Country Traveling

Rome restaurants: Tips and tricks for people eating in Rome.

Rome is not only the capital of Italy but also of the region of Lazio, which is famous for its food. Robust flavours and rich sauces abound in many typical dishes of the area, and pasta and gnocchi in all their many forms ( especially fettucine ) are served in restaurants across Rome city.

Lazio is notable for dishes featuring milk-fed lamb (abbacchio), veal (vitello), Parma ham (saltimbocca), thin-cut steak and offal, all of which are served with delicious herbs and seasonings. Best fish choices in Rome include sea bass (spigola), fried cod (baccal), bream (orata) and turbot (rombo). Artichokes (carciofi) are scattered all over menus through the winter, before spring heralds the vignarola – a tasty blend of peas, fava beans, and artichokes served with cured pork cheek. Fried sweetbreads are also a Roman speciality.

Rome is rich in markets and this is often reflected in the wonderful variety of superb vegetables served in the city’s restaurants. Beans are used a good deal in the cuisine and appear in many dishes, hot and cold. On a cool winter’s day the visitor seeking a warming lunch could do no better than to choose a tasty minestrone soup, which is another of the area’s specialities.

Standard tourist menus generally offer good value, beginning with bread and olive oil with soup or pasta; a simple meat or fish dish with vegetables (contorni) for secondi; and cheese or fresh fruit to finish; accompanied by a carafe of locally produced Frascati white or red wine from Tuscany. As a rule, main dishes do not come with vegetables, which are ordered separately.

Whether you are dining in a no-frills trattorie or a more formal ristorante, owners and chefs invariably take pride in sourcing the best seasonal produce. Vegetarians can expect most first (primi) pasta courses to be meat-free; other choices include a seasonal vegetable ‘fritto misto’ (‘mixed fried’) or side dish combo, the verdure miste (‘mixed green’). Kosher choices are limited because of the prevalence of meat and cheese, particularly pork.

As elsewhere in Italy, pizza remains a popular staple food for the restaurant and the street, and the Roman version is a hybrid between the thick crust, rustic Neopolitan variety and the thinner, more fancy Northern version. Away from the main tourist areas, most restaurants only serve pizza at dinner time.

The neighbourhoods of Trastevere, San Lorenzo and Testaccio are known for offering reasonably priced, authentic Roman cuisine; whilst restaurants around Campo de’Fiori and Piazza Navona are pleasurable places to dine, with musicians on hand to entertain.

Virtually every bar and dining establishment in Rome will offer first-rate filter coffee; Italians regard frothy cappuccinos as a morning drink and rarely a post-prandial treat, when the pick-me-up expresso or macchiato is preferred. Ice creams are sensational, creamy gelato and refreshing granita (sorbets) come in a host of enticing flavours, such as coffee, coconut, liquorice or sour cherry, that are lovingly prepared for an incomparable all-day dessert.

If one to write of Rome and omit mention of its gustatory delights the whole world would protest, because in Rome eating is an art and cooking a science, and he who does not know not what Rome provides knows neither art nor science.

Tags: Artichokes, Capital Of Italy, Fettucine, Fish Dish, Fried Cod, Milk Fed, Minestrone Soup, Orata, Rich Sauces, Rombo, Rome City, Rome Restaurants, Seasonal Produce, Seasonal Vegetable, Side Dish, Spigola, Sweetbreads, Tasty Blend, Typical Dishes, Vignarola

Mention Romania and people immediately think of Dracula and a mid-evil country. Recovering from years of economic misery, Romania is quickly becoming the hidden jewel of Eastern Europe.

Dracula v. Ceausescu

In pop culture, Romania is always equated with Count Dracula, Bran Castle and Transylvania. These assumptions are wrong. Vlad Tepes is widely regarded as the person on whom the Dracula character is based. Known as Vlad the Impaler, there is no disputing this was one nasty individual, but he wasnt a vampire. On top of this, Vlad the man never resided in Bran Castle, a real castle and the home of the fictional Dracula. Sorry to burst your bubble, but there was a person arguably worse than Dracula or Vlad in Romanias history.

Introducing Nicolae Ceausescu, the reigning worst dictator in the history of Europe. A pig on all counts, this man treated Romania as his personal fiefdom through much of the twentieth century. While leading the country into economic ruin, he built lavish estates for he and his wife. While Romanians starved on the streets, he and his wife spent money like Joan Collins at a plastic surgeon. When he was finally expelled from office, the people were so outraged by his excess that he and his wife were executed after what can only be called a show trial.

Unfortunately, the country didnt recover quickly. The last five years, however, have seen major advancements, and Romania is now a must visit location.

Bucharest

Once considered the Paris of the East, Bucharest suffered greatly during Ceausescus reign. Ancient buildings with French and Turkish influences were replaced with communist inspired concrete block buildings in redevelopment projects. Currently, the city is a microcosm of the lurching recovery of the country. Elegant neighborhoods border slums and there appears to be little or no middle class. There appears to be only the poor or rich. When visiting Romania, you will have to fly into Bucharest. Just dont stay too long.

Brasov

Brasov is located in the hilly terrain of Transylvania and is a good place to visit. Located in the center of the country, Brasov is surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains. The city is a resounding example of old world Romania with an ancient center city square and little cafes throughout.

The real appeal of Brasov is the surrounding land. Unspoiled, the mountains surrounding Brasov are full of little villages and surrounding forests. In this area, youll find bears, wolves and other threatened animals roaming freely. On top of this, the land is ripe with outdoor activity opportunities such as skiing, hiking, camping, hunting, rock climbing and parachuting. While all of this exists in other travel destinations, there is no tourist trap feel in Brasov.

Carpathian Mountains

The Carpathian Mountains are visually stunning. While there are attractions throughout the mountains, such as Bran Castle, dont try to simply visit a particular place. Instead, rent a car in Brasov or hire a driver and just go for a ride. The scenery is so overwhelming it is hard to describe. Youll drive down and up into gorges that seem endless, see rivers bombing down mountain sides and see animals only found in National Geographic documentaries. Go for this drive and I guarantee you will be blabbering about it for at least five days.

Romania is the hidden gem of Eastern Europe and you should definitely visit. You dont even need to wear garlic.

Tags: Ancient Buildings, Bran Castle, Bucharest Romania, Concrete Block Buildings, Count Dracula, Dracula Castle, Economic Misery, Economic Ruin, Fiefdom, Hidden Jewel, History Of Europe, Joan Collins, Lavish Estates, Nicolae Ceausescu, Redevelopment Projects, Romania Bucharest, Romanians, Turkish Influences, Vlad Tepes, Vlad The Impaler

Qubec City, A Taste of Old Europe in North America

One can get a taste of old Europe right in North America when visiting Qubec City in Canada. Qubec City is the capital of the province of Qubec. It can be easily reached by a short flight from points in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. It is a three hour drive from Montreal. The high season is the summer when visitors from all over the world visit. Recently, the number of tourists from the United States and Europe has increased dramatically. This may be partly due to the fact that even some cruise ships originating from eastern US ports are now including Qubec City as a port of call.

Back in 1608, explorer Samuel de Champlain saw the potential of the natural citadel here and founded a fur trading post. With the fortifications of the Upper Town of Qubec City became the area where government and religious institutions set up. Meanwhile, merchants and craftsmen settled in the Lower Town along the St. Lawrence River. Qubec City was fought over by the English and the French many times during wars in the 17th and 18th centuries. The English finally took the city over in 1759 resulting with New France becoming a British colony. Qubec City is still considered as the cradle of French civilization in North America. The old quarter of the city was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1985 and is the only fortified city in North America.

Today, the winding streets and alleys of the old quarter of Qubec City is filled with elegant restaurants, bistros, cafes, museums, art galleries and retail shops. There are artists selling their artwork in some of the alleys. Most of the restaurants in the old quarter are smaller, independent business rather than large chains and they fill up quickly during busy periods so advance reservations are recommended. One of the landmarks of Qubec City is the huge medieval looking hotel, the Chteau Frontenac which along with the adjacent Terrasse Dufferin, overlooks the St. Lawrence River. A one of a kind funicular connects the Upper Town with the Lower Town. There are also several smaller hotels right in the old quarter. The old quarter can be visited by car and there are parking areas strategically located.

Just outside the walls of the old quarter is the rest of downtown Qubec City where newer high rise hotels such as the Hilton and Loews are located. Along the main street of Grand Alle is another section of restaurants and cafes, many of them priced a bit lower than the ones within the old quarter which gives visitors more dining choices. It is a very easy walk from Grand Alle to the old quarter.

Still another alternative for both accommodation and dining is in the Sainte Foy area which is a 10 minute drive west of downtown Qubec City. In fact, Sainte Foy is actually closer to the airport and is well represented by lower priced hotels such as Best Western, Travelodge, Comfort Inn and Days Inn. During the high season, some of the hotels in Sainte Foy offer free shuttle bus service to the old quarter of Qubec City. Sainte Foy also has two shopping malls side by side along the main street of Laurier Boulevard.

Visitors may also want to drive 30 minutes east of Qubec City to the small village of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupr which has one of the most famous churches in North America, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupr Basilica. This site was built in the mid 17th century and receives 1.5 million visitors per year. Along the way is a 272 foot high water falls visible from the highway called the Chute Montmorency.

Although the summer is the high season, Qubec City gets a fair number of visitors to its Carnaval festival in February and the major ski resort Mont Sainte-Anne is busy with the ski and snowboard crowds all winter. Most skiers and snowboarders going to Mont Sainte-Anne use Qubec City as the base for accommodations and dining. An added winter attraction during the last few years has been the Ice Hotel near Lac Sainte-Joseph which was modeled after the one in Europe.

Qubec City has become one of Canada’s top tourist destinations with attractions all year round catering to both summer and winter visitors. With the added old European charm, it is the closest thing to being in Europe without actually leaving North America.

Tags: Advance Reservations, America One, Cruise Ships, Eastern Canada, Elegant Restaurants, Explorer Samuel, Fortifications, French Civilization, Frontenac, Fur Trading, Independent Business, New France, Old Europe, Port Of Call, Qubec City, Religious Institutions, Retail Shops, Samuel De Champlain, St Lawrence River, World Heritage Site

Orlando vacations can be coveted memories in your life. There are many things to do in Orlando. Whether you are going to soak up some sun, shop, hit all the popular tourist spots or just lounge away the days, you are bound to have a great time. There are a few things to remember that can make your trip even more enjoyable.

One thing that you should think about when you are looking into Orlando vacations is your budget. Decide on your price range for accommodations and shop accordingly. You can look at online sites for discount lodging. Or, if you are booking a vacation through a travel agency, check what kind of hotels they have planned. Remember to compare price and amenities. Cheaper isnt always better. Depending on how many are traveling in your party and how long you plan to stay, you may find that renting a house for your vacation makes more sense.

Another thing that you should think about when you are considering where to stay on Orlando vacations is location. Check to see what side of town most interests you and try to find accommodations on that side. After all, you dont want to spend the majority of your time traveling. You want to spend it enjoying life.

If you know that you want to travel around the area but you are going to fly to your Orlando vacations, you might think about renting a car. Compare the costs and hassles of public transportation to those of renting a car for the duration of your stay. Also consider whether youre comfortable driving in unfamiliar areas. If you plan to do some sightseeing outside the immediate area, public transportation may simply be too expensive.

When you pack for your Orlando vacations, pack for what youre going to be doing. If you are out for a weekend of romance, dress for romance. Bring comfortable clothes for sightseeing, but pack at least one knock-em dead outfit because few people can resist the lure of the Orlando nightlife. You may think that you arent going for the water, but bring a suit anyway. You may change your mind, even if it is in the hotel pool. Perhaps most importantly, remember sun block. You may figure you can stop and buy some, but the lure of the beach may be too much to resist from the first opportunity. You dont want to spend half of your Orlando vacations blistered and miserable.

When planning your Orlando vacations, try to think about what you need before you go. Be smart with your budget. After you do all of this, the only thing left is to make the trip to Orlando where youll relax, kick back, and have a blast.

Tags: Amenities, Booking A Vacation, Discount Lodging, Duration, Enjoying Life, Great Time, Hassles, Location Check, Many Things, Orlando Nightlife, Orlando Vacations, Public Transportation, Renting A Car, Sightseeing, Sun Shop, Sunblock, Things To Do In Orlando, Tourist Spots, Travel Agency, Unfamiliar Areas

When you see Lake Titicaca you can be forgiven for thinking someone has stuck a medium-size sea right in the middle of the Andes! It is massive, covering 8,000km and is the highest navigable lake in the world, forming most of Peru’s border with Bolivia. Many people fit a visit to Lake Titicaca into their Peru holidays and it’s definitely a location you should consider trying to visit on your holiday in Peru

It is an incredibly tranquil place, and is home to some of the most ancient of the Peruvian peoples. Many speak Quechua (the language of the Incas) as a first language and maintain a very traditional way of life. The lake itself played a prominent part in Inca creation myths and there are many items of historical interest both in and around the lake!

The Uros are floating islands made entirely out of the reeds which go all round the lake. The largest have several hundred people living on them and one great thing to do on your holiday in Peru is to take a boat trip out to visit some of the smaller islands. The trip out to these remarkable homes amid the tranquility of the lake is definitely something to remember!

Of course, if you don’t fancy trusting to reeds, then a trip to Taquile and Amantani – two of the ‘real’ islands further out in the lake is perhaps a better idea! Both islands are absolutely beautiful and have a rich heritage of both Inca and pre-Inca ruins, and both have a famous tradition of handwoven textiles. For the more adventurous, it is also possible to stay overnight on either of these islands with a local family and sample some real Andean hospitality as part of your holiday in Peru.

The main town on the lake is Puno and this is most people’s base when visiting Lake Titicaca during their Peru holidays. It is a centre for traditional music and is a great place to buy llama and alpaca gear – much cheaper than in Cuzco or Lima! There is a large daily market in Puno and you can find it just by walking towards the lake from the town itself, along Avenida Los Incas. If you are arriving by train from Cusco, the very last stage of the journey actually goes through it!

There is also a great vantage point behind the town which you reach by following a path symbolising the stations of the cross. The views across the town and out over the lake are well worth the walk!

Outside Puno itself, there are several sites of interest within easy reach, of which the most important is Sillustani. This village has an astonishing congregation of Inca and pre-Inca funeral towers. It is still unclear exactly how they were constructed and they are defying archaeologists attempts to re-create them. There is a small museum at the site (although the exhibits and displays are all in Spanish) and the location is beautiful so if you find yourself with a few hours to spare then its definitely worth a trip. A taxi from Puno should cost about $25 and wont take more than 45 minutes – a worthwhile addition to any holiday in Peru!

Lake Titicaca should definitely be on your Peru holiday checklist so make sure you don’t get carried away thinking about Cusco and Machu Picchu and forget about when you’re looking to book your Peru holidays this year!

Tags: Boat Trip, Creation Myths, Cuzco, First Language, Floating Islands, Handwoven Textiles, Highest Navigable Lake In The World, Inca Ruins, Incas, Lake Titicaca, Local Family, Medium Size, Navigable Lake, Peru Holidays, Rich Heritage, Sea Right, Taquile, Traditional Music, Tranquil Place, Uros