protection? See this leather case for the passport for only 19.99

It is always good and nice to know a few words in the language of the country you where you are travelling. A travel dictionary is light and will let you have short conversations with local people. See travel dictionaries!

Are you good with maps? It is always good to carry a map for when you are completely lost! See travel maps.

Do you like reading about your destination before travelling? It is a good way to learn about history and culture differences. At Way Away we always recommend you some book depending on your destination. If you are travelling check out Amazon for good deals on books.

Amazon - Best website for travel accessories

No doubt our Smart Link to buy travel accessories is Amazon, is an easy to use web, with products at good prices and good customer service.

Do you want to know the best website for booking your hotel? or the best website for reading reviews? or for renting a car? or the best website for booking your flight? Take a look to our Smart Links, don’t worry about planning and enjoy travelling!

Posted In: Travel advice

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Are you planning a road trip? Road trips are great!

If you are planning to visiting Madrid during 10 days, it is very interesting to go to Salamanca, Ávila, Segovia and Toledo. For travelling around Madrid, taking the car is a bad idea, but if you want to see more around the capital city: the best is renting a car.

If you are visiting Italy for 15 days, the best way to get from Rome to southern Tuscany is also by car.

There are many places where you can go by bus or train, but sometimes the best combination with public transportation is not good and makes you: waste time and money. At Way Away’s Trip Planner, we will always give you the best combination for going to one place to another!

If you have to rent a car, the best website for it is Rental Cars. They have great prices and is very easy to book online. Their costumer service is great!


Posted In: Travel advice

When you travel, you want to be sure that all the activities you plan to do, the museums you want to visit or the hotel you are going to stay are worthwhile. At Way Away, we always recommend you after testing, because it is the only way to know if something it is really worth it. Also, we will give you the link to TripAdvisor‘s reviews. We believe it is one of the best websites for travel’s opinions.

It is easy to navigate and you can find reviews of all kinds: hotels, activities, museums, restaurants, bars, etc. Besides all the activities have a ranking and you can quickly get an idea of the value. If you are unsure about visiting a museum or do an excursion, TripAdvisor will help you.

More positive things: travellers can upload their own photos! Imagine you are looking for an hotel review: the hotel will always have their photos made ​​by a professional, and they always highlight the best. Now, you will also have the photos of other travellers and it will be easier for you to see what is Photoshop and what is real.

TripAdvisor is for us the best website for reading reviews from travellers around the world!

Check it out! www.tripadvisor.es

TripAdvisor ENG -The best website for travel opinions

Posted In: Travel advice

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The best time to go to China is from March to May and from September to October. Though, if you are well prepared, you can travel there any time of year. From November to February it can be very, very cold in the north and the interior. And from June to August it can be very hot, with heavy, and sometimes continuous rainfall.

Here you can check the average temperatures in China as well as monthly rainfall and other weather data.

Weather in China (climate):

Since it’s practically an entire continent, China has an immense variety of climates: from arctic in the north to tropical in the south. In short, the north and northeast (Beijing) have a dry climate, with cool winters and very hot summers. The south is tropical, with short winters and warm, rainy summers. Temperatures in the west are milder year round (except in Tibet, which has a classic high mountain climate). See weather forecast in China for the next 15 days.

Posted In: Sin categoría

1. Beijing: capital of the People’s Republic and a paradise of Chinese culture. Here you can visit the Forbidden City (old Imperial Palace) and Tiananmen Square, as well as numerous palaces, temples, parks and gardens, not to mention the installations of the 2008 Olympics.

2. The Great Wall of China: at the height of the Ming Dynasty, it stretched 20,000 km from the border with Korea to the Gobi Desert, and was guarded by more than one million warriors. Today only 9,000 km of the wall remain, and it is truly one of the great wonders of the world! Try and visit less touristic sections of the wall, for the fewer the people the more spectacular it is.

La Gran Muralla China

3. Shanghai: economic centre of China and the most European city in the country. Mix of modernity and tradition, it moves at a frenetic pace more reminiscent of a Western capital than the “Pearl of the Orient”, as it was once called.

4. Xi’an Warriors: famous terracotta army. Why it was sculpted we’ll never know.

Guerreros de Terracota Xian China

5. Guilin and Yangshuo: spectacular landscapes formed by the gullies of the Li and Yulong Rivers and by the Longii rice paddies. Amazing place to experience rural China and learn about some of its ethnic minorities.

6. Ancient City of Lijiang: perhaps one of the most beautiful cities in the world and also one of the least known. Full of canals and red Chinese lanterns, it looks like something out of fairy tale. From it you can visit Jade Dragon Glacier and Tiger Leaping Gorge.

7. Chengdu: if you travel to China you have to visit Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Centre. Seeing the pandas play and eat is an experience you’ll never forget.

Osos Panda Chengdu, China

8. Datong: from here you can see the Buddhist Caves at Yungang, known as the Chinese Petra.

9. The Ancient City of Pingyao: Reminiscent of a movie set, it’s not hard to imagine what ancient Chinese life was like in this small, walled city during the Qing and Ming dynasties.

10. Bicycle through Beijing: when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Beijing is enormous but very flat, so it’s ideal for getting around by bike. Rent one and go from one end of the city to the other. You’ll fit right in!

Posted In: China

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Are you planning your next trip? When was the last time you jumped into a plane? How about a weekend in London or Paris ? How does Prague sound? Barcelona? Venice?

If you want to check on the prices of an airline ticket, we recommend that you look at Expedia. It is one of the best search engines: it is easy to use and it includes many Low Cost company tickets. A lot of search engines can’t track the Low Cost companies, but Expedia does.

If you have a small budget or you don’t want to spend money on the ticket plane, a Low Cost company is a good solution! So, don’t think it twice: check cheap prices at Expedia and keep travelling around the world!


Posted In: Travel tips

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Hola travellers!

Here we have the interview with Christine!! She is an American expat living in beautiful northern Spain after spending three years soaking up the Andalusian sun. Enjoy the interview and smile while reading! And know the importance of learning a little bit of Spanish when travelling to Spain! 😉

– What is the most impressive place in Spain you have ever been to? What advice would you give to someone who wishes to travel there?

It’s so difficult to name just one place in Spain that has impressed me. I’ve been equally impressed by the Moorish history in Granada as I have by the natural beauty found in Basque Country. The pueblos blancos, Sevilla’s Cathedral, Madrid’s Royal Palace, Barcelona’s architecture, the medieval towns and castles…Spain impresses me as a whole.

The advice I’d give to someone wanting to travel to Spain is to definitely brush up on their Spanish before coming here. While a lot of people in the hospitality industry speak a little English, it’s always helpful to be able to ask for directions, order food, etc. in Spanish.

Christine in Spain
– What do you hate to forget in your suitcase when traveling?

If I ever were to forget my DSLR camera, I’d be so disappointed! I love capturing my travels through photos–they’re the best souvenirs!

– What would you say to those travellers who are afraid to travel on their
own, and end up going to a travel agency even if they do not like taking
part in organized tours?

I would tell them that everyone is afraid to travel alone at first, but once you do it, it’s one of the most liberating feelings ever. If you can find your way in a foreign country (bonus points if the local language is not your native tongue!) you’ll feel like you can take on anything alone. I would encourage them to get in touch with others who have traveled solo, to stay in hostels (makes it easier to meet fellow travelers) or to couch-surf and really get a taste of local life.

– What kind of food have you tried on your travels around Spain and you
found it delicious/surprising? Can you recommend us any place where to try
it out?

I am so in love with Spanish cuisine! Before coming here, I didn’t really know what to expect of the gastronomy, but I have been blown away by it! Some of my favorite foods are boquerones en vinagre (anchovies in vinegar, olive oil and topped with lots of garlic), carrillada (braised pork cheek) and alubias a la vasca (red beans flavored with pork fat). I’d recommend eating regionally when you’re in Spain. Every region has their own specialties that are made the best in their place of origin.

Christine in Spain
– Finally, tell us something that happened to you while travelling and that you will never forget …

When I first came to Spain, I took a solo trip to Jerez de la Frontera. I knew Jerez was famous for its sherry, and I wanted to go on a wine tour/tasting, so I walked around town following signs that promised a winery nearby. I was feeling pretty proud of myself that I’d found the place without a map and as I walked up to buy my ticket, I started rehearsing in my head what I’d say to the woman at the ticket counter. At that point in time, my Spanish was basically non-existent, so the fact that I had had made it through the conversation with a ticket in hand had me feeling a huge sense of relief.

As I was walking up to the museum, I was still convinced I was going to learn all about sherry, until my tour guide greeted me and asked why I was so interested in clocks. I quickly looked around and realized I had just bought a ticket for the Clock Museum! I was so embarrassed by my mistake, that I just went along with the tour because I couldn’t face the woman at the ticket office again. Easily the most boring tour I’ve ever been on!

Thank you Christine for your time with the interview! Do you want to know more about Christine and her adventures around Spain? You can follow her stories, photos and adventures at www.christineinspain.com

Are you planning on travelling to Spain? See our suggested itinerary

Do you want to know more information about Spain? Information about sightseeing and attractions, visa and passport to travel to Spain, traditional food depending on the region

Posted In: Spain, Travellers Interviews

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You already have the tickets booked and now you need to book the hotel. We don’t know why, but most people buy first the flight ticket and this already means that “you are travelling”. Next thing you’re probably going to book is your hotel. Does seeing an interminable list of hotels and not knowing which one to choose or which price is the right one bum you out? You start comparing in this website and in this other and in the hotel’s website and in a couple of forums and blogs and dinnertime arrives and you are still without a reservation. This makes you think, why is it so difficult to find a hotel?

In Way Away’s Trip Planner, you’ll find our Smart Choice Hotel, tried by our expert travellers and with a perfect balance between location, price and charm. And we also offer a Premium option and a Basic option.

But if the destination you want to travel is not available at Way Away’s website, for the moment, do not worry. We found that the hotel search usually have the best price and choice is Booking.

At Booking you can read the opinions of people and see what they liked most and least, and the score in terms of facilities, cleanliness, location, staff, comfort and value. Note that only those who have stayed in the hotel and booked through Booking can give your opinion on that hotel, this assures you that the views are from people who actually tried it.

For us, Booking is definitely the best site to book hotel and the site is easy to use, so you’ll have no problem.

Posted In: Travel advice

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Posted In: Barcelona, Gluten Free Travels

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Best time to visit Japan is April to May and October to November.

The summer months are very hot and humid. If you visit in June to August, don’t forget to take an umbrella and a raincoat.

The winter months tend to be cold, with snowfalls in some places. You should therefore take warm clothing.

April, May, October and November are the mildest and clearest months. Although the temperature is good, don’t forget to take something to wrap up in, particularly at night (especially if travelling in November).

Kiyomizudera temple, Kioto, Japan

September is typhoon month and is therefore not a good time to travel to Okinawa, the Izu-shotō and Ogasawara-shotō.

Weather in Japan (climate):

Summer is rainy and wet, with possible typhoons in September. Winter is rather cold with snow. Spring and autumn the mildest periods with the most pleasant temperatures (average 20ºC).

Weather in Tokio

 

Posted In: Japan

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Way Away interviews Becky Ances, a writer, traveller and tea drinker living in China. Enjoy this interview about travelling around China and follow all her travels, advices and stories around China at her blog.

Becky Ances at the Stone Forest

In Yunnan province at the famous Stone Forest. The ‘forest’ is actually karst peaks jutting out from everywhere. In Yunnan they say that if you haven’t seen the stone forest, you haven’t really seen Yunnan.

–    What is the most impressing place in China you have ever been? What advice would you give to someone who wishes to travel there?

One of my favorite things to do in China is climbing mountains. Most mountains in China have spiritual and historical meaning in addition to being a beautiful natural place. You don’t just climb a mountain through the woods, but usually follow a stone path (with lots and lots of steps!) and you pass by temples, small villages, ancient stonework and more. It feels more like an adventure through time than just climbing.

The most important mountains (like Yellow Mountain and Mount Tai) are located outside of the cities, so you’ll need to travel to get there. But being as they are so famous there are plenty of buses and ways to get there. Sometimes it might feel daunting to get out of the big cities in China, but it is absolutely worth it.

– What do you hate to forget in your suitcase when travelling?

Deodorant! It is not commonly used in China so finding it if you forget it, or run out, is really difficult. I stock up when I go to America and ask my parents to send me some to make sure I never run out. And I also never go anywhere without a packet of tissues in my pocket, as toilet paper is not commonplace in China.

Becky Ances climbing TaiShan

Becky almost near the top of Tai Shan, one of the most famous mountains that the first emperor climbed almost 2,000 years ago and declared China one united country. Other famous climbers include Confucius, Chairman Mao and now me! I’m about to walk through the ‘Gate of Immortality.’

– What would you say to those travellers who are afraid to travel on their own, and end up going to a travel agency even if they do not like taking part in organized tours?

I am not a fan of groups. I have done a few organized tours in China because it saved me money on doing it on my own, but never again! You spend one rushed hour at the amazing site, then two hours at some stupid silk or jade factory. It’s not worth the small savings.

The thing to remember is that popular tourists sights want to get you to visit them, so there are always buses and ways to get there, and resources for English speakers. It takes a little bit of courage, it seems nerve-wracking at first, but it is ultimately much more rewarding to do it by yourself.

Also, if you feel really nervous about taking public buses to tourist sites, in the major cities you can always hire a car often with an English speaking driver. It’s more expensive (but cheap compared to western prices) and you have a car and driver at your disposal so you can take all the time you need at attractions and not worry about someone else’s schedule. Even in smaller cities I have rented taxi driver for the day to take me around.

– What kind of food have you tried on your travels around China and you found it delicious/surprising? Can you recommend us any place where to try it out?

The happiest surprise regarding food is street food. You can find incredibly delicious and cheap food just about on any street corner. Things like baked sweet potatoes (so delicious on a cold winters night), steamed baozi, barbecue chickens legs and sugar covered strawberries. I’ve eaten a lot of street food and never gotten sick as a result of it.

Each region has its own special dishes so if you happen to travel to Beijing you can go to the famous night market next to Wangfujie and try crazy things like grilled starfish or scorpion. But for normal street food in Beijing, head to the historical hutong areas. As you wander the maze of traditional homes you will pass by many vendors selling all different styles of food.

In Shanghai the specialty is spring onion pancakes and dumplings called xiao long bao. I’ve found the area near the Shanghai Library in the French Concession is a great place to wander and snack.

Becky Ances loves street food

Some famous grilled tofu in Kunming. As long as the food stand looks relatively clean, and many people go there, it’s probably safe to eat.

– Finally, tell us something that happened to you travelling and that you will never forget!

My best friend is a Chinese guy and one winter break he invited me to his hometown. His family lives in a very small village and I got to meet his parents, grandparents, cousins and more. I’ve never been in a more comfortable or hospitable environment despite me not being able to communicate very well with them.

One day my friend and I took a hike in a totally secluded gorge. There was not another soul in sight except some chickens. They followed us as we walked, and made soft clucking and cooing sounds. They also walked on tiles broken on the ground which made a very melodic tinkling sound. At one point a pair of herons flew by and landed on the jade green water below. The place was so peaceful and quiet I could hear their wings flap as they took off and flew away. It was the most peaceful moment I have had in China, a place not known for it’s quiet!

Becky Ances with her best friends grandparents in China

Becky with her best friends grandparents in their home in a small village in southern China. While we couldn’t communicate directly (my friend had to translate) me and his grandparents got along very well, and I felt really comfortable in their cozy house.

Thank you Becky for your time! Do you want to know a little bit more about the Becky? Here you have a little biography: Becky Ances is an American writer, traveller and tea drinker who has lived in China for more than three years. During the school year you can find her in Southern China teaching English to university students, but during holidays she is wandering and exploring. You can read about her adventures at www.beckyances.net.

Are you planning on travelling to China? See our suggested itinerary around China
Do you need more information about China? Visa and passport to travel to China, things to do and see, when it’s better to go

Posted In: China, Travellers Interviews

Are you planning on visiting the capital of Spain? Are you looking for gluten free restaurants and cafes? Here you will find four wonderful meals gluten free:

For breakfast we recommend you to stop by Paraiso del Jamón. There are several in Madrid, though the closest one to the centre is on Calle Arenal  25. For gluten free you can have the traditional Huevos Estrellados with ham (7€) or an English Breakfast that includes: cafe, natural orange juice, bacon and eggs (4,5€). See Paraiso del Jamón at TripAdvisor

Huevos Estrellados with ham - Gluten Free

After a walking morning around the big city, you will probably get hungry. Do not worry, we have a place you are going to love: Da Nicola. It is, probably, one of the most amazing gluten free restaurants in the city. They have a gluten free menu, a Braille menu and if you forget your glasses and you can’t read the menu, do not worry; you can borrow a pair! The gluten free menu is large, you can choose between: pizza, pasta, salads, meat and fish. We recommend: Lasagne (11,90€) with a good beer Estrella Damm Daura (3,90€) and Panna Cotta for a dessert (3,50€). They mark all gluten free dishes with a little umbrella. See Da Nicola at TripAdvisor

Gluten Free Lasagne in Da Nicola

Do you need a snack? Stop for a minute and rest at the cafe inside National Geographic. Downstairs a nice store will make you dream about travelling even more than you do. Upstairs the National Geographic cafe; where you can sit down, relax and drink some tea or coffee with a piece of gluten free cake. See National Geographic Cafe at TripAdvisor

Tea and orange juice at the National Geographic Cafe in MadridGluten free cake at the National Geographic Cafe in Madrid

Did you enjoy your day in Madrid? You still have all night for having fun and discover the nightlife in the city, but before that, how does a good and traditional dinner sounds? La Bola is a very famous restaurant with traditional food from Madrid: Cocido madrileño (18,18€ two people) and a glass of wine (2,36€). It is a pretty place where to enjoy a good meal. The best? They have gluten free pasta! You just have to tell them that you are celiac and you need gluten free pasta. They cook the pasta and the rest of the ingredients in different pots, so do not worry. Sit back and relax while the pasta gets cooked. We recommend you to call them (telf: 91 547 69 30) for a reservation. See La Bola at TripAdvisor

Gluten Free Cocido Madrileño in Madrid (restaurant: La Bola)

We hope you have a good gluten free day in the capital. Have you been here and have some other gluten free place, you would like to share with travellers? Please do not hesitate to comment this article below or contact us at: info@way-away.com

Do you want to know more about gluten free restaurants, hotels, supermarkets…? Check the Madrid Celiac Association.

Are you travelling to Madrid? Check our suggested itinerary around Madrid: best places to visit, nice hotels, how to go from one place to another, best activities…

Useful information for travelling to Madrid.

Posted In: Gluten Free Travels

Are you thinking about visiting Spain? It is a wonderful country with very different spots. Here you have the top 3 city you should visit when travelling to Spain.

Madrid: is the capital city of the country. It hosts the largest palace in Europe: The Royal Palace. Eat a good “cocido madrileño” and some “churros con chocolate”. And visit some of the most amazing museums! How many days I need for visiting Madrid? See our 4 days route around Madrid and do not miss anything!

Almudena Cathedral located in front of the Royal Palace

Barcelona: Gaudi’s famous buildings are in this pretty city. If you enjoy architecture and culture, this is a good city for you. It is a very international city and capital of the Catalan region. How many days I need for visiting Barcelona? See our 4 days route around Barcelona and do not miss anything!

Park Guell by Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona

Seville: do you love warm places? Seville is a really hot city during summer. Eat some good free tapas with your drink. Are you up for some flamenco dance? Do not think it twice, and buy some tickets for a show. How many days I need for visiting Seville? See our 3 days route around Seville and do not miss anything!

Plaza de España, in Seville

Posted In: Spain

New year, new ideas, new projects for Way Away’s blog!

We would like to start the year sharing good news with you. Our goal at Way Away’s blog is to make life easier for travellers. We want to give you expert travel tips and good advices for you to make the most of your travels.

Keeping this in mind, we decided to start a new area in the blog: TRAVEL GLUTEN FREE

Travel Gluten Free with Way Away recommendations!

Do you travel with friends and one of you is gluten intolerant? Or, do you travel with family and one of the kids has gluten allergy? Are you celiac? Travelling with no gluten can be a little bit overwhelming and annoying when looking for a place where to eat with no worries.

This is why, at Way Away, we have decided to give you a hand. We are preparing new articles about gluten free restaurants in different destinations. Every time you are going to travel somewhere and you need to know about gluten free restaurants o cafes, come back to our blog. We hope, you will find some ideas 🙂

Do you want to share with other travellers, gluten free places you already know? Please let has know, and we will add your recommendations in our articles; always quoting you 😉
Email us at info@way-away.com

Has a good gluten free travel!

Posted In: Gluten Free Travels, Travel tips

Bethaney Davies is one third of Flashpacker Family – a semi-nomadic, globetrotting family from Christchurch, New Zealand. Bethaney, Lee and their toddler Reuben spend half the year at home and the rest out exploring and enjoying the world. Flashpacker Family is a family travel blog that has great tales from the road, tips on travelling on a budget & travelling with a toddler and information on living a location independent lifestyle.

Bethaney took the time to tell us about her family and travels in this inteview. Enjoy it!

Flashpacker Family - in Las Vegas

– What is the most impressive place in the world you have ever been? What advice would you give to someone who wishes to travel there?

As a family, the most impressive place in the world we’ve been to was the Grand Canyon. It’s a truly incredible site that must be seen to be believed. We spent six weeks living in Las Vegas last year and visited the Grand Canyon as our first stop on a three week South West road trip. The South West states of the USA are wonderful area to drive around. Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and California are all very different but the landscapes, food and sites to see are fantastic. If you’re going to visit the Grand Canyon, either take one of the helicopter trips from Las Vegas or do it as part of a road trip. Stay overnight in Tusayan, Arizona which is just outside the national park limits and therefore much cheaper. The admission fee to the Grand Canyon costs almost half the price of an annual national parks pass so if you’re planning on spending more time in the US, go the pass.

– What do you hate to forget in your suitcase?

My tweezers and a little magnifying mirror! I am a constant eyebrow plucker and do it almost every day. I have a great little mirror with suction cups that sticks to a larger mirror, the wall or window. I wouldn’t leave home without it. I also couldn’t leave behind my son Reuben’s special blanket. Even if it’s 40 degrees and we’re on a jungle trek in Thailand the blanket has to come with us!

Flashpacker Family - Swimming in the Perhentian Islands, Malaysia

– What would you say to those travellers who are afraid to travel on their own, and end up going to a travel agency even if they do not like taking part in organized tours?

If you’re afraid of travelling on your own, start with a tour. It can be helpful to have a local guide and a group to lean on when you’re in a new country, especially if that country is radically different to your home. Culture shock can be a scary thing. Once you realise how easy travel is and how much money you save by booking it yourself, you’ll want to go it alone. I think going on organized day trips are a good idea if you want to get the best of both worlds. They’re great for meeting other travellers and you can ask your guide plenty of questions about local customs, language, food, etc, but still head back to your own hotel room at night and do your own thing the next day.

– What kind of food have you tried on your travels and you found it delicious/surprising? Can you recommend us any place where to try it out?

I love Asian food. My son Reuben has eaten spicy food since he was a baby and loves Thai food. I was a vegetarian for 12 years and travelled a lot during that time. As a vegetarian, you can miss out on a lot of great food if you’re worried it might contain meat. I much prefer to travel as a meat eater. I’m not scared to dig into a big pot of “street soup” or eat “mystery meats” these days. One of the cuisines I have greatly enjoyed in my travels was that of Burma. A lot of people had told me the food in Burma wasn’t great but I really enjoyed it. It’s like a mix of Thai, Chinese and India food. Mohinga – a delicious noodle soup was my particular favourite. It’s sold in every restaurant, hotel and street corner in the country and is even eaten for breakfast.

Flashpacker Family - Bethaney with her friend the Buddhist Monk in Burma

– Finally, tell us something that happened to you travelling and that you will never forget…

On my trip to Burma I had the fortunate experience of meeting a Buddhist monk. It had started to pour with rain and I was caught without an umbrella so he offered to share his with me. He suggested we retreat to a tea shop and wait for the storm to pass. We drank tea and he practiced his English with me. He’s been taking lessons and I was the first foreigner he’d ever practiced with! A few days later, he invited me over to the monastery he lived at. I met the Abbott (head monk) who taught me a little about Buddhism, in limited English, then we had a home-cooked vegetarian lunch. After lunch we visited the orphanage for boys that was attached to the monastery and meet some of the kids. It was a wonderful experience!

Thank you Bethaney for your time and dedication in the interview. Do you want to know more? She also runs an online guide to Thailand and works with Lee on a Las Vegas travel guide. You can follow Bethaney on Twitter and Facebook.

Posted In: Travel tips, Travellers Interviews

Casa Batlló Barcelona - Gaudi's work in Barcelona

1 – Sagrada Familia (1882-currently under construction): this is probably the most famous Gaudi’s building. The Project started in 1882, and Gaudí got involve one year later. The architect did not abandon the Project until his death in 1926. The building is still under construction and it is built from donations. Gaudí himself said: “The expiatory church of La Sagrada Família is made by the people and is mirrored in them. It is a work that is in the hands of God and the will of the people.” Learn more about it and tickets at: http://www.sagradafamilia.cat/sf-eng/?lang=0

2- La Casa Milà (1906-1912): it is known as La Pedrera (meaning “The Quarry” in Catalan). Casa Milà is the fourth and final work Gaudí did on Passeig de Gràcia, the main avenue of the city at the time. The building marked a break with the architectural language of Gaudí’s work in terms of innovation in both the functional aspects and the constructive and ornamental ones. Find more information about the history of the building and the tickets to visit it at: http://www.lapedrera.com/en/home

3 – Park Güell (1900-1914): Eusebi Guell bought a large farm in the “Muntaya Pelada”, Gracia. He wanted to build a Garden-city, the works were commissioned to Antonio Gaudí. It was opened to the public in 1926 as a park for its beauty. In 1984 it was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. You can visit the park and find more information at: http://www.parkguell.es/en/index.php

Park Guell Barcelona - Gaudi's work in Barcelona

4- Casa Batlló (1904-1906): was commissioned by the textile industrialist Josep Batlló. Nowadays, is an iconic landmark in the city. The “Manzana de la Discordia”, or Block of Discord, is a series of buildings in Passeig de Gràcia. It is home to a collection of works by the most renowned architects, amongst which is Casa Batlló. The house, now a museum, is open to the public, both for cultural visits and for celebrating events in its splendid modernist function rooms. Learn more about Casa Batlló at: http://www.casabatllo.es/en/

5- Casa Vicens (1883-1888): is a family residence designed by Antoni Gaudí and built for industrialist Manuel Vicens. It was Gaudí’s first important work. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Works of Antoni Gaudí” in 2005.

It is located at Carrer de les Carolines 24, in the Gràcia district of Barcelona. This early work exhibits several influences, most notably the Moorish or Mudéjar influence. The house is constructed of undressed stone, rough red bricks, and colored ceramic tiles in checkerboard and floral patterns. The owner, Manuel Vicens, was the owner of a brick and tile factory, so the ceramic tiles pay tribute to his employment. It is not posible to visit the house inside, but it is wonderful to see it from the outside. It is currently on sale. Visit his web: http://www.casavicens.es/

If you want to know more about Gaudí and all his work, in the following link you will find all his projects: http://www.parkguell.es/en/hist_2.php

Plan your trip to Barcelona easier and faster than ever: see suggested itineraries, how to get from one place to another, cozy places where to sleep and authentic restaurants where to eat.

Recommended itineraries for Barcelona
Information for travelling to Barcelona
See where to eat and what to eat in Barcelona

Posted In: Barcelona, Spain

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Having spent 2 years in the working world, Dave and Vicky are ready to exchange their briefcases for backpacks, dress shoes for sandals, and beds for sleeping bags. Since September they have been embarking on a 2 year journey across Asia and Europe. You can follow along at A Couple Travelers where you’ll find travel reflections, blogging resources and restaurant reviews. Here you have the interview Way Away did to them:

Dave and Vicky - A Couple Travelers - South Korea October 2012

– What is the most impressive place in the world you have ever been? What advice would you give to someone who wishes to travel there?

Hmm, this is very difficult. We really enjoyed Tokyo, Japan, though. We like big cities, however, I realize this is not for everyone. The key is to take your time and not try to do too much in one day if you can spare it. Have people write things down for you like directions and show them to pedestrians, they will help you find your way.

– What do you hate to forget in your suitcase?

We carry two backpacks one of which we always take carry on. In order to limit major inconveniences the most important things are always taken carry on. Still, we lose things all the time, like recently one shoe (rendering the other useless). Above all though I think medicine is the worst to forget. It’s difficult to get elsewhere and you can’t be sure of the quality.

Vicky from A Couple Traveler at Lurray Caverns

– What would you say to those travellers who are afraid to travel on their own, and end up going to a travel agency even if they do not like taking part in organized tours?

I guess I don’t understand why you would choose to do something you don’t like in place of something you may or may not like. It’s true that sometimes you want to minimize risk, but I don’t think it is worth possibly sacrificing an entire trip to do so. Better to go someplace else where you feel comfortable on your own.

– What kind of food have you tried on your travels and you found it delicious/surprising? Can you recommend us any place where to try it out?

Surprisingly we are not particularly venturous eaters, though recently in Vietnam we tried a few things that many might consider strange, such as worm paddies as well as coffee beans that are essentially weasel feces, both of which weren’t bad. My biggest recommendation is to give street food a try. It can be very tasty, cheap, and clean. Look for stalls with high turnover where they prepare the ingredients in front of you.

Dave from A Couple Traveler at Cherry Blossom DC 2011

– Finally, tell us something that happened to you travelling and that you will never forget…

I’ll never forget the time we were eating at a restaurant in Santorini, Greece. We tried to get a cab but it was in a remote part of the island. It was getting late and we were about an hour’s walk from home. Just as we were about to leave, the restaurant manager offered to have his son give us a ride home. It saved us quite a long walk and was incredibly kind, considering we were just customers at his restaurants and not close friends. I think you remember hospitality above all else.

Thank you guys for your time and your advises!

Posted In: Travel tips, Travellers Interviews

Kate blogger for 30Traveler - Perhentians Impossibly Blue

– What is the most impressive place in the world you have ever been?

The first place that comes to mind is the Perhentian islands off the east coast of Malaysia (just south of the Thai border). This is the most spectacular beach destination I’ve been to.

– What advice would you give to someone who wishes to travel there?

Avoid traveling there in the monsoon. June to August are the best months for great weather and calm ocean. The water temperature is bath-like. It’s amazing.

To get there is a bit of a trek but worth it.  You can fly into the closest airport at Kota Bharu, Malaysia from either Kuala Lumpur or Penang, Malaysia. From the airport you take a taxi ride to the pier and a boat trip of around 30 mins. Tuna Bay resort have the largest, safest, and most comfortable boat, so I would recommend booking your boat trip with them, especially if you’re traveling with children or have back or neck problems (the other boats travel fast and bumpy!).

– What do you hate to forget in your suitcase?

A pair of nice headphones. I use Sennheiser PX-200s. They’re small and lightweight but fit over the ear so they’re comfortable. Earbuds hurt my ears. I like to listen to audiobooks while traveling. One I recommend as a great travel listen is Cheryl Strayed’s Wild – about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. It’ll help you find your adventurous spirit.

Kate blogger for 30Traveler Perhentian Islands

– What would you say to those travellers who are afraid to travel on their own, and end up going to a travel agency even if they do not like taking part in organized tours?

City walking and biking tours are often great, but I generally avoid any tours that involve a bus. There are a few times when going on an organized tour makes sense, but you can pick these up as day tours rather than signing up to be on a tour your whole vacation.

I often feel terrible the first couple of days after a long flight e.g., inexplicably tearful. At the beginning of your trip, give yourself a few days in a nice hotel to adjust to culture shock and get over your jetlag.

– What kind of food have you tried on your travels and you found it delicious/surprising? Can you recommend us any place where to try it out?

I’m a vegan. I recommend trying sticky rice mango in Thailand. Near Los Angeles airport (LAX), there is a place called Veggie Grill where they make an amazing vegan cheeseburger. It’s about 3-4 miles away from the airport, so an easy taxi if you’re on a layover. I also love the vegan cakes at a bakery called Life Thyme in NYC. The bakery is inside a grocery store.
If you are interested in how I manage traveling with special dietary needs, they can read a guest post I wrote for HerPackingList.com on traveling vegan.

Kate blogger at 30Traveler recommends Vegan Cupcakes in SanFrancisco at Wholefoods

– Finally, tell us something that happened to you travelling and that you will never forget…

Sitting front row at a Broadway show for $25! For example, the musical Wicked has a ticket lottery where if you win they will sell you two front row tickets for around $25 each. It’s super fun to hear your name called and then be so close to the action in the theater.

Thank you Kate! You can find more information about Kate at her blog: 30Traveler (focused on vegan travel) and RTW travel guide (focused on backpacking and flashpacking).

Twitter @30Traveler
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/30Traveler

Posted In: Travel advice, Travellers Interviews

For people who have never booked a holiday on a cruise ship before, it can be a little daunting to know where to begin when doing so. Word of mouth is all well and good, and actually it is a good idea to do a little research online, firstly to find reputable travel agents who are experienced in arranging cruise-style holidays and also to read accounts from other travellers who have already been on the trip that you are planning, you never know, there may be something that you have overlooked that would make this a holiday that is not for you!

Here are a few matters to take into account when planning your first cruise.

Over ninety percent of cruises are still booked through the travel agents as opposed to online, which is remarkable considering how many ‘normal’ holidays are booked on the Internet. Holidaymakers seem more than comfortable buying their travel insurance, booking their flights or arranging car-hire online, so why the difference with cruises? Perhaps it is because cruises are very expensive if people are spending a lot of cash they want to be absolutely sure that their holiday is going to be perfect, or maybe it is just the fact that booking a cruise can be complicated. Also, as with anything that people do for the first time, there will be a host of questions needing expert answers and people looking for advice.

Choosing your cabin, destinations, flights and transfers, it is a lot to organize with no help at all, and so easy to make a mistake, that many cruise lines do not even give customers the option for booking online as they know from experience how complicated it can be. Also, cruise liners will only be able to advise you on the specific cruises they have on offer, whereas a travel agent can help you choose which particular cruise line is most suited to your own needs.

Take time to speak with a few different travel agents to find one who you are happy with, shop around until you are satisfied you are dealing with an agent who knows exactly what they are speaking about, and make sure you write a list of questions that are important to you and make sure you get answers to each of them. Here are a few ideas for information that you need to know.

Firstly, where do you want to go? Jot down the countries that you are wanting to visit and see which cruises cover the destinations that are of interest to you. The more popular your destinations, the greater choice of cruise liners you will have to pick from. The Caribbean, Scandinavia, the Canary Islands and the Baltics are all areas that are covered by many cruise companies.

How long do you wish to travel for? There are long haul cruises that cover many destinations and shorter ones that concentrate on a smaller area, like the Canary Islands for example, taking in Lanzarote, Tenerife, Las Palamas and Fuertaventura. Also, bear in mind that some cruises require an overnight stay in a hotel if you are joining the cruise in a foreign location. Take a look at the new Conquistador hotel if you are heading to the Canaries.

Hotel H10 Conquistador - Tenerife

Which ship will be best suited for my holiday? Each cruise ship, has their own style and ambience and are focused on attracting specific types of people. Gone are the days when cruising was solely aimed at the well-to-do older ladies and gentlemen for whom dining at the captains table would be the ultimate attraction for their holiday! Be sure to ask about on-board entertainment and also find out about mealtimes and what kind of foods will be served. Larger ships have all manner of ways to keep you occupied while on board, from swimming pools to libraries, ice-rinks to health spa’s and nightclubs to ballrooms, it’s up to you to check which is right for you.

How long before my holiday should I book? The earlier you book your cruise the better! Cruise liners offer special discounts such as early bird discounts and even vouchers to be used on-board to spend on drinks and day trips. Also, there will be a greater choice of cabin available for those early bookers.

Hotel H10 Conquistador - Playa De Las Americas - Tenerife - Canary Islands

What will I get for my money? It is vital to know what you will have to pay for on-board the ship. It is normal for food to be included, plus the use of facilities that are provided, however some will charge for fine dining, spa treatments and use of sports facilities. Also, find out if port taxes are included in the cost of your cruise. Port taxes are the amount various ports charge the ship for being docked there. Most ships do not carry money, so any additional costs you incur on your trip, will be added to an account which you then pay at the end of your holiday, be clear as to what you will and will not be charged for.

Remember, to make the most of your holiday, find out everything you can before you go, this way, you’ll be cruising through your vacation and having the splendid experience you deserve!

Bon Voyage!

Posted In: Travel advice, Travel tips

Hiking in New Zealand, Our Oyster's picture

– What is the most impressive place in the world you have ever been? What advice would you give to someone who wishes to travel there?

It’s hard to say, for natural beauty I would have to say New Zealand. People who love the great outdoors and especially those you love hiking will LOVE New Zealand. New Zealand has a bunch of amazing multi day hikes called the great walks and they are really well set up. There are huts all along the track and they usually have running water and gas stoves for cooking. My tip for people wanted to travel to New Zealand for hiking is to bring all your gear with you, because outdoor equipment in New Zealand is very expensive when compared to North America for example.

In terms of impressive culture, I would have to say Angkor Wat in Cambodia. This ancient temple complex is HUGE…absolutely massive. And I had not even heard about it until just before my trip. Everyone hears about the pyramids, but I think this is just as impressive… if not more so. I actually wrote a blog post about tips for visiting Angkor – all based on the mistakes that I made 🙂

Angkor Wat, Cambodia. Picture taken by Our Oyster

– What do you hate to forget in your suitcase?

I always forget a towel. I usually remember it for longer trips, but when I am just packing for a weekend or a week or two, I somehow ALWAYS forget to pack a towel. I don’t know why since a towel is a pretty important thing to have with you! Now my husband is on towel duty when ever we are going somewhere, to make sure we have at least one with us!

– What would you say to those travellers who are afraid to travel on their own, and end up going to a travel agency even if they do not like taking part in organized tours?

I used to be weary of travelling alone. I had always travelled with friends or boyfriends, and whenever I did travel alone it was when I was moving to a new country so I wasn’t constantly on the move. My first proper solo backpacking trip was a 6 week trip around the Pacific Islands. I actually found it really easy to meet people, and I found that I was more open to chatting to new people since I wasn’t in a “group” already.

I still do prefer to travel with someone else (means I don’t have to have all the planning responsibility!), but for sometime if you don’t just go and do it alone, you will never do it.

– What kind of food have you tried on your travels and you found it delicious/surprising? Can you recommend us any place where to try it out?

I really loved laap when travelling in Laos. I found it surprising because unlike other foods in South East Asia, it is not spicy at all! Laap was traditionally a raw meat salad, but now it is usually cooked. It is actually really refreshing and has a nice balance between two main herbs – mint and coriander. I prefer to get the chicken laap, which of course is always served cooked cause otherwise that would be dangerous – and I have already had to deal with Salmonella poisoning once while in South East Asia!

Swimming with turtles in Samoa. Picture taken by Our Oyster

– Finally, tell us something that happened to you travelling and that you will never forget…

One of my most amazing travel experiences happening when I was travelling through Serbia and Hungary. I was travelling with two friends, but they both had to leave the trip early. But I didn’t want to cut my trip short, so I continued on without them. At one point I was taking a train from the south of Hungary to the town where the airport was located. It was a long journey, and overnight. It was also the middle of winter. Well my train ended up getting delayed, so I missed my connection and ended up stranded in a small town station somewhere in Hungary. The waiting room was closed so I settled in to sleep outside even though there was snow on the ground. Eventually some people came up and tried to talk to me but we didn’t have a common language. Eventually one man came back with a cell phone and the man on the other line told me that this guy was his father and he was a train driver. I explained my predicament and the guy decided to take matters into his own hands, led me across the tracks to a train engine not connected to any cars, and actually drove me himself!! If it wasn’t for him I would definitely have missed my flight!

Thank you very much Jade Johnston for your time and expert tips. If you want to know more about the blog here you have a description: OurOyster.com is the blog of travelling expat Canadian Jade Johnston. She has travelled to more than 30 countries and now lives in Australia with her husband. She plans to explore every inch of Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands before moving on to conquer more of Asia. She blogs about adventure travel, budget travel, and soon to be family travel as well.

You can also, follow her on Twitter: @our_oyster and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ouroyster

Posted In: Travellers Interviews

From time to time we all need to cut back, and sometimes it can feel as though the holiday budget could be better used elsewhere. But holidays are important for our overall wellbeing and it’s essential to get away from the daily grind every now and then in order to help you fully relax, before coming back feeling reinvigorated and revitalised. Whether you’re after local breaks in the UK or cheap holidays abroad, there are plenty of different tips and tricks to help you find your perfect break.

National Park Jotunheimen, Norway

Firstly, try to book well in advance. This is particularly advisable if you’re booking a scheduled flight, as those low fares only go up in price the closer you get to your departure date. This is a useful tactic for package holidays too, as tour operators will typically offer early bird deals on holidays departing a year or so in advance – especially during new brochure or season launches.
If you’re considering a far-flung getaway such as the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean, Lake Cain Hills holidays in Florida or perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Maldives, booking ahead is most certainly the safest option. That way you get extra time to pay off the cost of your trip, plus you’ll have longer to plan what you want to do and save some spending money too.

Menorca, Islas Balerares, Spain
The alternative where package holidays or hotels are concerned is to book late, and this remains a firm favourite among many holidaymakers. Late deals can present huge savings on the original cost of the holiday, but availability is obviously limited so you will need to keep an open mind and be flexible in order to go with the best deals.
However you book, there are plenty of bargain breaks to be had both home and abroad. Which one will you choose?

Posted In: Travel advice, Travel tips

The thriving seaside town of Brighton on the south coast of England is an incredible destination no matter what the time of year. Whether you’re travelling with family, friends or your loved one, there’s a vast array of activities, attractions and events to keep you occupied.

Music, theatre and performance are a big part of the evening entertainment in this buzzing location. From the popular cabaret events presented by Proud to the multitude of popular bands and touring stage productions, you could easily find something that appeals. Spend a cheap weekend by the seaside and enjoy a concert before sampling the nightlife on offer. Eliminate the stress of late night transport and stay for the evening in comfort at your chosen accommodation.

1. Zappa Plays Zappa11.11.12 @ Brighton Centre

Dweezil, the son of the late legend Frank Zappa, showcases his father’s work in his latest tour. Reminisce with the fabulous guitar sounds of the master; Zappa Plays Zappa is a perfect tribute to one of the greatest guitarists to enter the music scene. From the early 60s rhythms to the 80s, enjoy an evening of pure rock genius.

2. Happy Mondays – 30.11.12 @ Brighton Centre

With a successful comeback tour last year under their belt, the Happy Mondays return once more with the full original line up. Revel in the classic Madchester sounds as the ever-bouncy Bez keeps you entertained on percussion.

3. Keane – 2.12.12 @ Brighton Centre

Join the indie boys as they continue their UK & Ireland tour. With international success and catchy tunes for their audience to join in with, it’ll surely be a quality gig for the indie rockers in town.

4. Tinchy Stryder – 29.11.12 @ Concorde 2

This is the rescheduled gig by the “Star in the Hood”, Tinchy Stryder. He’ll be entertaining his Concorde audience with his unique grime sounds this November.

5. Electric Six – 11.12.12 @ Concorde 2

The six-piece US band that bought us the instantly recognisable “Danger! High Voltage” back in 2003 return with an eclectic mix of tunes from their 9 studio albums.

6. Driving Miss Daisy – 12.11.12 – 17.11.12 @ Theatre Royal

After a sell out run in London’s West End, this heart-warming adaptation of the Oscar-winning smash continues its limited season tour.

7. The Vagina Monologues – 22.11.12 @ Theatre Royal

Starring household names, Clare Buckfield, Hayley Tamaddon and Corrie favourite, Vicky Entwistle, the West End success story is back with its raucous comedic performance; a perfect treat for every lady in your life.

8. An Evening of Burlesque – 24.11.12 @ Theatre Royal

Enjoy another spectacular straight from the West End and all the sultry, breathtaking frivolity that comes with it.

9. Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 – 10.12.12 to 15.12.12 @ Theatre Royal

This new musical direct from Broadway, with its all-star cast, is based on the hit movie of the same name and will wow audiences everywhere with its perfect mix of music and comedy performance.

10. Rocky Horror Picture Show – 20.12.12 to 5.1.13 @ Theatre Royal

Everyone’s favourite rock n roll musical is back with its vivacious night of fun and scandal. Join in and dress to the nines; don’t forget the Timewarp moves!

If you visit Brighton this winter you will enjoy the heaps of live entertainment on offer. You know you want to 😉

Posted In: Travel advice, Travel tips

Johnny Jet Blogger Travelling around Argentina

– What is the most impressive place in the world you have ever been?
I’ve been to many but what first comes to mind is Iguazu Falls in South America. It’s on the Argentina and Brazil border. It’s just so amazing and huge that it makes Niagara Falls in North America look like a water fountain.

– What advice would you give to someone who wishes to travel there?
If you’re pressed for time, you could go do a day trip from Buenos Aires, Rio or Sao Paulo. However, it would be easiest from Buenos Aires since the Argentina side is the most developed with pathways and excursions. The Brazil side supposedly has the best views but one way to bypass a trip there and having to get a Brazilian visa, is by taking Argentina’s Iguazu Jungle Excursion (150 pesos per person = $40).  http://vintage.johnnyjet.com/folder/archive/wheresjohnny052020093.html

– What do you hate to forget in your suitcase?
I hate forgetting my battery charger(s).

– What would you say to those travellers who are afraid to travel on their own, and end up going to a travel agency even if they do not like taking part in organized tours?
Traveling by yourself is intimidating – at least just it is for most people who are just thinking about it before a trip. But once you do it you realize it’s so much more relaxing. You can do what you want, when you want and don’t have to compromise. If you want to find friends then stay in places where it’s easy to meet them like hostels.

Johnny Jet and his mom on plane to Frankfurt
– What kind of food have you tried on your travels and you found it delicious/surprising? Can you recommend us any place where to try it out?
My favourite foods are usually in Southeast Asia. I especially love the fruit like Mangosteens and Rambutans. Ummm Ummm!

– Finally, tell us something that happened to you travelling and that you will never forget!
My best travel memory was taking my mom to Europe. Here’s the story.

Thank you Johnny for your time answering the questions and thank you for the advises as a professional traveller.

You can follow their adventures at their blog: http://www.johnnyjet.com/

Posted In: Travellers Interviews

Heather_Heather on her Travels

– What is the most impressing place in the world you have ever been? What advice would you give to someone who wishes to travel there?

There are so many places that have something to offer to the traveller and each has it’s own charms. Also it depends on your style of travel and whether you don’t mind roughing it a bit or whether you prefer to have a bit of comfort. Of the places I’ve visited since I started writing my blog, I’ve especially enjoyed the following;

Ecuador – to get a taste of South America in a manageable way. Because the country is relatively small you can see the coast, the Andes and the Amazon basin all within a few hours of each other

The Alps around Mont Blanc – for the last couple of years I’ve been walking the Tour de Mont Blanc with a friend bit by bit and although I never thought of myself as a mountain person I was blown away by the magestic Alpine scenery

Greece – because my sister lives on the Greek island of Zakynthos I visit every year and you can’t beat it for a relaxed holiday with beautiful beaches and reliable sunshine.

– What do you hate to forget in your suitcase?

Because of my blogging I tend to travel with more technology than the average traveller, but even if I were to forget my laptop, audio recorder, video camera and mobile I don’t think I could do without a camera to capture everything I see.

Heather_Heather on her Travels

– What would you say to those travellers who are afraid to travel on their own, and end up going to a travel agency even if they do not like taking part in organized tours?

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with booking an organised tour – it works for many people who are pressed for time and don’t want any stress when they travel. However I would recommend that if this is the route you go, that you choose a specialist company that knows their field and tries to provide a great experience for their customers, perhaps including more unusual or authentic things to do in the tour.

If you are an independent traveller who has no-one to travel with, then I would choose your accommodation carefully – for instance small family run hotels or bed & breakfasts can give you a more personal welcome than larger chain hotels. You might also consider organisations such as couch-surfing or hospitality club where you have the benefit of a friendly host to give you local advice and hostels are always great for making connections with other travellers whatever your age and many have private rooms.

– What kind of food have you tried on your travels and you found it delicious/surprising? Can you recommend us any place where to try it out?

I love good food and always like to try the local specialities. In Gothenburg I loved the seafood which is outstanding on the West Coast of Sweden – I’d suggest Restaurant Gabriel in the feskekörka fish market. On Guernsey look out for the hedge veg stalls where locals sell their local produce in small stands outside their houses and you leave the money in a box – great if you’re self-catering and need some eggs or new potatoes. I did try fried winged ants in Ecuador once but I’m not sure if I’d recommend it – it was like popcorn without any substance.

Heather_Heather on her Travels

– Finally, tell us something that happened to you travelling and that you will never forget…

I have many magic moments locked away in my memory – such as my first trip on the Tour de Mont Blanc where we stayed in a very basic mountain refuge with one big dorm and no shower and I spent a restless night in close proximity to a man who stank of stale tobacco. In the morning I took my breakfast of French bread and milky coffee onto the terrace and watched the sun come up over the mountain range and light up the peak of Mont Blanc opposite and gradually the valley below came to life. That was one of those magic moments that made the aching legs worthwhile.

Thank you Heather for your time answering the questions and thank you for the advises as a professional traveller.

You can follow their adventures at their blog: Heather on her travels

Posted In: Sin categoría, Travellers Interviews

Lauren in their 2010 Mongol Rally trip
What is the most impressing place in the world you have ever been? What advice would you give to someone who wishes to travel there?
By far the most impressive place we have been is Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The city continues to thrive and yet it holds some of the most amazing cultural and historical relics. The Registan is impressive for it’s architecture alone, but the artistic tile work, and its significance is humbling. Anyone wishing to travel to Uzbekistan needs a lot of fortitude. There are different prices for tourists, which are higher, and being ripped off is just part of travelling there. Still, it’s a great place.
– What do you hate to forget in your suitcase?
We’re always finding ourselves without batteries or chargers. It’s a rookie move to forget a charger in a hostel, and yet we keep doing just that.
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Mike in their 2010 Mongol Rally trip (Abandon the Cube)
– What would you say to those travellers who are afraid to travel on their own, and end up going to a travel agency even if they do not like taking part in organized tours?
If you’re really too scared to go it alone, tours are not a horrible option. However, you will miss out on a lot. And some of what is great about travel is facing your fears and coming out okay. Test yourself, try yourself and know that most of the time you’ll be okay even if the outcome isn’t what you wanted.
– What kind of food have you tried on your travels and you found it delicious/surprising? Can you recommend us any place where to try it out?
Turkey had amazing food, but most people already know that. On the inverse, Mongolian food was horrible. We ate dog, dried vegetables, goat and donkey. Not exactly appetizing cuisine. The land there is just so barren that it must be difficult to graze cattle or grow more than the most bland of veggies. Still, they do the best with what they have.
Mike&Lauren in their 2010 Mongol Rally trip (Abandon the Cube)
– Finally, tell us something that happened to you travelling and that you will never forget …
Mostly people like to hear stories of being held at gunpoint or nearly drowning. Those things did happen, but they weren’t shocking. That’s sometimes part of travel. What surprised us and what we’ll never forget were the people who went out of their way to help us for no reason. We were picked up by a Chinese truck driver when we were desperate and lost in Ganzi. We were helped out by an amazing man in Baku when we were hostel-less. And we were treated amazingly by a friendly bus driver in South Carolina. Random acts of kindness are amazing, and they really impact a person in a special way.
Thank you guys for your time answering the questions and thank you for the professional travellers’ advises. You can follow their adventures at their blog: Abandon the Cube

Posted In: Travellers Interviews

There are a number of things that needs consideration when you plan a safari, from the kind of safari to what kind of animals you want to see. And when we talk about safari, the place that comes to one’s mind is Africa, which is in-fact the best place to experience an action packed safari. Each national park and reserve in Africa has something unique to offer and a safari vacation in Africa is an experience of a lifetime.

Elefantes en Etosha, Park Namibia

A safari vacation is the answer to an action packed escape from your daily life, but one needs to plan wisely as it’s not like your regular vacation. To help you enjoy a hassle free safari trip, here are some quick tips:

1. While on a safari you never know when you get to see something spectacular so always keep your camera nearby.

2. It is Africa but then too you need some warm clothes, early mornings can be chilly and you will surely need some warm clothing.

3. Binoculars are an essential item when packing for a safari trip, there can be times when you see something at a distance and want to see it closely that is the time when your “bins” will prove helpful. Carry them!!

4. Make the most out of the trip; don’t crib about not being able to see a lion just like the way they show in BBC documentaries. Make the trip enjoyable by noticing birdlife, insects etc.

5. Travelers are advised to carry bug and mosquitoes spays, especially if it’s an overnight safari.

Namibia

6. Check whether you are required to take any vaccines before traveling to the place you are planning to visit.

7. Don’t forget taking sun block as the sun in the day is scorching and can give you a good sun-tan.

8. Cut down on your packing as most of the lodges provide you with free laundry service. Whoa!! What better than that.

9. Last but not the least always keep an extra battery for your camera as we are sure you don’t want to miss picture opportunities.

10. Always book your travel with a reputed operator. If budget is a concern book your flight tickets well in advance as fishing for last minute deals in not everyone’s cup of tea.

Namibia

Posted In: Travel advice, Travel tips

Popa Falls, Namibia

The development of outdoor activities is presented as an excellent choice in any season, especially in summer when the weather is right for activities such as camping fun.

Camping is an activity that takes place outdoors, it consists of pitch tents or tents in places far from civilization usually in mountains and valleys, this practice is common in people who like contact with nature.

The development of a campsite must be based on certain rules in order to avoid any inconvenience, some useful tips to consider before you go camping are:

• Bring canned food for several days.

• Have on hand a repellent for the insects away.

• Keep matches.

• Always keep in mind to bring a flashlight and batteries.

• Have a first aid kit.

• Bring an extra blankets.

• Have warm clothes in the luggage.

• Never forget the sunscreen.

• And, very importantly, never forget a razor.

double sleeping bags.

Although it is advisable to carry many more items firsthand, these are the most important in cases of emergency.

Sossusvlei, Namibia

Posted In: Travel advice, Travel tips

Vinales, Cuba

Cuba is a true wonder of a world, an island paradise caught in a time warp where American cars from the 60s still rule the roads and mobile phones are an alien concept. The country has been isolated from the western world for almost five centuries since Fidel Castro communist regime took over Cuba. Cuba is fast changing today, opening up its shores to the modern world, and now may be the best time for holidays in Cuba to see and experience the unique life of this island.

Long the playground of America’s elite before Castro’s takeover of the island, the world is once again discovering the many wonders of Cuba. Hundreds of thousands of British tourists head to the Caribbean isles every year; this year, a growing proportion will discover Cuba for the first time. If you’re planning a holiday in Cuba this year, here are 12 tips to make the most of your stay:

1. Cuba is unlike any Caribbean tourist destination. There are no huge resorts or a vibrant local hospitality industry. This means you can get a much more authentic Caribbean experience, even at the cost of some western comforts. Cuba is also delightfully free of the tourist traps that mar other Caribbean islands.

2. Although the economy is slowly opening up, Cuba remains a poor country. Opportunistic crime (especially theft) is rampant. Cubans are still unfamiliar with many facets of modern technology and fancy gadgets are an increasing target for criminals. Stow away your iPhones and laptops for safety’s sake.

3. The best time to visit the islands is December-April when the weather is warmer. The period between May-September can be tortuous for tourists with excessive heat and humidity.

4. Spanish is the official language of the islands, though you’ll find plenty of English-speaking locals in the major tourist spots of Havana, Santa Clara and Varadero.

5. Do experience the swinging nightlife of Havana, Cuba’s capital.

Trinidad, Cuba

6. Do take a ride in the antique yellow taxis from the 60s that play the roads.

7. Do smoke an authentic Cuban cigar. Beware of cheap knock-offs sold at exorbitant prices to gullible tourists. Visit the town of Pinar del Rio for the best cigars in the islands.

8. Dance the Habanera, the Tango and the Congo in one of Havana’s many all night clubs and bars to the rhythm of traditional Cuban music – a hybrid of local and world jazz influences.

9. Travel within Cuba is expensive, especially for tourists. Hitchhiking is the most economical way to get around in Cuba. There are dedicated stops for hitchhikers with administrators called ‘El Amarillo’ required to pick up passengers from these stops.

10. Money can be a problem in Cuba with few ATMs and credit card facilities. Carry adequate cash upfront. Some places will accept pound sterling without any need to change into the local currency. Traveller’s checks are rarely accepted in the country.

11. All hotels and restaurants are owned by the government and thus, are notoriously expensive, though they usually maintain high standards (such as the famous Tropicana hotel in Havana). The best place to stay for an authentic Cuban experience would be private homestays, called ‘casa particular’. These are also the best places to eat authentic fiery Cuban cuisine.

12. Communication facilities are scarce and extremely expensive in Cuba, with rates as high as £0.75 per minute. You may be able to use Skype for calls if your hotel has Wi-Fi. Internet facilities are only available at government operated facilities (recognizable by the sign ‘ETECSA’. It’s best to not use your phone at all during your stay in Cuba.

Posted In: Sin categoría

Travelling is one of my passions in life. Apart from being extremely enjoyable, I think that seeing the world is a very good thing to do for many reasons. Visiting as many different places as possible and taking it all in, is a way of broadening your mind and changing the way you look at the world. It can open you up to many different ways of thinking and allow you to make your own decisions, rather than simply going along with the ideas that were around you as your grew up. It allows you to really discover who you are as a person, without the external factors that may otherwise have influenced you if you were to stay in the same place for your whole life.

Magnetic Island Australia

Travelling also allows you to experience other cultures and gain an appreciation for different ways of living. Perhaps your home life consists of going to work, socialising with friends and coming home. However, not everyone in the world does this and it can be really interesting to find out how people in other areas spend their time. Find somewhere to leave your car, by visiting websites like http://www.spanish.hostelworld.com and get on with exploring the world. This will educate you on the wide spectrum of entertainment and ways of living that are out there and perhaps even give you some new ideas about how to live your own life.

Seeing the world will enable you to meet many new people and make lasting friendships. Building connections all over the world is a great thing to do, not only so that you can expand your friendship network, but also so that you have an increasing likelihood of opportunities heading your way. You never know what might happen if you put yourself out there and meet people, so get going and begin your journey or travelling the world.

This post was written by Delia Thomas. She is an avid traveller and loves to explore the opportunities that new places bring. The picture has been provided by Way Away’s travels.

Posted In: Sin categoría

Audi Camp, small camping site in Botswana, near Maun.

Sossusvlei dunes, Namibia

Forty-five years old, black, big as a closet and very nice. If they saw him in Hollywood they would cast him in the role of the good-natured father on a TV show. Bob is the barman at Audi Camp, and even though he has nothing to do with the German car, he is totally in love with the Toyota four-wheeler we have rented and used to cross Namibia to get to Botswana. Just a few weeks ago, we landed in Africa to do a self-drive safari. Our car is in fact a machine, even though it looks like a snail because we’re transporting our dwelling: a tent on the roof, folded out like an accordion, especially made for people like us: i.e., clumsy. That’s only one of the advantages. The other is that at night cats and other indigenous felines circle our car without bothering us.
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What is the most impressing place in the world you have ever been? What advice would you give to someone who wishes to travel there?

The Golden Temple in Amritsar on the Pakistan/Indian border took my breath away, as did Lalibela in Ethiopia. For Amritsrar, don’t go in the Indian summer, it’s almost unbearably hot! For Ethiopia, just go go go, you’ll have the country almost to yourself. Perfect.

What do you hate to forget in your suitcase?

I travel with a backpack exclusively, and I’m pretty much always on the road but I try to make sure I always have at least $100 USD in cash stashed away somewhere in there. If I’ve forgotten that, I’m always stressed that perhaps I won’t find a working ATM or an open cash exchange place. The cash is my safety net.

What would you say to those travellers who are afraid to travel on their own, and end up going to a travel agency even if they do not like taking part in organized tours?

I think it’s normal to be scared, but we have to embrace those fears. I talk about motivation a lot on my site, and essentially taking that first step is the hardest part, so commit. Buy the one way flight, turn your back on the tour, then you have to do it, you’re commited. And from then on in, it’s just easier and easier (and much more awesome!).

What kind of food have you tried on your travels and you found it delicious/surprising? Can you recommend us any place where to try it out?

Should I tell the truth here?! Let me think, pigs penis, lambs testicles, scorpion, dog, snakes blood, rabbit head, turtle soup, locusts, silk worms, starfish, bees and whatever else you can possible imagine! In terms of delicious food overseas, I just love love love gai yang, kao niew gap nam jim jao (griled chicken, sticky rice and spicy sauce) in Thailand, hunt it done and thank me later 😛

Finally, tell us something that happened to you travelling and that you will never forget…

I’ll try to keep it to a clean memory clean in case my mum reads it! I’ve done a lot of cool things like climbing Kilimanjaro, going to a world cup final, swimming with sharks etc. But the one lasting memory I really have was when I signed my teaching contract in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I had just eaten in the local market, ordered my food in Thai, and I was late for work. I drove my motorbike around the corner a little too fast and almost crashed into an elephant, I stabilised myself and carried on. 10 seconds later I had a beautiful feeling of “Wow, I’m really living in Thailand, on a motorbike, the weather is beautiful, I’ve done it, I’m living my dreams”. I remember the thought like it was yesterday, and it was beautiful.

Johnny

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Sana’a’s airport, one of the three countries where, according to the CIA, more terrorists seek refuge than any other.

Woman wearing Burkha

Not one, but many. This year, sequined burkhas are in fashion. Chanel or Dior veils are always a classic, but now everyone prefers sequins. If somebody is asking what are we doing in a country like this, the answer is very simple: to save 200 euros per person. The flight from Addis Ababa to Cairo was a lot cheaper with a layover in Sana’a, Yemen’s capital, and so here we are. We haven’t left the airport, but the three-hour layover has been profitable.
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Mexico City, corrupt capital of Mexico.

Antropology Museum, Mexico City, Mexico

Benito Juárez Airport, Mexico City. At ten we picked up Belén’s parents in our rental car and at ten-ten we’d already almost been almost “bitten”, not by dogs wearing a tag on the collar, but by cops wearing one on their chest. That’s the Mexican police and their famous mordidas , or bribes.
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Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia and the best cafes in the world.

Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Death by starvation is possibly the most outrageous of all and Ethiopia has a long history filled with droughts and famines. Most probably, besides seeing it on the news, most of us have never witnessed such a dramatic situation up close. Although it’s also probably the case that we’ve walked alongside people who were suffering in silence and we didn’t realize it or, what’s worse, we realized it but looked the other way. When you think about it, it’s impossible not to feel guilty. First, because in a way we are guilty and second because one has to have lot of blubber in the belly region not to feel a pang in his stomach.
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San Pedro, Madonna’s “Isla Bonita”.

Half Moon Cay, Belize

5.30 a.m. The sun is reluctant to come out and in the background you can hear the 80’s hit, “Isla Bonita”. But make no mistake. We’re not in an old fashioned bar still partying. On the contrary, we just woke up in San Pedro to dive in the Blue Hole. This is Belize, a little country in the Caribbean, no more than 30 years old and barely 250,000 souls, more or less, inhabiting it. When the Union Jack flew on the flagpole, this place was known as British Honduras, though curiously it’s Guatemala now that claims sovereignty.
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Flying from Nairobi to Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia.

Kalahari desert, Namibia

Africa is better understood from above, particularly from the window of an airplane. We’ve travelled several times on this continent and we’ve always seen the same thing: Nothing. Absolutely nothing. It seems impossible that human life started here. It doesn’t matter that the arid landscape we now see used to be the Garden of Eden. The cradle of humankind has become a desert that has determined the destiny of the millions of people that populate it. And this is not because of its harsh unforgiving climate but because its rough and rugged topography never allowed for the creation of great empires capable of unifying massive territories. Pharaohs, Abyssinians, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, sultans, caliphs and all kinds of kings and races, while powerful at a certain point in time, never could gain control of the whole continent, not even the greater part of it. In Europe, the Romans first and the absolute monarchies afterwards, bequeathed us a heritage that united territories and blended languages, facilitating relations and commerce among the different nations. Nonetheless, in the 20th century we fought not only with our neighbors to the north and to the south, but also fraternally, against our very own brothers. If that happened on a continent where there are scores of nations, imagine what it would be like in Africa where not hundreds but thousands of tribes, clans or ethnic groups coexist. A real slaughter, one made even worse totally random delineation of borders by Western powers, straight lines that cover the continent, tracing parallels and underlining meridians. Sometimes they separated ethnic groups or villages that depended on each other; other times they joint tribes that were archenemies or simply didn’t know each other. This mostly was because of power relations, though sometimes it was merely because Kaiser Wilhelm envied his great aunt Queen Victoria’s possession of two mountains.
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Antigua, old capital of Guatemala.

Tikal, Guatemala

From Chiapas we went to Guatemala. A ten-hour bus ride but no complaints since we took a tourist bus. There’s a reason why the public buses here are called chicken buses. In fact, these are American school buses, second or third hand, converted into regular buses but the seats are still child size. Some have been tuned up so much they could win a competition, though for now the only Guinness Record they hold is for amount of packed-in people per square meter. Others haven’t even been painted, and on the side you can still read the name of the ritzy school, West Bay College, they belonged to before. Meanwhile, you can also see two hundred heads sticking out from the windows.
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Cusco, ancient capital of the Inca Empire.

Cusco, Peru

Cusco. 500 years ago it was the capital of the Inca Empire and now a pretty city at 3400 meters above sea level, crammed with churches and palaces the conquistadors erected using the walls built by the Incas. Walls that were raised with stones polished to perfection and that fit with enviable harmony and also the exact inclination to absorb the effects of the devastating earthquakes so abundant in this area. If right now this place is visited by hordes of tourists, imagine how many would come if Pizarro and his chaps, instead of melting all the gold in the capital, would have left the temples and palaces the way they were before their arrival…
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San Jose de Costa Rica, anti-corruption precinct.

Uvita, Costa Rica

Even though Costa Rica seems like a narrow and small country, it is a big amusement park, one of the good ones, where everything is authentic, not a set. You can see volcanoes releasing lava or turtles nesting, swim with dolphins or look for whales, dive with sharks or fly with a zip line. Or the best of all, cross the whole country while navigating the Pacuare River on a raft, surrounded by tropical forests and crystalline waterfalls. Amazing! And to go from one place to another all you need is a small four wheeler, just what it takes to feel like you’re in the Latino version of Jurassic Park, because truth be told, the island that appears at the beginning of the famous movie is Coco Island in Costa Rica, another candidate for the 7 Natural Wonders of the World.
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Merida, near the Chichen Itza pyramid.

Chichen Itza, Mexico

We’ve been in Mexico for more than a week and after so many ruins and corn tortillas we’re turning into Aztecs. The country is interesting, but everything repeats itself. Mesoamerica is full of pyramids of all sizes and cultures. There are so abundant it has plenty to spare. Zapotecas, Mixtecas, Toltecas and more. The same indigenous community with different feathers. If the textbooks keep them separated it’s because none of was able to dominate the others for a long period of time. Only the Maya in Yucatan and the Aztec in the Mexico Valley imposed themselves on their nearest neighbors. But little else.
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Tahuayo, one of the thousands of tributaries of the Amazon River.

Amazon River, Peru

If we include the tributaries, the Amazon River covers a larger part of Peru than Brazil. From Lima we flew to Iquitos, an island surrounded by fresh water, and from there we went upriver through a tributary until we reached Tahuayo National Reservation. The lodges where we’re staying are four cabins built on posts over the river. The cabins are connected by suspension bridges and there is no electricity or warm water. The only conveniences of the place are the Hammock Room and the lunches prepared by the indigenous woman, Bichina. To be able to sleep well we’ll have to wait until we return to civilization, because the nocturnal concerts of the animals, birds and insects is a show that wasn’t included in the price.
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Buenos Aires, site of the “corralito”.

Congress, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Over the course of our six-month trip we’ve taken pictures of all kinds of places except one: cemeteries. The first time we visited one, we refused to do so and then, to be consistent, we didn’t waver. It’s not as if every time we visit a place we’ve got to see a cemetery. The thing is, though, when one visits a lot of cities and villages, up and down, east and west, without a map or directions, you end up running into one even if you don’t want to. And it makes sense, because if you do the numbers, there are much more of them than there are of us.
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Arusha, the city where safaris start in Tanzania.

Lion, Serengeti, Tanzania

There are two ways to go on safari in Tanzania, one with money and the other with lots of money. The difference is that in the first case you sleep in a tent and in the second case you walk through lodges dying… Dying for life to be like this always because some lodges are truly luxurious. At least that’s what they tell us, because we haven’t seen them, not even from a distance. We’ve rented a couple of sleeping bags and sleep on the ground because we’ve been travelling for 11 months and we’ve burned through a few Visa cards already.
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Havana, having a bite at Bodeguita.

Billboard, Cuba

We’ve been travelling for eight months, and along the way, again and again, we’ve run into the same characters: four renowned travelers who achieved fame through hard work. They also travelled around the world, though in spite of taking the same route, we were never able to get close to them because, among other things, they’re dead. Two sailors, a pirate and a scientist: Captain Cook, who discovered Oceania and hundreds of islands in the Pacific; Captain Cousteau and the crew of the Calypso, diving pioneers; the privateer Sir Francis Drake, half pirate, half gentleman; and Darwin, who followed evolution from one islet to the other using the five continents as his laboratory.
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Miami, from outlet to outlet with our Visa card pouring smoke.

Harley Davidson, Miami

We’re already in Miami and a promise is a promise: we need to find out what the Cuban exiles say about the Revolution and Fidel. There. Nothing. They care about it as much as the Hillary/Obama primaries: they don’t give a damn. And this taking into account that Florida was state decisive in enabling Bush to humiliate Al Gore for a couple of hundred of votes. They’re just too busy leading a luxurious life to pay attention to what happens out there. And we can’t blame them, because as soon as we stepped into South Beach we got caught up in the same consumer fever, running from store to store like the possessed and window-shopping like a couple of yokels just arriving from the past century. Miami is so perfect a city it’s like Amancio Ortega dreamed it up or something. A city made into a mall with plenty of stores, impeccable sidewalks and first- class service.
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Fernando de Noronha, an aquarium island.

Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

We leave port in a wreck of a catamaran that actually sails just fine. On board: the captain, the Rasta, the rookie and us. No one else. For once, we’ve been lucky. The Mar de Fora is calm, and so we’ll be able to go to Pedra Seca, the best place to dive in Fernando de Noronha. We are in a heavenly little island an hour away by airplane from the Brazilian coast. Though discovered by Amerigo Vespucci, it was given the name of the capitalist on the expedition. But it’s also true that when Vespucci explored the great continent, he stopped the nonsense and gave it his own name. Explorer, yes, but no dummy.
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Tierra del Fuego, the end of the world.

Tierra de Fuego, Ushuaia, Argentina

Divers at the end of the world, or Tierra del Fuego, which is just about one in the same. We’re in Patagonia. There’s no other inhabited place in the world closer to Antarctica. As the continent gets closer to the South Pole, it splits into multiple islets, pieces of a giant puzzle that neither want to stick together nor separate. Tierra del Fuego is the biggest of all, separated in the north by the Magellan Strait and in the south by the Beagle Channel. Two passages which link the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific. The boldest adventurers of yore travelled through them: Magellan fulfilled Columbus’ dream of getting to India via the West; Captain Cook, seeking fame, travelled around the world not once, but twice, if there was any doubt that he was the best; and the pirate Drake fled from the Spaniards after stealing their gold and sense of shame.
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Machu Picchu, residence of Emperor Pachacutec.

Machu Picchu, Peru

As we approach Machu Picchu we hear thousands of stories about it. Some confuse it with El Dorado, a sort of bait created by the Incas to send the greedy conquistadors to a sure death in the forest. Others, based on the fact that most of the human remains found there were female, assert that it was a temple for virgins who, abandoned there and without any chance to have children, died out. The discoverer, an American who at the beginning of the 20th Century was led by a local peasant to the remains, believed erroneously that it was a secret fort built by the last rebels that fought the españarris . Some guides, though, explain that it was the residence of its builder, the ninth and greatest of the Quechua monarchs, Pachacutec, and after whose death it was abandoned, as was the custom then.
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Billboard, Cuba

In Cuba single foreigners are quite happy. Both men and women. Because the idea that sexual tourism is exclusively for men is as untrue as Fidel’s jogging suit. Hotel discos are filled with sensual Cuban women and all that, but the streets and bars, the Casa de la Musica and the Casa de la Trova, are all packed with male hookers. Very handsome men as agile and quick with their feet as their hips. Professional “jockeys”. And the women are over the moon, Marujita Diaz style . The guys dance with them, laugh at their jokes, and in addition they have a chance to confirm the famous myth about black men. In exchange the women only have to pay for a few drinks, some food and and a gift like clothing or shampoo. The only downside is that when they travel home they can’t to tell anyone because of what people might say. Everybody knows that “the best thing about making love to Ava Gardner is being able to talk about it”. But nobody can deprive them of that memory, they think, because in the privacy of the island they do as they please without the last sign of embarrassment.
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In a local bus going from Arusha to Nairobi, Kenya’s capital.

Africa's skin

Arusha is a small town in the north of Tanzania, a point of departure for all safaris heading to Manyara Lake, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarnagire Park, and a haven for tsetse flies. A couple of these bit Belén, and maybe it’s a coincidence, but she spent the whole day sleeping. From Arusha you can also easily cross the border into Kenya for 35 bucks, the price of the luxury bus that takes you to Nairobi in seven hours. The luxury part is only the price the few whites pay to travel. The rest of the passengers are locals who don’t even pay a tenth of what we had to spend.
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Santiago de Chile, site of the sadly famous Palacio de la Moneda.

Valparaiso, Chile

We don’t know if the show “Cuéntame” is still on. If it’s not and you feel like more of it, come to Santiago. Santiago de Chile. Here you’ll feel like you’re in the Spain of TVE, when there was only one, of course. Everything is in black-and-white. Or better still, sepia. Because there is a constant mist in the air that gives everything that moves that tone. We don’t know if it’s pollution, fog or dust, or a mix of all. But one has the feeling of seeing the country through a filter that ages everything. In the main square, you can still find a shoeshine boy that you’d say was from a different era if it weren’t for the advertisements on the benches. The same as the cabdrivers, some of which still wear a tie under their woolen vests and have kind faces like old pensioners of the past. That’s why we’re surprised to see so much advertising about children’s rights in Chile, though it’s true that everywhere and at all times things like that went on.
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Rio de Janeiro, candidate for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

With Rio the Janeiro, the Portuguese got it all wrong. It wasn’t a river, and it wasn’t this pretty in January. Rio is amazing year round or, better yet, was amazing. If you have some imagination, climb up Pão de Açúcar, half close your eyes and delete all the apartment buildings from view. There’s no other city in the world located in a paradise such as this.
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Stone Town, where Freddie Mercury was born.

Zanzibar, Tanzania

On any well-organized trip, after going to Tanzania, you’re taken for a couple of days to the heavenly island of Zanzibar. There classes are still noticeable. The rich on their honeymoon are taken to the luxury spas in air-conditioned cars. Those who go to a camping site are crowded together in a van and driven to a collection of seedy cabins next to the spa. In the end, the sea doesn’t make any distinctions: it’s the same color for everybody, so things aren’t so bad. Still, all the others get here by plane. We, instead, wanting to feel integrated, took the local ferry, lurching from side to side and getting nudged by all the races in the world. It’s a madness we do not recommend in the least. Since we can’t stay still, we don’t lose a minute lying down on the hammocks. We’ve rented a vespa to travel around the island, like we were in a Fellini movie shot in the tropics or something.
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Havana, “indomitable village” of Communism.

Habana, Cuba

One has two options to get from Cancun to Havana. Either you pay a little bit more and fly with Mexicana or you travel with Cubana de Aviación. If you’re not scared of flying, we recommend the second. The flight is less than one hour, but really amazing. From outside everything looks normal. Shiny fuselage, three motors, two wings and a fashionably dressed crew. But when you enter the plane you notice already that in Cuba, in general, and in Cubana particularly, things are not what they seem. First, duck your head. The Russian aeronautic engineers, perhaps thinking of that dog they sent to space, designed the hatch for Laika’s height. Everyone had to duck their heads several inches if they didn’t want to take a souvenir home in the form of a bump on their heads.
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Ollantaytambo, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Peru.

Sacred Valley, Peru

The Incas’ descendants tell that when the “españarris” entered Cusco, they mistook them for the sons and daughters of the sun. Because their skins were so light and they were so tall, wearing shiny armor and riding animals they had never seen before, you can understand the error, an error that cost them a lot. When they reached Cusco, Pizarro betrayed them by taking the son of the Sun prisoner, and he offered himself to pay for his own rescue. He would fill a whole room of gold and silver until it reached above the Emperor with his hand stretched up. Blinded by the never-ending caravans that came from all over the land to make the payment, Pizarro thought that if they were willing to give all these jewels without putting up a fight, there might be more of it hidden. Without wasting time he ordered his men to look under each stone, going after a treasure that maybe only existed in his imagination.
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Holbox, a little paradise in the Mexican Caribbean.

Tulum, Mexico

In two weeks we’ve travelled half of Middle America and its surroundings. From Mexico we went to Guatemala, then on to Belize, and later up north, entering into Mexico again. It felt like coming back home. The bus driver bribed the policeman at the border with a bottle of rum and he, in turn, didn’t charge us anything. It’s good that we share a common language, because the rest of the tourists had to pay 25 dollars a piece, and so he raked it in.
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Maasai Mara, area where the main Maasai tribes live.

Amboseli, Kenya

We never learn. Whenever we use Lonelyplanet to make a decision about our trip we regret it. We’re in Kenya, on our last safari, and we’ve entrusted the safeguarding of our asses to Safe & Ride, one of the recommended companies by the most famous and most sold tourist guides in the world. All things considered, we were lucky because at least this is a real company. The rest of the ones mentioned by Lonelyplanet ended up being nothing more than intermediaries between operators and tourists with the aim of raising prices and making sure the jeeps are packed.
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Queenstown, New Zealand, world capital of adventure sports.

Queenstown, New Zealand

Yesterday we spent the night in a coastal village of the southern island of New Zealand. There’s nothing special there in spite of being the only place in the world where you can always spot whales, or so they say. As for the sea being full of whales… Well, we didn’t see a single one, though the sky’s certainly full of stars. We’re in the southern hemisphere and here’s a big chunk of space that us northerners never get to see at home, and never will. Just as we look for the North Star to pinpoint the north, here they look for the Crux. It is so famous it even appears on their flag. Four stars arranged like cross, easy to locate thanks to the twin Pointer Stars. If you trace an imaginary line between them, this straight line takes you to the Crux, and because it creates a right angle with the longest crosspiece, reveals where south is in the sky.
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Rio de Janeiro, site of the largest sambadrome.

Corcorvado, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

If Argentinean teenagers get plastic breasts as a birthday present from their parents, then God gives their Brazilian counterparts the same and then some. Breasts about to take off and butts like landing strips, chocolate suntans and designer bikinis… They put Christ the Redeemer on top of the Corcovado to make sure that with so much beauty the cariocas didn’t lose sight of reality. Maybe that’s why going topless is not appreciated in Brazil. Never mind, Brazilians, smart as they are, made swimsuits so tiny that here, dressed-up women are sexier than naked women in other countries. You see, next to Ipanema or Copacabana, Benidorm is like a common butcher’s shop.
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Amboseli, Kenya

We are not going to lie, the world is not wonderful. It has amazing places and nice people, but not everything looks like the rainbow. There are places where kids run after you for hundreds of meters to get an empty bottle of water. There are places where people fill the streets waiting for a job that will never come. There are places where shit up piles in every corner and nobody moves a finger to clean it. During this trip around the world, we have visited places that we never imagined, but we also had to escape from places that we would have never wanted to visit.
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Holbox, Mexico

Many times we have been asked about the best thing about this trip and we never hesitated with the answer. As impressive as the monuments we visited, or beautiful the landscapes have been, the best moment every day was around seven, when we were looking for a nice place to have a cold beer. After spending the whole day in a safari in Africa, swallowing dust in the Jordanian deserts, or avoiding crocodiles in Australia, we can assure you that there is nothing like sitting in a terrace and finish up the day there.
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Near a Mursi village, Ethiopia, in the most inexpensive hotel in the whole trip.

Erbore kids, Ethiopia

The South of Ethiopia is populated by tribes which, even living close to each other, are completely different. They have only one thing in common: they charge tourists two birrs per photo. Although it is only 15 cents of a euro, the system create so much pressure on the photographer that you have to think twice before taking each picture. Particularly when the “burnt faces” learn to count the pictures taken, counting the clicks that they hear.
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Nelson, New Zealand, near Park Abel Tasman.

Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand

Imagine for a second that you’re a 19th century Englishman that the Industrial Revolution has left with nothing. Your only possibility for advance is to become a settler. But first you need to choose where to go. America is not an option, since they’re in the middle of Civil War. In India and South Africa there’s no land left to buy, and if you want a large plot for yourself, Oceania is the place to go. You just have to face a couple of months in a boat, and if scurvy, the pirates and the storms don’t kill you, you still have one more choice: Australia or New Zealand. You prefer the second in advance because you’ve been told that the climate is kinder and similar to home. But, just in case, you ask around to know what your new neighbors will be like and things like that.
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Buenos Aires, Argentina, European capital of Latin America.

Congress, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Río de la Plata, or River Plate to the soccer fans. Across the river is Uruguay. Over here, Argentina, or the “land of silver.” It was called this because from these lands and waters came a big chunk of the money that the Spanish Crown spent in its dream of becoming a world power, money they would gladly welcome now, the Argentineans remind us whenever they can.
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Kings Canyon, Australia

Like any other title, this one, “the travelled” might sound pretentious, but nothing like that. Between traveller and travelled there’s the same difference that we find between cook and cooked. While the former has the upper hand, the latter has the situation out of hand. A traveller is the one who travels; a travelled is the one who has received bumps while travelling. We, after three months, weather we like it or no, have earned the “travelled diploma”. The same time it took us to learn what you cannot find in any guide and nobody will tell you:
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Siem Reap, city on the South of Cambodia.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat, the famous temples in Cambodia, better known for being the setting of Lara Croft adventures. Maybe that is why it is crowded by Americans. But not always. When the sun starts to blaze, most of the tourists, who have been fooled to see the sunrise, disappear exhausted after having walked for hours. At that moment you will feel like Indiana Jones in one of his movies. You, by yourself, surrounded by a dense jungle where hundreds of temples fight to survive the invasion of Nature. An absolute wonder that expands further.
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Easter Island, Chile, the most magical place we have ever been.

Easter Island, Chile

Pablo Neruda: Chilean, poet and Nobel award winner. According to himself, he was a prize idiot and a sailor only by mouth. The former, it goes without arguing. The latter, maybe it was true that he couldn’t stand sailing, and he was still crazy about ships, but someone like him, who could use his imagination like he did, doesn’t need the title of captain to be a sailor. His houses are like dreams with tags, where each corner has a story. True or false, it doesn’t matter, probably created by him, but so alive that the objects seem to have a face and a name. Like that armchair that he called cloud, or the living room that he turned into a lighthouse. Where there were no windows, he invented sights, and where the floor creaked, he imagined a schooner.
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Sailing the River Yangtze through the Three Gorges, in a 3rd class cabin, China.

Three Gorges Dam, China

Heraclites said that nobody can swim twice in the same river because, in life, everything flow non stop. The river will never be the same, and neither will you. We are sailing the river Yangtze, the biggest Chinese river, famous for his gigantic dam, but also for having the Three Gorges, three steep gorges that look like the gates of a new different world.
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Singapore, state-island owner of one the biggest (and most unknown) companies in the world.

Singapore

Perfect but boring? From Singapore. However, they would answer with no shame and with every right: “yes, so what? It doesn’t matter to us if we are boring because we are the fifth country with the highest per capita income”. That is how practical they are, and look how well it went for them since, in 1959, they were one of the remaining colonies to get rid of the British Empire. Despite that, the Victorian trace can still be noticed in every corner of their state-city. Not only because they drive on the left side of the road, but also because of the gentlemen education that has remained there. Not in their genes, which have all the colours except for white, but in the most important of their leitmotivs: Zero Political corruption. We talk about what it is called National Campaigns, marketing waves that the government utilizes to flood the little island constantly trying to educate the population. There have been many and very popular, such as: Speak Good English, to avoid the development of Singlish -like Spanglish but the Asian way-; or Romancing Singapore to promote the birth rate. Although most of them didn’t work, with the two first, the campaigns Be Practical and Be Honest, they turned a 4 million people country about to starve in a little World Power country.
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Easter Island, Chile

People don’t ask us about our luggage anymore, but about what countries we recommend them to visit. That is very understandable, because for a regular person it is possible to take 10 to 20 trips like this one in a life time, so they’d better choose the right place from that long list of desired places to go. At www.way-away.com you will find our Trip Advisor. According to the days that you have, the time of the year you want to travel, your budget and your interests, we find the country suits your preferences.
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Sossusvlei, Namibia

From the moment we said that we were going to travel around the World, people asked us all kinds of questions. Funny that the most extravagant, is also the most frequent. What do you pack when you travel for a year? It’s the million euro question. We are going to give you the answer. The important thing it’s not what you are going to put on, but what you are going to take off. We have already sent home 20 kilos, and counting.
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Chengdu, China, the biggest reserve of panda bears in the world.

Panda Bears, Chengdu, China

The astute and fast readers have probable noticed that among all the bears in the title of this article, there are two that are, unless some scientist proves me wrong, pure invention, and any similarity with reality is a coincidence. Today we want to talk about coincidences that are not such a thing. Think about a panda bear. It looks like a teddy bear, its tender look, and the colour of their fur. Isn’t it too much of a coincidence that Mother Nature has created such a perfect animal? Its ears: both ears have the same black colour. Just like the two white spots around their eyes. The rest of the face, cotton white. Not even the damn Walt Disney would have drawn it better! It is perfect. So perfect that it’s hard to believe that is real.
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Gili Meno, a little island near Bali, Indonesia.

Bali, Indonesia

When you land in Bali, you think that you have arrived to the real paradise, not one of those that are shown in any catalogue that look like they are made of plastic. This Indonesian island still ooze an exotic air of paradisiacal and colourful beaches, of palm and coconut trees, and all that marketing stuff used to sell deodorant brands. Or at least, that was what we thought until yesterday, when we realized that the idyllic image that we had has nothing to do with the reality.
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Cairo, Egypt, near the museum where you can see the mummy of Ramses II, the greatest pharaoh.

Keops Pyramid, Cairo, Egypt

Yesterday we were in Cairo, and except for a couple of times that we rode the tube, we took eight taxis. The first one, and right on the chin. We had booked a room in a good, beautiful and inexpensive hotel; they even had free shuttle from the airport!! After waiting for 30 minutes, no sight of the free shuttle, so we decided to move on by ourselves. Curiously enough, the cheapest option was a limousine, so as bold as brass we treated ourselves. A red Fiat Punto, to be precise. It looked like a limousine as much as our motorbike looks like a Harley Davidson (that is nothing at all), but after seeing the other taxis, it’s no wonder that any vehicle with three doors is enlisted as “luxury transport”.
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Kaikoura, in the South Island of New Zealand.

Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand

May 29th, 1953. Eleven thirty in the morning. Sir Edmund Hillary and the Sherpa Norgay are the first people in the world to climb to the top of the Everest Mountain. The Nepali came with the title; the New Zealander got it right there. They became friends forever and always refused to admit who arrived first. As Hillary said, in view of the possibility that an Englishman got there a few years before, dying on his way down, “going up is only half of the job”. We will never know who got there first, what we know is that they came back to Camp VII holding hands, so that Hillary, as the gentleman he always was could say his famous quote: “we knocked that bastard off!”.
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Hong Kong, free port returned to China after 99 years.

Hong Kong, China

Welcome to Hong Kong, welcome to future. If there is any place in the planet where you can feel like Blade Runner, that is Hong Kong, a group of islands that the English conquered at the end of the Opium Wars and were returned, not too long ago, to the Chinese. Actually, the leasing agreement between the two countries included only the Kowloon Peninsula, but the main island, Hong Kong’s heart, was also included in the same package.
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Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia.

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Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

We have taken so many planes that we have started to think and talk nonsense. As if we were Captain Spock, we feel like asking our base to be teleported to our next destination. Or even better, what if the telephone boxes turned into a travelling machine? You would only have to dial the postcode of the place where you want to go and you will turn up instantly there. In order to come back home or travel to another destination, you could repeat the same procedure as many times as you wanted.
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Bangkok, capital of Thailand.

Floating Market, Bangkok, Thailand

If you want to spend an evening at the circus, come to Thailand. But you are going to need a week instead of an evening as you might spend the first five days in one of the endless Bangkok’s traffic jams. In order to see the clowns, you don’t even have to pay for the ticket, because you can see them in the street. Although the vaginal launch of ping-pong balls, due to the risk for the artist, is indoors. You only need a strong stomach to have a drink while the expert launchers find the perfect position with the ideal launching angle.
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Pingyao, China, medieval city.

Bazaar, Shanghai, China

We have been just in three or four countries and we have been mistaken by tourists from different countries: Irish, German, Italian, but most of all by pariahs. And I can understand that we don’t look like the brightest, but if they have tried to still our wallets one day after the other, from the right and the left, what do they do to the typical retired American couple, or the people who are not used to travel? Who knows! Maybe the former, looking naïve, are the kings of leaving the restaurants without paying, and the latter don’t have any doubts to pick a taxi driver’s butt if they are trying to cheat.
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Africa, after being on a safari in 5 different countries.

Elephants, Serengeti, Tanzania

Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania:

One of the most beautiful places we have ever seen. It is like an illusion with 600 metres walls forming a natural fence in which thousands of animals live as if it were a dream. It is the main reason to go there. We could also see there a black rhinoceros, not usual at all.
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Africa, after being on a safari in 5 different countries.

Etosha Park, Namibia

Kruger Park, South Africa:

It is the easiest to visit but the least authentic. It is a “do it yourself” safari, driving through set tracks but you cannot even open the windows. At night, you will sleep in modest bungalows with the grill on the backyard as if they were semidetached houses. It is easy to see all kinds of animals except for lions and cheetahs. There are not many. Before going photo-hunting, you can look at he camp map where you can see where the animals where seen the day before, but many times it’s the same.
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Africa, after being on a safari in 5 different countries.

Lions, Amboseli, Kenya

Lions:
Lion, Serengeti, Tanzania
There is no doubt that they are the kings of the savannah. All day laying down, doing nothing while their females go hunting. And if that wasn’t enough, when he feels the “need of company” and the female is not into it, because she already has a litter from another king, he eats her cubs to be able to impregnate her with his genes. However, not all of them live like kings. When a male has to leave a group to form his own, since they are not good hunters, he might die of starvation. What an end for a sovereign!
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Xian, China, where the Terracotta Warriors are.

Terracota Army, Xian, China

They probably work a lot, but they are not known by their artistic skills, at least when we talk about the great arts. They don’t have great painters, nor beautiful sculptures; their paintings look childish and their busts expressionless. Maybe the 8000 Terracotta Warriors found buried in Xian are an exception. Each of them has a different face, but they are not an artistic display. The archeologists say that the meaning of such work of art was an exhibition of power to decorate the Emperor grave, with no other hidden or esoteric intention. We prefer to think that the monarch, proud of his army after winning a battle, promised each of them a statue, reward saved only for gods at that time.
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Axum, Ethiopia, where the Ark of the Covenant is said to be guarded.

Hamer girl, Ethiopia

Politics is not an exception in the singularity of Ethiopia either. There are many records that prove it. First, it is the only country in Africa that was never colonized. Mussolini tried to invade but 5 years later, the Italians had to run away and come back to their refuge in Eritrea. Secondly, their king ruled more years than any other Monarch in the world in the XX century. So long that he even lost his mind and nobody ever dared to argue his crazy decisions. If that was not enough, in 20 years they went from being an absolute monarchy, to a communist country to end up as a capitalist country. All these swings put it at the end of the line of the world development, which is going to be difficult to overcome as long as the most of its population has no running water.

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Axum, Ethiopia, where the Ark of the Covenant is said to be guarded.

Axum, Ethiopia

13 months of sunshine. This is the lure that the government of Ethiopia uses to attract tourists. As most of the marketing, it is only a half-true, but do not bet which half is the truth, because you would lose. Their year has 13 months, but in the summer it’s difficult to see the sun. Ethiopia is a strange country; where nothing is what it seems, and everything is different from what is expected. Perhaps that’s the reason it is so special.

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Phi Phi Islands, Thailand, where Leonardo di Caprio starred The Beach.

Phi Phi Islands, Thailand

We arrived to Phi Phi Islands from Phuket, capital of sexual tourism in Thailand. The ferry had a good sample of all kinds of low cost travellers. We felt like home, mainly disembarking and seeing that the port was a hot spot for innocent tourists’ hunters. While our fellow travelers were going crazy trying to find a room, we decided to seat in an area outside a bar in front of the sea to ease our hunger with a cold beer. Experience is a rank, we thought. When all the naïve tourists have fallen for the worst hotels at the highest prices, sales will come up. A couple of hours later it poured down and it flooded the island, and also made us emerge form our lethargy. But it was too late already. Even the most remote motel was full. Pants up and flip-flops down, we walked the main street up and down so many times trying to find a decent room to stay, that half of the island knew us at the end. At the beginning we found it funny, but at the end it was not funny at all. Much less when the night came and a foul smell invaded everything. The sewer of the island had overflowed, and the crap started to mix with the dirt and we could not tell crap from mud anymore.

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Sydney, Australia.

The Twelve Appostles, Australia

The most authentic thing in Sydney is how they celebrate Christmas Day. The 25th of December, in the morning, you can see everybody waiting for the bus to go to the beach, wearing a swimsuit and a Santa Claus hat. Although what they really like is to brag about the last night of the year, so much so, that they even created a brand: the NYE (New Year’s Eve). Thousands of people come from all over the world to Australia to be the first ones to celebrate the New Year and see the fireworks from the Harbour Bridge, one of their beaches, or parks. One week before the event, the Tourist Office organizes seminars to explain how to manage all the hustle and bustle that take place those days. The first suggestion was priceless: “if by noon you don’t have a good location to see the fireworks, you can go back to your hotel room and watch them on TV”. With that, as with everything else, they were exaggerating. Following their advice, we found a good location in a little creek and we went there 10 hours before the show, with our cooler and our take-away-sushi. It was not until 5 minutes before midnight that people started to arrive with no rush. As I said before, much ado about nothing.
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Sydney, Australia.

Kata Tjuta (Las Olgas), Australia

Australia is a country on sale but nobody seems to be interested in buying it. On the north and on the south, houses and stores, everything is on sale. And the strange thing is that the ones that have the “For Sale” sign are not the ruinous business or the dilapidated houses, but the most luxurious flats located in the best areas. Apart form the crisis, the reason for so many businesses to be for sale is that here, everybody wants to be successful to leave. Just like everybody wants to leave, nobody wants to come in, not even the Third World country immigrants. Only a few Chinese people in Sydney, and that’s it. That’s why everything is so expensive in Australia. Since they don’t have cheap labour to cover the most basic services or the most simple professions, maids and waiters are people like us, locals who get their hands dirty in exchange for a salary that, without being anything special, it would be a fortune for a Filipino. The exception is a couple of Europeans working in fashionable bars to learn English, but the rest of them are just a bunch of modern Cocrodile-Dundees. Very chic, but also very embittered.

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Tokyo, capital of Japan.

Yoyogi, Tokyo, Japan

 
I want to be Japanese. I want to be able to walk like them, quietly, almost not touching the floor. I want to give and take things with that sweetness, with both hands and a gentle head gesture, as if everything was a little treasure. I want to live in their houses, with that light that wrap everything up instead of illuminate it. I want the pleasure of feeling their tatamies in my bare feet and sleep in their futons. I wan to eat in their bars with a Japanese cook that prepares sushi piece by piece, as if each maki was a unique jewel. I want to walk in their gardens, surrounded by those trees that you only get after years of patience and tons of caresses.

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Lhasa, capital of Tibet

It was not until the third day after crossing the border of Nepal and Tibet that we got to the plain were the Himalaya is located.  We stopped at the first crossroads to have a tea and warm up a little bit.  Entering the bar we were so astonished that we looked at each other not understanding what was going on.  A few kilometres from the Roof of the World, a Peruvian or maybe Bolivian family, was staring at us, as if it was normal to run into each other thousands of kilometres from our countries of origin.  We were about to start speaking in Spanish.  The wool of their clothes, their colourful clothing, their cute hats, their long scarves.  Not only their garments, their complexion, the thickness of their hair or their features.  Those Tibetans looked so much like any native American for the Andes that for a moment we thought we had been teletransported to the Titicaca high plains.

We have asked and searched everywhere and we haven’t found an answer for that extraordinary coincidence.  Although it does not seem to be difficult to imagine what both people have in common: the altitude.  Their garments are made with the best material to keep them warm.  This material is made with the skin or wool of animals that, even being from different parts of the world, have developed the similar systems to fight low temperatures.  In reality, the lamas from the Andes and the yaks from Tibet are as similar as their owners.  The colours of the materials are bright in both cultures as nowhere else.  There must be dozens of explanations to justify the coincidence, but we bet that the rocks or plants that you can find at this high altitude, for some reason that we don’t know, have more intense colours than the ones in the lower altitudes.  Here and there their cheeks are pink and hardened form birth, probably to keep them warm during the frost that they have to bear all the time. It is the same with the wings of their noses.  They are wider than usual and they are used to inhale more air and compensate the lack of oxygen that they have at an altitude of 4000 metres.  Also the same with their eyelids almost closed to protect their eyes from the reflection of the sun on the snow that surrounds them.

Who knows if all these make any sense or it is just a lot of nonsense that we just made up? How beautiful history would be if it were told like that! And how easy to remember! All of us had that one teacher who went a step forward and was able to get our interest. Would it be so difficult to design an educational system like that? Maybe the difference is that when we are children we were not interested in these things at all, and now we have a passion for it. Who would have told us that one day we would be desperate to go back to school!?

Definitely this trip is changing us more than what we expected…

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Lhasa, Dalai Lama’s residence until his exile to India

It is curious the attraction that Buddhism and Dalai Lama arise in the West and how little we really know about them.  The most glamorous religion has its spiritual capital in the middle of Himalaya, Tibet.  The last theocracy until China invaded and annexed it as one of its provinces.  That happened more than 50 years ago.  Despite of it, and even though they try to hide it, it is still another country.  In reality, it is Chinese people themselves who give Tibet a particular status requiring a special authorization to be able to visit. It is some kind of save-conduct that we could only get in Kathmandu with luck and something else.  We celebrated it with the coldest beer in the world, frozen actually, a larger Everest.  At last we would be able to fulfil the adventure that we have been pursuing for so long: cross the highest range in the world driving a 4×4.

During the first part of the journey we drove a little road where the capital of Nepal and the Tibetan border meet.  It was a narrow path with abandoned villages on its way, many of which have decided to build barricades and charge a toll to any fool who crosses their roads.  Arguing here and paying there, we arrived to the Friendship Bridge, a viaduct over the rift that separates Nepal and Tibet. With our bags on our backs, we started crossing it as if we were spies sent back to the enemy in the middle of the Cold War. Behind us, we still could hear the rumour of bustling Nepalis.  In front of us, we had, waiting for us, Chinese soldiers enveloped in fog, who without saying one word, made us form a line.  With the passport in our hands and the fear in our eyes, we waited to have our bags checked.  They did it in such an organized and methodical way that we started to feel guilty, remembering all the legends about innocent people behind bars.  When it was our turn, they started to shout and our doubts turned into a nightmare.  The reason: a misspelled surname in our visa.  For less than that, others had been sent back to Nepal, but the Weather Lama took pity on us and it started raining cats and dogs.  They didn’t think that getting wet, because of two nobodies like us, was worth it so they got quiet as fast as they had started to shout before.

That is they way we entered in the most mystic country in the world: completely soaked and running like a hare, just in case the charge man changed his mind and arrested us. One week later that wrongly stamped paper, played a dirty trick on us again. Tired of so much foolishness, it decided to hide at the bottom of our suitcase and refused to be found for a while.  The police officers in the airport where we had to take our plane to leave Tibet explained the situation very tactfully: “no paper, don’t go”.

Before all that, we had to get to Lhasa.  Seven days that felt like seven weeks.  Just the starting up was an adventure.  The first Tibetan village is like a bottleneck, trapped between the border and roads under construction.  The long lines of trucks waiting to get the permission to leave the country make it even worse. Luckily, we were only one day isolated in that trap.  The following day we were cleared to continue our journey through an impossible road: a winding precipice where hundreds of workmen risk their lives everyday to turn it into a free-passage.  Once we overcome the vertiginous falls, a couple of short cuts through nowhere took us to the high plain where the Himalaya is situated. Spectacular scenery with blue lakes, white snow and grey lands; mountain passes at an altitude of 5000 metres and a view to the famous Everest and the unknown Cho Oyu. That is how we arrived to Lhasa.

Located in the middle of a dead plateau, surrounded by steep mountains and crossed by big avenues, the cradle of Buddhism looks more like another city in the Olympic China than the capital of Tibet.  The spirituality that we expected to find vanished like ice in the spring.  All the ideal sanctuaries, where silence and meditation reign over materialism, are now a fantasy in the westerners’ imagination.  The bucolic view of peaceful people sharing their philosophy of life with the travellers is “some Hollywood” eager to make their movies real.  Traffic lights and aggressive children take its place now.  It is said that Chinese people destroyed that dream, and with it, most of the temples.  Demolished, ruined, or simply with their doors closed and sealed.  The few that are left have turned into machines to make money to pay for the “revolutionary tax”, that, as if it was a gangster, the Chinese government make them pay to be able to continue operating.  The same government that has prohibited the reincarnation of Dalai Lama.

Or maybe not.  Maybe the Chinese invaders were not the ones who put an end to that idealized Tibet.  Maybe it was the corrosion of the modern life, or the globalization, or maybe it was the industrial development.  Maybe it was that image of Buddhism that we were projected and its capital never existed.  We tried to ask about it to some Tibetans to know the truth but the only answer that we got, over and over, was: “I’m not allowed to talk about this”.  Will they ever be able to do it?

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Kathmandu, capital of Nepal

I am sure that you wondered before how personalities are shaped, but, have you ever wondered the same thing about countries?

In India, undoubtedly, religion is the factor that helped to mould the way its people are. One religion, Hindu, that is exactly the same now than millions of years ago. Immovable. Just like its people’s destiny.  If they are born in a caste, they die in that caste, no matter what they do, no matter what happens. Everything is marked by it. Where you will live, the job you will have and the person you will marry. Only death liberates you from that circle to enter in a new one.

Settled in their destiny, many Hindus seem to survive instead of living, watching the days go by and expecting a better new life after death. If their existence is now a bitch is because they were dogs in their previous life, but if today they behave, they will be awarded in their next life. That is their only consolation, because, just in case you can remember what you earned in your previous life, who is going to claim anything to the typical guru who fooled you? The purpose of this system is to mould a conformist country, a society where there is a non-effort culture, because, what is the point in breaking your back working if you’re not going to get your reward until the next life? Future and past hopelessly united. An endless deja vú that impregnates everything in India. From head to toe. From head, because you can see in their faces the misery that seems to be unavoidable for them; and to toe, because rubbish piles up in the street waiting for somebody to pick it up.

Nagarkot, Nepal

Last week, when we flew to Nepal, we were expecting to see the same, but to our surprise, it was different. It was an amiable and sweet country, where men and women work non-stop, while kids use any spot to do their homework. It is curious that these two countries, being so close to each other, are so different form each other. Buddhism, more present in Nepal than in India, influenced them positively, but I think there must be another reason for that.

Throughout history, India has been dominated by all kinds of Empires, most of them foreigners. Some of these invaders tried to destroy the Indian culture, but most of them saw a way to maintain their power over the Indian people. The more conformist the people are, the easier it is to dominate them. That is what happened. Actually, Indian people only achieved their freedom when characters educated with occidental values leaded them to get rid of the British Empire, and that happened less than a century ago. Besides, Gandhi y Nehru, achieved the independence for their country, but they were never able to put an end to the caste system, much less to the inequality, racism, and poverty that it’s been causing all these centuries. Not even when they tried with all their might, and paying the high price of their lives and their love ones’. However, three millenniums of inertia is too much, even for so exceptional leaders as they were.

Nepal, on the other hand, it’s been inexpugnably for foreign armies thanks to the mountains surrounding it. It has been always ruled by local petty kings. They were as tyrannical as the ones in India, but with one big difference: they had the same skin colour as their vassals. Some of them were fair, others ruthless, but most of them acted with “enlightened absolutism”, always looking for the best for their people, even when that meant going against their own religion. In a democracy, necessary but painful reforms find barriers to keep going, whereas in authoritarian countries there is no other choice but to comply with them from the first moment. This dangerous argument has been commonly used hundreds of times by dictators anxious to “legalize” their power, but it does not mean that sometimes, it makes sense. While Gandhi y Nehru were failing in India with one of these transformations, several centuries before, in Nepal, the king Janak could change his subjects forever. He was convinced that education was the key for success, so he established a system, which is still current in Nepal, based on three main facts:

1)      Ensure social equality in education.

2)      Create and promote the student social responsibility.

3)      Develop and preserve culture within education.

Having said this, it does not seem to be a great discovery, but, read it carefully:  “Ensure social equality in education”. Hundreds of years ago, saying that education would be the same for everybody, whether you are a prince or the son of a peasant, and through it, the opportunities to carve a future of yourself would be the same, was not only the most revolutionary thought ever seen since Jesus times, but it was also the complete opposite of what their Hindu neighbours were advocating.

Could one decision of one king change the fate of a whole country forever? Is it possible that a river, a valley, or a mountain range too high to be overcome by foreign invaders, could protect some and abandon others, being crucial not only to their future, but also to their personality?  If that happens to countries, what about with people? What kind of experiences we lived as children that made us be as we are now? If that teacher wouldn’t have asked Pedro to count all the books in his house, maybe he would have never discovered the Salgari collection. Without those books, maybe he would have never dreamt about travelling to Asia. Without those and Belen’s dreams, maybe we wouldn’t be here today, in Kathmandu. Maybe then, our trip around the world would be somebody else’s and our book would be waiting to be written. Without that book, there would not be a reader either. And if there is no reader, who are you?

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Pokhara, Nepal city facing Annapurna

We have been hardly travelling for a month and we have been convinced several times to wake up really early. The reason: to watch sunrise that promised to be exceptional. The result: if they weren’t the last ones, they will be, because we are not going to be fooled again to set the alarm clock at 4 in the morning. When you take a whole year vacation, you are not in the mood for this type of jokes. They only need the nearest mountain, a sign hanging on the door saying, “Sunrise Tour”, and, voilá, the business is set up. The sooner is the departure time, more people and, therefore, more money for them.

We might think that globalization is something new, but it is been around the tourist business for ages. And you wonder: if they don’t even have enough money to buy a soda, how in the world they learned the same marketing techniques here and there? In this corner of the world as long as in any other, we are recognized. We didn’t open our mouths yet, and they know where we are from and, of course, where we are going. Didn’t you ever notice the tone that beggars use in the London underground is the same tone other beggars use in Paris, Barcelona, or Berlin? And, I know they travel, because they go up and down, non-stop, using the red line, but if the travel card cannot be used to transfer from country to country, how is it possible that they have the same intonation?

Now, at least some of them have charm. Like the boy that this morning kept us company while we were seeing the sunset. After making us laugh for a while, he tried to get 100 rupees from us to buy a pump to inflate his ball.  Only so that you can get an idea of the situation, in Nepal, for a half of that amount, many people would climb up and down the Everest, barefoot. I am sure that if instead of talking to him about football, we had talked about ballet, he would have asked money to buy a sewing machine to sew his tutu.

For a moment we thought that the little boy was with us because he liked us. We thought that he was different, not like the others. He put an act to make the rip off more profitable. With the same wittiness, we sent him to pull the leg of the Japanese tourist next to us. He accepted his defeat with sportsmanship and, without losing one minute, he turned around to get another prey. And then, we saw him. The little boy, who was knee-high to a grasshopper, was walking around, at 6 in the morning and at an altitude of 4000 meters, wearing his pyjamas. They were so worn out that you could see not only that it was about to tear up on his butt, but it also had a big brown stain. The stain was as brown as the last look that he gave us. So full of shame as we feel now. A hundred rupees for a ball? If he had asked us at that moment, we would have made the entire field, right there, in the middle of the Himalaya, or wherever he wanted.

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Wuhan, the end of our trip around China

  1. They eat with sticks, and when the food is liquid, they slurp with no shame.
  2. They serve their dishes in the centre of the table to be shared, never individually. That’s communism taken to the table.
  3. They suck their mucus through their mouth and then spit on the floor constantly, or burp in the presence of others. Their society considers these things acceptable.
  4. Using only one hand, they can represent the numbers form 0 to 9, so with both hands they can represent up to 99. For example, the surfers’ greeting with both hands is 66.
  5. There is no alphabet. Each word is represented with a different character. These symbols are not arbitrary. They are composites of phonetic components and semantic radicals.
  6. Their economic system is a hybrid between communism and capitalism: they have only one political party, death penalty, and some type of democracy to look good.
  7. They believe in destiny and fortune and their main religious book is I- Ching. It is like an endless horoscope. They throw some type of dice, and according to the result, they must look up one page or another. Whatever is written there must be an inspiration to make a decision or to settle a doubt in their minds.
  8. They understand religion as something philosophical and philosophy as something religious.
  9. It is not that they don’t respect the queues; it is that they don’t exist for them. To get on a bus or enter the cinema, from the youngest to the oldest, they push each other, making their own way with their elbows and with no objection.
  10. There are no social barriers and it is no effort for them to create social relationships. They can start a conversation easily with people they don’t know, but as easily, they start arguing. This is something that happens more often than occidentals are used to see.
  11. Although they are known for copying everything, they were the “fathers” of the best invention in the world: pasta. Even though they don’t waste their time trying to claim their copyright, they should have kept the gunpowder for themselves…

Only in their territory the number of their population is over 1,300 millions of inhabitants. If you add to it the number of Chinese people living all around the world, it is easy to think that they will own the Planet one day. So we’d better get used to some of these things. So far, we tried the I-Ching before making up our minds about travelling around the world and, it worked! The page where the dice sent us advised us to start a great trip, and here we are. Is it a coincidence or thousands of years of wisdom?

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Travelling in a high-speed rail from Tokyo to Takayama

We are travelling right now in a high-speed railway named Shinkansen, the famous bullet-train. Twenty two story wagons, moving at more than 300 kilometres an hour. In the 60’s Japan decided that their transportation logistics was going to be based on the train, not on the plane. There are decisions that mark the future of the companies and the same happens to the countries. There are not many, quite the opposite. At the most, there are one or two every term of office. Maybe more in the business cycles.

In those cases it’s impossible to be certain about which one is going to be the right choice. There are always technocrats, scientists or bureaucrats, if not simple politicians, in favor or against one decision or the other, arguments in one direction and the other, losers and winners. All of them have their own reasons. If that wasn’t the case, they wouldn’t really be decisions. A posteriori, it is not easy to know if those decisions were a good choice because we are talking about issues whose consequences, most of the times, won’t be seen until many years later. Actually, the very same leaders, the real good ones, the ones that at the end of their lives have shown and proved to be successful once and again, when their are asked about the key of their success, they answer that it is just luck.

It is the theory of the window and the mirror. All these leaders “look through the window” in order to look for the reasons that led them to their success, meanwhile they also “look themselves in the mirror” to look for the reasons that led them to the failures, that they also had. In other words, they believe, blindly, that when they were successful it was because of a combination of lucky circumstances, in which they are not included; however, when everything went wrong, they point at themselves as the only guilty ones for not having been able to foresee or solve it. These are the results of a study carried out among the managers of the 50 companies that have increased the most their value in the stock market in the last 20 years. Now, look around. Look at your political leaders or the managers of your companies and notice how they act. In front of a fiasco, do they admit they are responsible or look through the Windows pointing fingers at others? And the other way around. When things go well, do they confess that they are just lucky or they don’t stop claiming the merit?

Now, we are going to pretend that we are the leaders, that we make those decisions that change the course of a company or a country. In order to do that, let’s see how the ones who were successful did it. In the same study that we mention before, they were also asked about the method that they utilized when they had to make a critical decision: 75% of them said that it was mere intuition. Now that they are retired they are not shy about telling the truth. There was no system in place or trick, no magic wands or deep analysis at all. As smart as they could be facing a problem, they were always capable of finding arguments in favor and against, of defending one side or attack the opposite and do it again the other way around. It was so easy that at the end, they could not rationally distinguish which option was the best. They would let their instinct decide.

So let’s forget about everything we know or we have been told and let’s our intuition guide us towards the right decision. If you were the president of your country, which transportation system would you choose? Train as they have in Japan, or plane as in U.S.A.? If you choose the train, would you use a radial or a concentric system? Joining the capital with the rest of the important cities or creating a circle around the country? If you chose the plane, would you prefer a giant hub in the centre of the country or several hubs distributed in the areas where there is more business? You probably think that it’s a stupid game, but it is not. These types of decisions are the ones that mark the success or failure of a country, and in too many occasions the regular citizen pay little or no attention to them.

The two big plane manufacturers, Boeing and Airbus, had to bet about how their market is going to be in the future: if the more advanced countries will choose to have one or several hubs. The Americans have decided to develop smaller planes that need less gas and are take off and land easily. In other words, they believe in a net with many interconnections, more hubs and therefore, less travellers per flight. The European consortium, however, have decided to bet for a super plane, the A380, long distance and the maximum number of passengers. They are convinced that the flights will centralize and, the number of hubs won’t increase, and therefore, the distances will be longer and there will be less flights with more passengers.

It will take many years to know which company made the right decision, in the meantime, we have learned our lesson from those “big men”. Facing the great decision we had to make about our starting or not our Round the World trip, we looked for the reasons and arguments but, at the end we let our intuition guide us. If not, we would still be sitting at our desks working instead of being in this Shinkansen at 300 km/h while we eat sushi.

Posted In: Japan

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Kyoto, former capital of the Japanese Empire

Depending on where you pack your underwear when you travel, we find two types of tourists. On one hand we have the backpackers, a charming stock that seems to be reproducing faster than mosquitoes; actually, many times they go together: flies, cockroaches, and other small beasts. Don’t take this the wrong way, it is not that they (we) are dirty people, but that is the price you have to pay in some countries to save some money with cheap guesthouses or hostels. In others, simply is the destination itself: very exotic places full of insects, where only brave people like the backpackers dare to go deep into them. The other race is the rollpackers, those are the ones who pull their wheeled luggage, real couch potatoes with brand name suitcases. Most of them travel in groups, wear the same colour caps or t-shirts and, like a modern army, follow their leader or guide to finish with all the monuments available to visit.

We are mistaken for and by both of them. In a way, we are a hybrid. Our luggage has wheels, but also backpack handles. However, as usual, mixed races are always rejected. We still laugh when we think about the argument that we had in a hotel in Hong Kong, where they didn’t want to give us a room, even though we had a reservation. Our untidy appearance (just landed from India), was not acceptable for that 4 star hotel that we found in the Internet at a very low price: “maybe we look like different but we are not!”. You should have seen the receptionist’s face while he was looking up and down at us, dirty, with our wrinkled clothes and our luggage on our backs. It was worth to be seen. But the other ones were no different. When, in any canteen or bar of any hostel we took out our laptops, essential to keep up with our trip, many backpackers grumble looking at us and grab their beer firmly showing us their rejection. However, when they see that we also “drink from the bottle”, they smile like saying “sorry, I thought you were one of the others”.

Nevertheless we have to admit that, at the end, all of them receive us with open arms. Perhaps with the evil intention of converting us into one of them: “Come to our youth hostel” or “Join this excursion”. Undoubtedly, they do it in good faith, but you end up sick and tired. Not of them, but of their tourist guides: the paper ones of the former’s and the living ones of the latter’s. The backpackers, as crazy about brand names as everybody else, don’t leave their countries without the typical Lonelyplanet, the most evil tool we’ve ever seen. No matter how big or small the city or town you are searching about is, they will give you an endless list of places to visit, hotels to stay, or thousands of restaurants to eat. You are the one who have to choose which one is the best. If it goes badly, it is your fault. If it goes well, it will be their success. What an easy business! The rollpackers, on the contrary, leave every decision in the local guides’ hands. Even if they take them to visit third class monuments that nobody knows, stores where they try to sell them Aladdin’s lamp or unbearable restaurants with waiters dressed like natives, they put up with everything without complaining and keep paying.

Can you imagine someone that tells you only about the places that are really worth to visit, and recommends only that restaurant or hotel that has something special and whose price is the right one? A kind of guide that comes up with the most interesting route, that tells you the number of days that you need in each place, what is the best and cheapest way to get there and also where to get the tickets? Like a trip planned by a very good travel agency, but authentic. Do it yourself. In other words, an Ikea trip built online. You can organize your trip in no time at all. Apart from saving yourself all kinds of fees, you are certain that those recommendations are the best options and not the ones which deliver higher commissions to the sellers. Compare to Lonelyplanet and similar guidebooks, is also an advantage. You can save yourself time reading thousands of pages and deciding among all the options for restaurants, hotels or routes which one is the best. Besides, you have the top links directly available to make the reservation at the best price. Isn’t it great? How much would you pay for a service like that?

(when we wrote down this post we started imaging Way Away for the first time. Two years later we are on air and… so far so good!)

Posted In: Travel advice

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Yichiang, the biggest dam in the World

Mao was a man, not god. This is the brilliant claim that the Communist Party, or its marketing department (yes, it has one and it is very good) utilize to try to improve the image of the regime. This way, they assume the mistakes of its leader and at the same time, they excuse him. In other words, they want us to believe that he was an extraordinary guy, almost godlike, but like every other person, made some mistakes. No kidding! Tell that story to the Tibetans, the Mongols, the political prisoners, the thousands of people sentenced to death, and who knows how many more. On the other side, we have Dalai Lama. For the Buddhists it’s a fact that he is god. They call him the living-god. According to their own words, he is the 13th reincarnation of a monk who lived in the XV century, an enlightened, another Buddha, “the one who has awakened to the truth”.

But we are going to change the title to both of them right now. The first one turns into: “Mao: nor a man, nor god, but a big son of a b…”, although it was not his mother’s fault that he was such a cold and ruthless beast. His ideals of “sharing everything” and “the power is for the people” were very commendable, until the “everybody is the same”, turned into “everybody is the same as me and because I say so”. So similar that at the end it didn’t matter if there were some missing. Nevertheless, we must give him some credit for some of his ideas, like making a Revolution while being in power, it is unique in History. When his wife, he and three others realize that they were losing control of the country, they created the Red Guards, a type of political-party police that was very popular during the Cultural Revolution. Using the ending of corruption as an excuse, they destroyed any attempt of dissidence.

To the “god in Earth” we will give him another motto: “Dalai Lama less prizes and more b…” China is tearing his people into pieces (literally) and he is just watching it from the distance. Indeed, from India, where he’s been living in exile for the last 50 years. At least, doing that, he has demonstrated his divine nature, because an ordinary person would have fought nail and tooth. However, only a god can put out with everything like he did. His only answer to so many aggressions from China has been to ask his people to turn the other cheek and not to lose their faith in a future that will be better. Deep down, nothing change from that day when he, with premeditation and nocturnality, he left Lhasa while his people were surrounding his residence to defend him. The Chinese came to arrest him, but his people refused to turn him in, building a human shield to protect the Potala palace. It is said that it was priceless to see peoples’ faces next morning when they found out that they had been risking their lives for an empty building. Dalai Lama’s excuse was that with his flight he avoided a bloodbath. The reality is that, during his exile, the Chinese have killed at least 1.5 million of Tibetans. It is impossible to know, now, what would have happened if he hadn’t abandoned his people.

This is not a critique against him, and we don’t mean that a Peace man should have stayed and fight for his country. Not at all. We just believe that there are many ways to fight and the one that is expected from the only god-in-Earth that we have is more similar to the one that Gandhi chose, with his non-cooperation movement and his hunger strikes, instead of collecting prizes all over the World. The last one was the Congressional Gold Medal from the Bush administration. Imagine that that day, instead of accepting the medal, in front of President Bush and live, broadcasted for many countries and TV channels, Dalai Lama had rejected the prize alleging that the Western countries are very hypocritical when they give prizes to the Tibetan people with one hand, but with the other they have business with China. Or if he had gone even further, announcing that he was starting a hunger strike until the U.N. put together a table of dialogue to solve the Tibet occupation. Let’s be cynical. He wouldn’t have too much to lose, not even his life. At the most, the few months that he would have to wait for his next reincarnation. His argument to go along with the Western countries is that, this way, his voice has a pulpit from where he can denounce his people’s sufferings. In reality, what he achieved after all these years is to bring Buddhism and himself into fashion, but most of Americans and Europeans have no idea of what is happening in Tibet. What is more, many of them don’t know that Dalai Lamas’ country was invaded by the Chinese 50 years ago and is now one of the provinces of the Red Giant.

Some of you might be wondering why we are so tough on him if Mao was the one who decided to invade Tibet and exterminate half of its population. You don’t expect anything from the devil, but from Dalai Lama we expect everything. We expect absolutely everything except for the surprises that we found in his autobiography, that we keep to ourselves to avoid embarrassment. And we do it because we want to, not because a 300 years oracle is whispering in our ears while possessing the body of a monk. Do you get it?

PS: However, to be fair, he is just a pitiful poor man that one day woke up being god. And that will always be his biggest prison, bigger that his exile. That is the difference between growing big and being born big. For the former the world is small, and for the latter the crown (real or divine) is too big. Maybe because their heads are too small.

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Datong, city near to the archaeological site known as “the Chinese Petra”

We have been travelling for two months and we already saw different temples of different colours and beliefs. We have been in places that are as sacred for Hindus, Buddhists, or Muslims as Rome is for Christians. During this religious tour, the most shocking part was not the vehemence of the Islamists, or the spiritual peace of the Tibetans, not even the so many times heard spirituality of India. The most impressive part of this journey was the show that they used to disguise the original teachings of each religion until they have drowned into some kind of obscurantism that sheds light on our skepticism.

At what point in time did we mistake form and essence, image and word, ritual and behaviour, messenger and message? How were we able to distort those pure and clear ideas left by exceptional personalities such as Jesus or Buddha? Because we cannot forget that it was others, and not them, the ones who built their “churches”. Although some of them never claimed their celestial nature, all of them were enthroned like gods. The same way many of their little gestures were turned into complicated rituals that lost their meaning hundreds of years ago. While they were trying to show us the way to become better people, we were staring at the finger that pointed at it. We did not want or could not look beyond because, among all the smoke and the offerings, cassocks and paintings, imagery and temples, our eyes had been blinded and our minds narrowed.

Yesterday we went to a Confucius temple, the greatest Chinese thinker and philosopher. The Machiavelli of the Middle East is now adored as a god. When he was alive no leader wanted to implement his methods, but once he was dead, he was lead to the altar. For 500 years, from the first Emperor to the last one, all of them offered up sacrifices to him.  If the teacher saw them he would fail all of them for not understanding any of his teachings. (Confucius was the one who came up with the exam system, used by the Empire bureaucracy to select their public officers. Mateo Ricci, Jesuit missionary, brought it to the West, unfortunately, for future generations of students.)

It is just an example, but all religions have the same flaws. Regarding Buddhism it is even funny, because it was Buda himself who warned them many times. The message from the Enlightened was crystal clear as holly water: each person can only be his own follower. That is, “don’t light any candle for me when my light is out because, once I’m dead, you should not adore me”. They didn’t listen a bit, because they did not follow his teachings but their own; the ones that once and again lead human beings to make gods out of anything that moves differently.  Nowadays, not only the Buddhist temples are full of his images, but we can also find his statuettes everywhere. From a restaurant lobby to collect tips or show the menu, to any toilet as an Ikea soap dish with its hand open.

If god exists, he must be pulling his hair out with frustration. Maybe he will even decide to send his son again, or any body with a little bit of sense to tidy this mess up. What do you think would happen if Jesus or Buddha were born again? Would they dedicate their lives to build churches and monasteries, or build schools and hospitals? Would their temples be cold and distant, or open and cozy?  Would they smell like incense and wax, or fresh air and flowers? Would they be dark and depressing, or oriented to think and reflect? Would they have an altar above the public, or a round table to talk and listen? Perhaps, before coming, they will think twice and prefer to stay there looking how we wake up, on our own, and fix this mess. Besides, they have a lot of time: all of eternity.

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Kyoto, former capital of the Japanese Empire

If you have never tried sushi before, it’s going to be hard to believe. Raw fish. Gross. Even disgusting. And you are right. It is not easy to feel attracted to it. But you have to try it. The first day you taste it, you are not going to like it, but you are going to feel something special. It is something that, although you’re not going to be able to tell what it is, it will make you want to try it again. Then, it will be too late to go back because, without noticing, your addiction to sushi will have started. In a few weeks, or even days, you will go back to a Japanese restaurant. You may think that it is by chance or fate, a business dinner or some friends that you haven’t seen in a long time, but it will be really the sign that you are falling for it.

And you still don’t like it, but like spicy food, in a way difficult to understand, you will keep eating it once, and again, until one day, with no warning, all its pleasure will explode in your mouth. When that happens, you will look up surprised and you will see that people at your table are feeling the same thing. You will recognize the feeling in their faces, in the way they eat it slowly to make the moment the sushi gets to its climax last. Different flavors and textures combined with such harmony that when they invade your palate, they consolidate multiplying its power and making each moment better than the last one.

Surprised at what you have just felt, you will look at your plate again because you won’t be able to believe that those little rice grains with raw fish made you feel such a pleasure. Very slowly, you will grab the next piece of sushi with your chopsticks, dip it in the soy sauce, softly so that it doesn’t awake that madness of sensations that seems to be inside of you, and bring it close to your mouth. With your eyes half-open, you will get ready to bite it, expecting to feel that frenzy again. You forgot, however, that all that happened at the end, because, at the beginning, more than a bite, it felt like a kiss. Soft, seductive, with the cold but not freezing texture of the fish, delicate and pleasant, like a full lip. It will take you some time to appreciate its flavour because you will be lurking around waiting for the right moment for it to go from least to most. It will be a gradual increase, more and more. And even more. And more each time. Just like the first time. A continuous wave of pleasure that, although it started very shy, it doesn’t stop growing until it conquers every corner of your mouth. It is a feminine gastronomic orgasm that will leave you stunned for a minute until you react wondering what the hell happened. And then you will see that the chopsticks are part of your hands, as if they were your own claws. Claws that, unable to do anything to stop it, will be flying over the remaining sushi on the table to jump on it and make you feel the sin in your mouth again. This way once and again until you are so ecstatic that you concede to the evidence: you hopelessly adore sushi.

Posted In: Japan

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Uluru, the aborigines sacred mountain

Although in the airport sign says Ayers Rock, we are at Uluru, the red mountain, one of the most sacred location for the aborigines. And no wonder, because it really seems to be alive. If you stare at it you can even see how it breathes, like if, deep inside, there was a creature from another world waiting to come out. For some people it is just a simple rock set in the middle of nowhere, like an iceberg made of red sand. For others it is the evidence that even a rock can have a soul. But it is not all alone. Less than 50 kilometres away, a walking distance when you are in the heart of Australia, you can find its twin soul. If Uluru were a god, Kaja-Tjuta would be its goddess, and it also breathes, but it is more brutal. Uluru is subtle, almost an imperceptible movement, as if it were an abdomen going up and down very slowly. Kata-Tjuta breathes deeply, absorbing the air with her mouth full and blowing hurricanes to fill up their throats with energy. If you climb up to the Valley of the Four Winds, you will be able to feel the strength of its breath, as if it were feeding the life that is inside of it.

Before Uluru and Kaja-Tujta the world was plain. It was the Ancestral Beings who travel through it and created the plants, animals, and other things, leaving a piece of their soul in each of them. Aborigines believe that they are the direct descendants of those beings, the heirs of an oral will that rules their lives. It is a shame that it is secret and that only little parts of that knowledge have been revealed to the white population. We know just enough to know that it is the first ecologist manifesto in the world, nothing weird in a country were its population depends, more that any other else, on Nature to survive.

These sons of gods, authentic prehistoric hippies, woke up one day with these other sons of “their mothers” camping in their Eden Garden. They, who didn’t know the wheel or the writing, had travelled to the future without leaving their island. Twenty thousand years totally isolated without knowing what a war was until they ran into a bunch of prisoners freed by the Queen’s whim. It is not necessary to explain what happened. The Australians have been trying to make everybody believe that the aborigines were a tribe who lived in the dessert. Liar, liar, pants on fire. The few that they didn’t hunt, literally, were thrown from the best lands to keep them themselves. They had only one option: leave and hide where the white people would never dare to look for them.

Nowadays, the blacks, as they describe themselves, walk barefoot in the streets, with their sight lost, and dirty clothes. Many of them are alcoholics, and all of them are fattened up by the Western diet. They still wonder how their ancestors, who knew everything, never taught them how to face the so called modern world that they feel so odd. Although the other ones don’t seem to be doing much better. Many Australians, as much as the deny it, live embittered, surrounded by natural traps, with the westerner wannabe wish, to end up rotting in the end of the world.

If they could choose, whites and blacks would prefer to travel to their past. Or to their future.  Anywhere as long as they could get out of here. But neither a travel machine nor the Australians themselves can fix that. They tried it 50 years ago officially stealing hundreds of aborigine’s babies to grow up among westerners and they are still trying to get forgiveness for such atrocity. Twenty years ago they came back again making people think that they would return the land to their “original owners” but, of course, they were not going to return the whole country and much less the best areas, where the big cities are. Thus, the issue was limited to desert fields and swampy forests where you can only find flies and mosquitoes, but one thing is for sure, they have the National Park title. There is only one honourable exception, the only land affected by the law and pending to be returned is the one where they found all kinds of mines. What a coincidence, isn’t it?

Three hundred years later they don’t know what to do with them and that is why they stuff them with welfare, without realizing how dangerous it is to take them out of their world and leaving them at ours’ gates. First they stole their land and their lives, then their future and their children’s, and now they are doing the same thing with their hopes. Of course, as soon as there’s none left, I am sure that they will expand the Ayers Rock airport, and even change its name to the real one, Uluru.

Posted In: Australia

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Cape Tribulations, Northwest of Australia

When you buy your tickets to go to Australia, you think that it is going to be like a Disneyland adventure but bigger. Rides here and aborigines there, a bunch of kangaroos jumping around and some freak dressed like Indiana Jones. If, on top of that he puts his head in a crocodile mouth, even better. But mostly beer, a lot of beer, the lager one and the good one.

But be very careful, it is the typical movie bait. More a terror movie than anything else. If Disneyland is the amusement park for the good kids, Australia must be the amusement park for the bad ones. I am not exaggerating. It’s no wonder that most of Australian natives are descendants of British prisoners whose sentence was commuted in exchange for dressing up as colonists. Some thought that it was a bargain, but at the end, it was not a good deal for many of them. Here, as soon as you are not watching out, a shark rips your arm off or a crocodile will leave you looking like hell. There are so many danger signs, that you don’t even dare to leave your car. And I am not talking about signs such as “mind your step” or “beware of the dog”. If you don’t believe it, ask the guy who is on the front page of the local newspaper, although I don’t think he is going to answer. If he did, it would be the first talking head in history, because that was the only part of his body that the crocodile that ate him yesterday left.

Perhaps you think that anybody can have an accident. Ok, like the surf champion whose arm was ripped off by a white shark. The coincidence is that two years later, another white shark took the other one. You can see that here, the signs are not like in California or Brazil, where you can see a “beware of sharks” signs and everybody swimming. Here, when they warn you, it’s because the animal is around. Yesterday we went to the Great Barrier Reef, more that 1000 km long and one of the most famous diving sites in the world. Before diving in, they warned us with a laconic “there are some sharks, but don’t worry, they don’t attack humans”. So “very calmed” we dove in, thinking about taking Pictures of Nemo and all his mates. Not longer than two minutes after, a meter and a half shark faced us, staring at us with his cold, impersonal eyes, like if he was bored of seeing so much human bait. That was probably what he thought because immediately after, he turned around and disappeared.

This morning we decided to rest from all these adventures and we went to the beach. Something that seems simple and easy for two Mediterranean sardines like us, but it’s very complicated when you are in the Coral Sea, especially in the summer when the water temperature attracts all kinds of jellyfish, some small, some gigantic, but most of them poisonous. They are so poisonous that they can cause respiratory failure or a heart attack. Here, the beaches are really virgin because nobody dares to go there.

Nevertheless, we cannot complain. We have been told that at this time of the year the most dangerous animals are not there because it is cyclone and hurricane season. How lucky we are!

No doubt then: if you are looking for strong sensations, Australia is your destination! Joking aside, don’t worry about Australia and its wild animals. If you follow the basic, logical rules and keep always an eye on their warning signs, nothing has to happen. Australia is such an amazing country that we don’t have words to describe. We prefer to share with you some self-explaining pictures…

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Hiroshima, ground zero of the first launch of the atomic bomb against civilians

Perhaps some of you have been at the Ground Zero of the Twin Towers in New York. Some people don’t feel anything and others are shocked. If you are one of the former, come to Hiroshima: 150.000 in one hit, plus some thousands more little by little, like a Chinese torture. The ones that the bomb didn’t kill August 6th, 1945 at 08:15 were dying a little bit every day throughout the years as if they had a radioactive dropper on them, not to mention those ones that were physically and emotionally mutilated the same day. In order to be able to develop the atomic bomb it was necessary the effort of hundreds of scientists, each of them contributing with their little grain of sand, enough so that none of them felt like the father, nor responsible of such invention. Among all of them, only a few (maybe six or seven), sent a memorandum to the government to request the cancelation of the launch. They only got their promising scientific careers buried at that very moment.

Among all the tours that we took in Hiroshima, the most shocking was seeing several schools reading a peace declaration, praying, and singing in front of the Children’s Peace Monument (in memory of the children that died that day). The most outrageous, however, was indoors. In the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, built next to ground zero, we could read the secret letters (not secret anymore), that the American commanders exchanged weeks before the launch. They are not much different from the ones we can find nowadays in any marketing department of any company. They talk about primary targets, product tests, analyzing the results correctly, different consequences of the launch, justifying the investment of so many resources if there is no launch, etc. Actually, the only difference is that they are typed and have spelling mistakes. We understand that those beasts had neither liquid paper nor soul. There is a big difference between launching a new ice-cream or melting (literally) thousands of people.

However, it is difficult to point the finger, because there were not one or two, but thousands of people involved. The main excuse they always used, that the “collateral damage” had the purpose of ending the war and avoiding more casualties, is so cynical that it is not even worth it to be discussed. That is why I wonder if we are ruled by a group of people who are moron or we are the moron because we allow these people to rule us. It is not right to think that this is something that happened 60 years ago, that it happened in another country or even that it has nothing to do with us. It’s just not right. Most of our occidental countries supported a war with the one excuse of avoiding future terrorist attacks. In order to contextualize all this, the number of civil casualties in Iraq, so far, is bigger than the number of casualties of all terrorist attacks in the history of Mankind. This is what one of the commanders we were talking about before would call an out of proportion response. Absurd, isn’t it?

As absurd as thinking that we are the good ones and the others are the bad ones. That power has corrupted them, but it would never happen to us. Look around you right now. This one or that one. Or that other one. Anyone would be able to press the red button if it were at hand. Not suddenly. First, it would be like a caress, a small decision that would not affect anybody’s life. But little by little, we would press the button harder, on behalf of the principle of common good and, blinded by power arrogance, we would cross a line with no turning point. The thin line that it is said (and well said), to be red. That’s why we cannot leave any button at anybody’s hand, not even ours; and that’s also why the leadership of countries and politicians is dead. We are tired of flags that embarrass us. We are tired of leaders that use a sack of ballots to impose the tyranny of the majority, because a lot of asses are still a lot of asses together.  The future is on cities’ and citizens’ hands. Yours, mine and our neighbours’. The people we know their faces, their shoe sizes, but not others. We don’t want them to impose anything to us. Let them go to hell but let us live alone and in peace. As the current mayor of Hiroshima said in one of his continuous declarations to claim the elimination of every nuclear weapon:

“Now the city governments are rising, and with them the citizens’ voices, to participate in international politics and end up with its immorality”

Things to do in Japan in 14 days (suggested itinerary)

Things to do in Japan in 7 days (suggested itinerary)

Things to do in Tokyo in 5 days (suggested itinerary)

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Or of suffocation, we are not sure. The only thing that is clear is that he died. Or he will die. And faster than we think. Asphyxiated by to the hordes of tourists that invade the last corner of every monument or bored dead after queuing for hours to enter any museum. There are either too many of us or not enough places to visit. Either way there is no easy solution for any.  

 Thigns to do in Beijing China

The other day, we went to the Chinese Emperor’s residence. Seven hundred years of monarchist history. Now, Mao’s picture is dominating the entrance. The king is dead, long life to the dictator! We are not going to lie, it is not that wonderful. Not for its architecture, not for the art that you can see inside. Its name attracts the public, the Forbidden City, even though some make fun of it (The Forbidden Shitty, read on the walls of the public toilets). And that’s it. Or that is what we thought until, tired of pushing hundreds of Chinese people apprentice tourists, we escape through one of the lateral pavilions. There, we sat on a bench longer than the Chinese Wall and a miracle happened. Just like the waters of the Red Sea divided in front of Moses, the crowd of amateur photographers disappeared and a dead calm invaded the garden where we had taken shelter. During those few seconds when the whole world forgot about us, we realized for the first time the majesty of the Forbidden City, the serenity that it transmits, the perpetuity that it radiates. At that moment their corny names were not corny anymore and we almost understood them: the Palace of Tranquil Longevity, the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Supreme Harmony, or the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

 Things to do in Beijing China

This simple moment was worth all the hours waiting. Although just a few will be as lucky as we were.  It will take more or less time, it will be next year or the following, but we will get to the point where tourism will die of success; and it will be then when we will have to decide if we think that everybody has the right to enjoy these wonders and allow the crowd to destroy them, or rise the ticket price to protect them, so that only a few can visit them. What a dilemma! Just in case, we are going to see them this year. One after the other. The Seven Wonders of the World. And more to come.

Beijing, Olympic City

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Even though we just arrived to Shanghai, it does not seem like we left Hong Kong. The same yellow skin, the same skyscrapers, the same perfection… When we were there, we thought that Hong Kong’s good economy was due to the ZEM (Zone of Especial Millionaires). That means that since they don’t pay taxes, instead of being sucked, they are the ones who suck. However, the residents of Shanghai pay taxes like the next man, so if both cities seem to be doing really well, that might not be the reason.

Shanghai China

It didn’t take us too much time to understand the reason for its success. They work like the Chinese. In both cities. They don’t stop, all day from here to there. Actually, behind every great work in the world, you will always find Chinese people. No joke. That is why in every self-respecting European city, there is a Chinese neighbourhood, and Shanghai has nothing to envy to any of those cities, not even democracy.

Things to do in Shanghai China

It is true that in China there is only one political party, but most of the public offices are elected democratically, within the party but by ballot. That is something that hardly happens in any European party, the so-called democratic. In Europe the boss is the one who decides everything, from the members of the cabinet to the most irrelevant position. Sometimes they even decide about their successor. So, democracy… what democracy? However, in China every person is their own party. The ones who want to be candidates, or simply to have the right to vote, only have to enroll the party. If they can convince the other members, they will be elected, if not they stay home. If you can leave your prejudices aside, you will see that their system has many advantages. Here, you vote if you want, but you must show interest and become a member of the party. The rest don’t vote. It does not sound too bad because the truth is that the vote of somebody really concerned cannot count the same as the vote of somebody who does not know what a political program is, know what’s going on in the world through the yellow press, their point of view is the one of the media of their choice,  won’t vote if it’s sunny because they will go to enjoy the weather, and neither will they if it rains because they will stay at home, will vote their party without even questioning the new candidate, or even worse, the most handsome or the nicest, without taking into account their abilities. After all that the first choice does not look too bad!

Things to do in Shanghai China

Besides, having only one party, there are no orders to vote. Everybody votes according to their opinions and conscience. Not like in Europe, where the boss decides if you vote in one direction or the other, and even if you think completely the opposite, you must follow the principles of the party. If you don’t follow them you will be the in the eye of the storm and they will accuse you of turncoat. All because you wanted to vote honestly for something that you thought was fair. Politicians hide behind the excuse that they don’t have time to study all laws and they have to delegate their criterion to other leaders that share the same ideals. That means that we are paying high salaries to people who press buttons to make other people think.

Things to do in Shanghai ChinaThings to do in Shanghai ChinaThings to do in Shanghai China

One example is the House of Lords in Great Britain, an entity whose members have the right to veto any law and return it to the Parliament, as long it is a reasoned verdict. It is true that they are not democratically elected and that the only merit that many of them have is to be related to nobility, but it is changing, little by little, and it is becoming a real House of Wise Men. For some decades the new members are only personalities who have proved to be extraordinary in each of their professional fields. It does not sound bad to be governed by just a few people. Not the ones who are promoted in the party they belong to, but the best. In other words, an “enlightened” government that is really needed.

Or even better, a private government. If you like it, you pay. If not, they don’t get a penny. It is like if you are buying a car with a warranty: if they don’t do what they promised, you get a refund. With the countries it sounds crazy, but with the cities is closer to happen than what we think. It is called City Marketing. Every city has certain qualities or ‘brand’ positioning and they must advertise them, but above everything, they have to carry them out. It is the 7 F’s: facilities, fashion, fun, feel, fortune and future. If you do it well, you will have your reward. More and more people will want to live in your city and you can collect more taxes. Maragall, the mayor that got the Olympic games for Barcelona in ’92, said once to a Chinese newspaper: “The distinctive sign in the future will be the cities, not the countries”. And Shanghai is one of the best. No doubt about it!

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“Very high status, well reputed, high connected Bramhin Industrial Textile Export Family, settled near Delhi, invite Alliance for their beautiful, fair, slim, homely, religious convent educated girl, July 79 born, MBA Delhi, widely travelled. Boy must be smart & well educated, belonging to a well established Business Industrialist family”[1].

This real advertisement from the Hindustan Times is a clear example of how the caste system works in India. A society divided and organized in professional gilds whose access is only allowed by birth. This system has been prohibited for years to avoid inequalities, but in reality not many people conform to it. This was so much the case that, even today, most marriages only take place among people from the same caste. Actually, the parents themselves are the ones who, from the day their child is born, try to arrange a marriage that might happen 15 or 20 years from the moment the child is born. Even though they are so farsighted, things are not always that easy. Sometimes the lack of candidates make the parents look for suitors in the classified section of a newspaper, and when that happens, the sky is the limit.

Ghats Benares India

In a certain way, the caste system is not very different from our social class system, but the first one, not only apply to social relationships, but also to cosmology. In other words, it applies to the way the Indian people understand the existence of the man in this World. According to Hinduism, the way people behave in this life, will establish their caste in their next life, but we cannot forget the determining factor that, no matter how good you are now, you will have to wait until your reincarnation to access a superior caste.  So it is a real bargain for this entrepreneur called God and his sale representatives on Earth, who establish a variable compensation that will not be settled until the next life. Who is going to complain then? Especially, when one of the main clauses of the agreement is to forget everything from the previous life.  It is even a better bargain, if that was possible, for the superior lineages. With this system of veiled threats they insure their status quo over the lower and oppressed castes, who must decide if they want to break the “divine” rules to improve their lives now, and take the risk of being condemned in the next one, or resign themselves to their miserable destiny and behave accordingly and expecting a better fate in the next vital turn.

Jaipur India

But this system does not include everybody. There are some so excluded that they don’t even have a caste. They are the Untouchables. Disowned by everybody and scorned by some, they are treated as inferior human beings every time they are ignored. The worst jobs fall on them, with no other reward that the obligation to do them day after day. The funny thing, if there can be something humorous about all this, is that there is nobody more Indian than the Untouchables. They are the real descendants of the first civilizations that dominated the Indian sub-continent, until they were conquered by Aryan tribes who brought the caste system.  It is a pyramid-shaped society structured in four different levels: first, the clergymen, followed by the aristocrats and warriors, after them, professionals and merchants and finally farmers.

India India

Within this system, there is no place for the locals. Darker than their new masters, they were enslaved from the beginning. This happened about 3000 years ago. From then until today, the Untouchables only earned their name, and it was hard-earned. There has never been any other group of people, ever, who have been slaves, with or without chains, for so long. They only own one thing: the colour of their skin.  They are noticed because of it. And because of it, people get away from them.

New Delhi, capital of India

Puskhar India

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India is a big country. It is a whole subcontinent bigger than Europe, with double its inhabitants and countless number of languages. That’s why it is hardly surprising that there is more than one India. Actually, there are almost as many “Indias” as people visiting the country, because it is one of the few places that leaves a different mark on every person. Some of these “Indias” are form the past, others from a future that will never come, some are the delusion of simple tourists like us, and others perhaps never existed. India is all of them and none of them at the same time.

Taj Mahal | Agra | India

Each and every one of us has a different and preconceived idea that matches one of those “Indias”, or maybe the combination of all of them. What the traveler doesn’t know is that, on his way home, he will leave this unusual place with one image above all. India is a place that impregnates everything, making its own way through our noses in such a brutal way that it will be never forgotten. It is the scent of India, halfway between the smell of flowers and spices, and the stench of garbage and shit. This is such a special smell that some people love it whilst for other people is very disgusting. But there is only one way to find out if you belong to the first or the second group: crossing the border and discovering  which one of its thousand faces it will show.

India

For Kipling and Salgari’s lovers, their India is Kim’s Jungle and the Bengal tigers, the one with its Maharajas riding elephants or princesses with their colorful saris. It took us many hours driving and some others under the heat, but finally we found that India walking the streets of Udaipur, and visiting the palaces of Jaipur. Those are city-states that occupy the region of Rajastan- land of kings- and, like the Nabataeans of Petra, made their fortune as lookouts of the Silk Route and their camel caravans. Hundreds of stories and fables fill this India. The most atonishing of all of them, the women who committed sati, they killed themselves after their husbands died. Then, using their hands and their own blood, they put a mark on their palace’s doors, so that everybody knew that was the home of a woman who loved her man so much, that didn’t want to continue living without him.

Jaipur | Rajastan | India

Nevertheless, the most beautiful part of India, is not its past, but its present, with the monarchy showing its best side. Maharajas, once destitute of any kind of power, instead of turning themselves into the stars of gossip magazines (like Europeans), they bent over backwards for their people, investing their own money to help them to develop. People, whose languages they know, even though they have been raised and educated in the English language. Could you imagine the European princes speaking the other languages used in their countries? Or, instead of spending 2 million of pounds or euros -who cares- of public money in a nice flat in the city centre, they would fork out their own money to build a hospital? Fictional politics. But not all of them are honest people. We can also find the ones who abandoned their people to their fate and live in London like a rajah, thinking about their ancestors only to use their glamorous titles and their saris. You can always find wicked people, either in golden cradles, or muddy ponds.

Rajastan

Very close to this India, but very far, at the same time, there is the “spiritual India”. The one about Buddhism, and gurus of truth. It is the introspective India, the authentic for the ones who are in love with her. Even though there are not as many as it seems. Without a doubt, it is the most hidden India, so much, that we could not find it. Perhaps in Nepal or Tibet, we will run into it, but I am afraid that you have to search in your heart, not in the travel guides.  Many people mistake this India with the New Age related India, the one with the sanctimonious dressed like clowns, orange tunics and incense scent.  The one of the tantrum music, the Karma-Cola, and many Europeans in pseudo-hippy disguises. That is the tambourine India, the one whose Mecca is Bollywood, and whose joky-style set the trend. The India with the “hari-hari” dances, vain Indians with greasy toupees, and tuk-tuk sets with little mirrors and flowers. It is a fun, innocent India, that, even  though, it doesn’t hurt anybody, does not help many, either.

Benares Varanasi India

Between these two Indias, not everything is spiritual vacuum. On the contrary, Indian people seem to have a special sensitivity to reflect on cosmology. It is not by chance that in this place, more religions emerged than in any other. We discovered this side of India in a Jain temple in the middle of the jungle. An oasis of deafening silence in the middle of all the emotional noise that surrounded us until now. As real precursors of Gaia, the Jains are Indian people that respect the smallest form of life, because they believe that God is in all of them, insects and bacteria included. It was an open temple where, everybody (people) and everything (animals and plants), come and go, grow and die, without anybody preventing you to do so. This is a temple designed, not to scare people, but to make them feel good about themselves, and from them, about everybody else. The best of Buddha’s teachings was the one when, at the end of his life, he told his disciples: “when I am not here, I don’t want you to either follow or adore me. Every man must only be followed by himself.”

Ranakpur India

On the other side of this India, we have the monumental. A more formal India. The one built with brick and stones. The Hindus never felt the need to build great monuments. Since they believe in the soul’s reincarnation, it makes no sense to try to perpetuate themselves through material objects. This is why all the buildings in India are not theirs, but their invaders’, first the Mongols, and then the English. The Pax Britannica left a series of civil and functional buildings and some other remains of magnificence of an Empire that was starting to become cheesy. They are nothing special if we compare them to the buildings that the ancient Turkish descendents built, undoubtedly, the most beautiful in India. Among them, we have one of the Wonders of the World, the Taj-Mahal. Built with white marble, the Emperor Shah Vahan kept the promise made to his wife, on her deathbed: to build the most beautiful grave ever seen. Dethroned by one of his own sons years later, he did not have time to finish his masterpiece: to erect, on the other side of the river, a twin mausoleum, this time in black marble. If one Taj-Mahal left us speechless, we cannot imagine what it would have been like contemplating the twin temples, one next to the other, as if they were two rooks facing each other in a gigantic game of chess.

Behind all these Indias, “the other Indias” show the more humane Indias, which are, because of that, the ones that feel more alive: the Poor India and the Rich India. Although they walk hand by hand, one is turning its back on the other one. The first one has half of its population under poverty line. The other one is sending rockets to the outer space and developing nuclear technology. The first one, with millions of children working to be able to eat, and the second one, proud to provide the world with millions of computer programmers. The first one, rotting in the New Delhi’s Metropolitan area and the second one, getting an education in the best schools in the world. The first one, untouchable and locked in a caste system, that not even the Ghandi or Nerhu generation was able to abolish, and the second one, fleeing to other countries without looking back or living in ghettoes without looking outside them. The first one, main destination of hundreds of non-profitable organizations, and the second one, lost in the contradiction of the western values and their own. The first one real, the second one fake. The first one hurts, the second one vanishes.

Varanasi, spiritual capital of India

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We are about to fly to New Delhi, and we are able to take stock of our first destination. Including a night in the dessert, Jordan is a wonderful country, although we cannot say the same about its people. At least no without hesitation. They are Muslims and many of them act as such. We are not saying this as an offence, but as a fact. If you are walking in the street, they are not going to insult you or pull a long face just because you don’t profess their religion. However, if you are a woman, some will ignore you as a person and others will besiege you like animals. They have their wives well covered, so that nobody can see them, as if they were buried alive. The Muslim man look the other women up and down as if they were camels in a cattle market. For instance, one of the guides in Petra, in front of 200 tourists, compared, with no sense of shame, choosing a woman for marriage with buying a horse. The worst part was that some westerners laughed at his antics. Those are probably the ones that, without second thoughts, would sell their wives for a piece of stale bread. According to the exchange rate, it amounts to nothing, more or less what they are worth.

Things to do in Jordan

However, we started to have doubts when we realized that not one or two, but many Muslim women looked at blondes with tank tops as if they were the Devil wearing Zara. They accept, with no act of rebellion, that the right thing is to walk with veils and tunics under a 40º C weather, while their husbands swim wearing shorts. Some of these women, are actually in love with their warders, and they don’t mind sharing their beds and husbands with other women. The strange thing is that after getting lost in their streets and roads, having a flat tire in the middle of the dessert, eating with them and sleeping in their hotels, you cannot stop liking them for the way they treated us. Then, you wonder if it is possible that there are millions of monsters in this world, or perhaps it is the way they were raised, or maybe it is the religion they were taught that is evil. I only know that it is not possible that this charming people are able to be so wicked at the same time. Or maybe it is possible, and without our knowing, all of us have some evil inside. Maybe it is just a few who insufflate many others with their divine ideas and their infernal threats. I wonder whether we carry it in our genetics or it arrived in the carriage of a fake god.

So, if it is not ours or theirs, whose damn fault is it?

Madaba, city close to the Dead Sea

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Who didn’t dream about being Indiana Jones, Lawrence of Arabia, or even Captain Nemo? All of them, real or fictional, captivate the imagination of thousand of adventurers in shorts, all over the world. But there is only one country where all of them would have met by chance: Jordan. In the Lost City of Petra, in the red dessert of Wadi Rum or the underwater gardens of the Red Sea, but always Jordan. Three adventurous souls like these, would have connected immediately, would have kissed three times on the same cheek, and would have smoked nargileh (the famous water pipe) until dawn.

Way Away

http://www.way-away.com/

Nowadays, Jordan is better known for two sculptural beauties (Petra and Rania), than for those three characters. Petra was carved on dessert walls by human hands and chisel. So spectacular that it earned the title of Wonder of the World. Rania, however, is a product of Marketing. She has been modelled to such extent that is, now, the image of the Reign of Jordan in the West. Rania is today the best ambassador of a monarchy, invented by the English people. She has been able to turn the country into a peaceful oasis, something very unusual knowing its neighbours. However, if one day you visit Jordan, don’t ask about her. Not even Allah knows her. It is a real fake. She is like an impostor who looks really hot in magazines, but cuts no ice in that country. Here, the portraits of the king and his father are found everywhere, but from Rania, not even the crown. The same happens to the planes flying over Arabia, where veils appear and disappear. Outside the country she is a queen, inside nothing.

But Jordan is much more than just that fake Princess. It is a biblical land where you can be baptized with the same water that Jesus was, or miraculously float in the Dead Sea. It is a museum-country where, out of nowhere, templar castles, Greek cities, and Roman temples appear so well preserved that you would say that they were covered with sand, not by mistake, but so that fortunate people like us could contemplate them undamaged several centuries later.

The best of Jordan, however, is not buried in the dessert, neither forgotten in its chasms. It is sunken in the Red Sea. Just enough to be able to see, with just regular goggles and flippers, dozens of gigantic oysters or swim over the Japanese Gardens, a valley of underwater bonsais placed so careful and beautifully that not even Jules Verne could imagine it in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

One league is the distance that a person covers in one hour, almost five kilometres and a little bit more than 3 miles. The Earth’s circumference is 40,000 km=8,000 leagues=almost 25,000 miles. If there were a bridge all around the Equator, it would take us an entire year to cover it, walking 20 hours a day.

God bless Oneworld and the people who invented the World Round Ticket!!!

Wadi Rum

Petra Petra Petra

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September 11th, 2007. It is the third day of our journey and the sixth anniversary of the Al Qaeda attack against the United States. We are in Jordan, a stone’s throw away from the most troubled spot in the world. Actually, no matter where you throw that stone, it is going to fall in the middle of a war, next to some terrorist group, or on some hot-headed beast. Even though we were told that Jordan was an exception among its troubled neighbours, the first day, we felt uneasy driving around those dark roads. What’s more, when we got lost so many times that we couldn’t do anything but continuously stop to ask for directions. If we are all the same when the lights go out, even more when you are dressed with a jellabah, with dark skin and a beard up to your belly bottom. Just like the receptionists at the hotel. Arriving at the hotel at night they all looked like Bin Laden, but in the morning, they were wonderful people. They were so good, that they even recommended a Bedouin camp to spend a fairy tale night, including a luxurious “hayma” (tent used by nomad people in the North of Africa), and a moonlit dinner.

Without a second thought, we went there. Wadi Rum is one of the most spectacular desserts in the world and the natural border between Jordan and Saudi Arabia. It was here, where Lawrence of Arabia learned to ride a camel. Walking on Mars cannot be much different from entering those reddish dunes. Just like meteorites fallen from the sky, hundreds of rocks sink around you, creating such an unreal landscape, that it is more a mirage about to disappear than the home of the man of the dessert. Or one of the few left, because most of the ones around here drive a 4×4 and have last generation mobile phones. They are impostors or ghosts that are going to call “The Oasis of the Dessert” any raggedy rug as long as they can pay their mobile phone bill.

Our Luxury Camp was one of those. Nothing of luxury and everything of camp. Only one thing: exclusively ours because there were no tourists in sight. Only a couple of skinny dogs, which rather lie down on top of a cactus than sleep on one of the filthy mattresses used as beds for guests. Given the time it was and that we did not have any other place to sleep, we put a brave face on it and decided to spend the night there. Sharing the evening in front of a bonfire with the Bedouins and listen to them and their stories about the unmerciful life in the dessert, did not sound so badly.

We pulled a stupid face again when, while dusting our sleeping bags, our Palestinian scarfed guides, taking advantage of the confusion, ran away. We guessed, to sleep in their homes, the real ones, of course. With Ikea furniture and warm showers. All of them ran away, except for one. Somebody would have to stay and watch us, just in case we had a rage attack and destroyed their camp to take vengeance on them. The poor miserable wretch, felt sorrier for us than the other way around. That is saying a lot! With his fake Adidas track suit, tried to keep us talking, in a macaronic English:

 “I understand you. You honey-moon don’t want problems. Sorry. I love too. My wife in Irak. I run from Irak because they want kill me. I worked for Sadam. She and my children cannot come because of me. I don’t see them in 4 years. From then, I sleep in the dessert everyday”.

We don’t know if it was the reflection of the fire, or our eyes open like two tennis balls, but for the first time we saw Sadam’s face, in front of us apologizing. If it was not Sadam himself, it was one of his doubles, because he looked very much like the one in the Mosad picture cards. Still looking at us, he put his hand in his pocket and started taking out a metal object. What would you think if you were in the middle of no-where in the dessert, with nobody near to ask for help, and with Sadam in front of you with a singular beeping object in his hands? With no second thoughts, we took his side. “Inch Allah and death to the imperialist pigs!” Whatever it is necessary as long as we win his affection. “Blair is not Bush”. And so on, we talked nonsense until we realized that the “scary beeping sound” was just his prehistoric mobile phone. His wife was calling him.  

“Habibi, habibi”(I love you, I love you)

Wadi Rum is near to nowhere and far from any location in which putting a mobile phone antenna would make sense. In spite of that fact, our Sadam double had enough coverage to receive a phone call from Irak in the middle of a civil war and to tell his wife he loves her over and over again.

If the trip was about seeing life, we can come back home now, because nothing can beat this.
 

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