| Aug 30, 2011 |
| Eating in Madrid: Recommendations from a local foodie |
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| Today we are joined by Gemma, who lives and guides in Madrid, Spain. Apart from being an expert in European art (with a PhD in Art History) Gemma is passionate about gastronomy and has an inside track on the best places to enjoy the region’s freshest traditional and contemporary cuisine. Today she’s sharing with us five places to enjoy a meal in Madrid. |
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The narrows streets around Plaza Mayor are always a great place to begin a walking tour of the Habsburg district. I would position friends new to the city on the steps of my favourite restaurants. How better to understand a city than to eat where the locals eat?
According to tradition, Madrid is the best place to taste hot chocolate with fried “churros”, small beers with the calamari sandwich and definitely Tapas!
But we have more culinary surprises for you:
1. Casa Botin (17, Cuchilleros) This is the place for classical Castellan cuisine: suckling pig, lamb and onion soup. According to the Guinness Book of Records, it is the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the world, founded in 1725. It has four floors including the cellar. Its vaults give it a very peculiar and unique style. Artist Goya supposedly worked here before becoming a painter. Hemingway was a frequent visitor and pronounced it one of his favourite restaurants.
2. San Miguel Building Marketplace (1, Plaza San Miguel) is a people's marketplace serving residents and travellers alike. It started its new life in 2009 when it reopened with 33 vendors selling fresh products, fish, pasta, meat and even cookbooks in a beautiful and pleasant atmosphere. Restaurants and cafés serve cuisine representing the quality and cultural diversity of Spain’s best chefs. For thirsty visitors there are several bars offering everything from coffee or beer to wine and champagne.
3. Estado Puro ( 4, Canovas Del Castillo Sq.) For contemporary Tapas (small plates of finger food) or Pintxos (bite-sized food eaten with tooth picks) inspired by the food and flavours of Spain, featuring different regional specialties and wines. A Spanish tapas bar is a place where friends and family gather to eat and drink while standing, sitting or moving about to catch up with others or reach over the bar for those last bites.
4. Ada Hotel’s Terrace (2, Gran Vía). This dining area is located on a roof top. It is the ideal spot for soaking up the sun and enjoying a quiet drink and a light fare while admiring breathtaking views of Madrid. Since the construction of the first buildings on the Gran Via, many fashionable private, member-only casinos have appeared. This building, known as the Royal Big Crag Club is exclusively for men. Current King Juan Carlos is an honorable member.
5. Terraza del Casino (15, Alcalá Street). If you're looking for a special dinner, this 2 Michelin Stars restaurant is an unforgettable "experience". Opened in 1836 in a gorgeous rooftop location, it offers an opportunity to experience cuisine in the famous Chef Ferran Adria style without vacuuming out your pockets. If you are a true foodie you will find this place an absolute joy. Highlights of the architecture include the elegant reception room, a magnificent Neo-Baroque library, and the main staircase in a singular Modernist style, which is one of the best in Madrid.
Enjoy!
Gemma will be back in a couple weeks to share some insider shopping tips for Madrid too. If you’re planning a trip to Gemma’s city, consider starting a conversation with her! You can find her here: Gemma’s Guide Page. |
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| Aug 25, 2011 |
| Discovering the charms of the “luckiest place in New Zealand” |
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| Today we’re joined by Noel, an experienced and deeply knowledgeable local guide from Nelson, New Zealand. Noel is an expert on the region’s environment and natural history, and also all things wine-related. He’s here to tell us a bit about what makes Nelson such a blessed part of New Zealand, and a definite must-visit on your next trip to this island nation. |
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Nelson, at the top of the South Island, must be the luckiest place in New Zealand. It has the most sunshine hours in the country and is surrounded by the sparkling Tasman Sea and three National Parks and reserves. The fertile soil of Nelson acts as a veritable food bowl for the rest of New Zealand and the city is renowned for horticulture, fishing, forestry, wine and the arts.
This city hosts the legendary World of Wearable Art Museum and is alive year round with art festivals, jazz festivals, music festivals and much, much more.
There are more restaurants and cafes in Nelson per capita than anywhere else in New Zealand, and boasts two of the top six restaurants in the country: Hopgoods and Boutereys. Establishments like The Boatshed, Relish and many others live up to a high standard as well.
The Nelson region is a mecca for outdoor activities such as tramping (that’s Kiwi for ‘hiking”), sea kayaking, fishing, kite surfing and mountain biking.
Nelson Airport is the fourth busiest in New Zealand and provides easy access to other parts of the country. But don’t fly away too soon! It’s worth staying in the region for several days so you can explore Abel Tasman, Kahurangi and Nelson Lakes National Parks, as well as the stunning and diverse Golden Bay.
The world famous Sauvignon Blanc wine growing region of Marlborough is only one and a half hours away. Nelson’s own vineyards are all small, family-owned properties producing top class wines of their own; they’re well worth checking out.
If you’re planning a trip to New Zealand anytime soon, be sure to make the South Island – and Nelson in particular! – a stop on your itinerary. Consider starting a conversation with Noel before you go. You can find him here: Noel’s Guide Profile Page. |
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| Aug 24, 2011 |
| Quick Update on Hurricane Irene |
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If you are traveling to the southeastern US or the Caribbean in the near future, no doubt you are keeping a close eye on the Category 3 storm moving through the area. The following update is a condensed version of an article by Adria Valdes, from the Recommend.com travel agents website.
Hurricane Irene has caused a wave of travel cancellations as it moves through the Atlantic Ocean, already passing through Puerto Rico, Turks & Caicos and the Dominican Republic. The good news is, it looks as though vacationers with travel plans in the coming weeks, and days even, need not worry.
According to the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, which we spoke to earlier today, while there has been some road closures and flooding in areas such Fajardo, all airports, hotels and resorts, as well ferry service to Vieques Island are open for business.
The Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism released a statement today saying, “all seaports, highways, hotels and most attractions and beaches are open and welcoming visitors post-Hurricane Irene. Most of the country’s eight international airports—including Santo Domingo’s Las Americas International Airport, which was closed Monday; and Puerto Plata’s Luperon International Airport, closed yesterday—are also open and receiving flights.”
The tourism office, however, does urge tourists planning to visit the Dominican Republic in the next few days to check with their hotels and airlines to confirm travel information.
As of press time, no updates were available from the Turks & Caicos tourism office as an assessment of the affects of the hurricane was still in progress this afternoon. The island is scheduled to release a press statement with the latest travel updates later today.
Airline Updates
- American Airlines has issued a travel waiver for passengers flying to and from several airports in the Caribbean—including San Juan and Santo Domingo—through Friday, Aug. 26.
- Delta will waive change fees for passengers going to and from The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Puerto Rico through Thursday, Aug. 25.
- JetBlue will waive change fees, as well as fare differences for travelers going to and from The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Turks & Caicos.
- Continental Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways all have similar policies, as well.
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| Aug 24, 2011 |
| How are you spending the last days of summer? |
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| Summer in the northern hemisphere is still going strong, but there’s no denying that the days are getting shorter, and September, with all its seasonal change, is just around the corner. Personally, I’m still throwing the over-eager “Back to School!” flyers into the recycling bin as soon as they arrive. Who wants to start thinking about the end of summer in the heat of August? |
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Our family is enjoying a lovely hot spell in Vancouver, and we’re spending as much time as we can “stay-cationing.” Vancouver is one of the best cities in the world to feel like you’re on vacation when in reality you’re only a short bus/skytrain/car ride from home. We’ve been hitting our favourite beaches, hiking the local mountains, picking blueberries and wild blackberries and hitting up summer festivals.
This weekend we’re headed a wee bit farther afield, to BC’s Sunshine Coast. Sounds like a perfect place to head when the forecast is for continuing dry, warm weather. A 40-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver takes us to Gibsons, the start of the Sunshine Coast. Drive off the ferry and a half-hour up highway 101 will see us arriving in beautiful Sechelt, an inviting town tucked into a strip of land between Howe Sound and the Strait of Georgia. Sechelt is one of those quintessential West Coast communities that offer a quirky, laidback, artistic vibe, surrounded by the natural splendour of sparkling coastline, green mountains and lush old and second-growth forests.
We’ll be camping at Porpoise Bay, swimming and hiking as much as our children’s 4- and 6-year old legs can handle. People with more time (and fewer children!) on their hands have an incredible array of recreation choices, from world-class salmon fishing and golfing to sea-kayaking and mountain biking.
This is our family’s last summer “hurrah!” Once we return home I imagine I probably won’t be as quick to toss the “back to school” flyers – or at least I won’t cover my eyes while I’m doing it.
What about you? Any last minute summer travel plans close to home or farther afield? Tell us about them on our Facebook Page! |
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