Archive for November 18, 2008

Loved this site as well

November 18, 2008 at 4:22 pm · Filed under Budget, Helpful Web sites ·Tagged , ,

I didn’t think of myself as a would-be backpacker but apparently based on Wikipedia’s definition, I would be a backpacker come September 2009.

Anything essential that I and the rest of the backpacking community eyeing Europe need to know is found on a Web site called Backpack Europe on a Budget. Everything’s useful to me, especially the estimated budget page. I just hope the information provided is updated.

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Another great Internet find

November 18, 2008 at 4:03 pm · Filed under Helpful Web sites ·Tagged , ,

This is obvious but just a few moments ago, I stumbled on Budget Travel. I don’t think I need to explain what this Web site is all about.

Based on what I’ve read so far, much of Budget Travel caters to U.S. residents. Nonetheless, some information could be useful to moi, like the Affordable Paris series. Plus, because of one of its articles, I know now that there are Facebook applications for travelers. I’m still deciding which I plan of those I should use for my profile. Anyway, my trip is still a year away so I have time to choose.

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Comamos en Madrid

November 18, 2008 at 12:46 pm · Filed under Food, Madrid ·Tagged , , , ,

I plan to spend 25 euros each day for food during my stay in Europe. Will that be enough?

Well, possibly if I know where to eat. In Madrid, for example, there are several choices, according to Map Magazine (I included excerpts from the articles):

  • Restaurante Boñar de Leon
    Cruz Verde, 16
    Metro: San Bernardo
    T. 91 531 00 30 or 91 521 26 02 Daily 9 AM – 2AM  
    “For it is here that your three-euro caña (technically it is a jara – a little bigger) will be accompanied by a gloriously generous plate of paella, cocido, chicken wings or other Spanish dishes. Upon seeing these gargantuan tapas you might logically ask, “If this is a tapa, what does an actual meal look like?”
     
  • Darbar
    Calle Barbieri 1 (intersection with Infantas)
    Metro:  Gran Via or Chueca
    T. 91 521 3193
    Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 1-5 and 8:30-1; Monday 8:30-1; Sunday, closed
    “The tapa-combo platter for two (14 euros) qualifies as a meal in and of itself and is a great place to start. With an assortment of pakoras, samosas, koftas and chicken tikka, one can’t go wrong.”
     
  • Taberna Casa de Las Tostas
    Calle Argumosa, 29
    T. 91 527 0842
    Daily 13:00 to 16 and 18:30 to 1.00
    “The best news is that everything on the menu has the same price – only *6.75 euro .. . *A small charge is usually added for sitting on the terraza.”
     
  • Casa Tortilla
    Calle Hartzenbusch, 6
    Metro: Bilbao
    T: 914 454 176
    Hours: Mon-Thurs, 8 – 23:45h; Fri & Sat, 8 – 00:30h
    “    Simple: they charge only twelve euros for unlimited alcohol and tapas.” 
     
  • El Tigre
    Calle Infantas, 30
    Metro: Gran Via
    “There were no stuffed tigers as the name might imply, but perhaps the name stems from the fact that you have to fight like a tiger to make it to the bar.     However, once you do this, you will be rewarded with cañas for 1.50 euro accompanied by a small, but very full, plate of traditional tapas.”
     
  • Glorieta de Montera: Caballero de Gracia, 10
    Bazaar: Calle de la Libertad
    La Finca de Susana: Calle Arlaban, 4 
    “Polite staff and an ample and interesting menu may lead you to believe you’re going to get whopped by the bill, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised: fettuccini with chicken and dried tomatoes (5.99), Risotto with asparagus and artichokes (5.98) or rice with squid (5.98).”

Here’s more from “The Pain in Spain”:

  • Laan Café 
    Calle de Pelayo, 28
    Metro: Chueca)
    Mostly Mediterranean, with some fusion and Asian-inspired dishes as well
    Cost: around 12 euros
     
  • La Finca de Susana 
    Calle Arlaban, 4
    Metro: Sevilla
    Mediterranean food
    Cost: around 9 euros
     
  • La Isla del Tesoro 
    Manuela Malasaña, 3
    Metro: Bilbao
    Vegetarian food, with a different ethnic cuisine highlighted each day for lunch
    Cost: around 10 euros
     
  • Momo 
    Calle de la Libertad, 8
    Metro: Chueca
    Mediterranean food
    Cost: around 10 euros
     
  • Pink Sushiman 
    Calle Caballero de Gracias, 8
    Metro: Sol or Gran Via
    Japanese food
    Cost: around 10 euros, lets you choose five dishes from revolving sushi belt or off the à la carte menu
     
  • Samurai
    Calle Cuesta de Santo Domingo, 24
    Metro: Santo Domingo or Callao
    Japanese food; different menu options
    Cost: around 12 euros and up
     
  • Siam 
    Calle San Bernardino, 6
    Metro: Plaza de España or Noviciado
    Thai food; different menu options
    Cost: around 10 euros
     
  • Zoe Café 
    Calle Santa María, 28 
    Metro: Antón Martín
    International cuisine (Mediterranean, Asian, Lebanese, etc.)
    Cost: around 10 euros Monday through Friday and around 11 euros on Saturday

And more (from Go Madrid):

  • La Biotika
    Amor de Dios, 3 
    T. 91 429 07 80
    Vegetarian 
    Cost: 10 euros
     
  • Vitamina
    Chinchilla, 9
    91 531 43 64
    Vegetarian
    Cost: 6.5 euros for the salad bar
     
  • Pantumaca
    Mayor, 31
    Metro: Sol
    T.  91 365 77 77
    Catalan food
    Cost: 10 euros
     
  • Woody’s Diner
    Arturo Soria, 66
    T.  91 368 40 11
    North American cuising
    Cost: around 12 euros
     
  • La Taquería de Birra
    Pza. Comendadoras, 2
    T. 91 522 80 49
    Mexican
    Cost: as little as 10 euros
     
  • Restaurante Artemisa
    Calle Tres Cruces off Gran Via
    Cost: around 8 euros for three courses, including coffee and wine

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