Travel and Vacation Digest » Mixed Travel Articles

Where The Local Eat Out In Seville

Ed — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 20:27:01 +0000

To find the best places to dine out, you need to find out where the locals eat out in Seville. If you wonder whether a restaurant or bar is a good place to ear, and you look before 8pm, you will find very few locals dining out. Many don't eat until 11 pm.

For breakfast the locals will typically have coffee, a roll filled with ham, a tomato and olive oil. You will find many people at the El Faro.

If you want ham, you should go to the El Patio San Eloy. There, they will be serving it with small, filled rolls.

Bar Nieves serves coffee and a tostada which is ham, cheese, tomato and olive oil served on warm tostada bread.

La Taberna de Alabardero will allow you to choose from many local dishes to sample. You will find stuffed eggplant, macaroni with squid and papaya sauce, rabbit with potatoes or hake in a coconut sauce are among the many choices.

Cerveceria Giralda near the Cathedral is the place for Tapas. This used to be a Muslim bathhouse but here you will find many locals enjoying the tapas and the local wine.

Pizzeria San Marco serves the best pizza in town. It also has Italian food. Since this is a popular place with the locals, you should reserve a table. They are also closed on a Monday.

Lizarran Tabernas Selectas is often filled with locals and you might be the only visitor in it. The tapas here are both hot and cold and they may be at places on the bar counter. You need to decide which of one of them you want to eat and put them on a plate. Every tapas has a wooden stick in it and when you have finished eating you hand the empty sticks to the person serving. They will count the number of sticks and charge you for the number you have eaten.

Restaurant La Cueva is a very popular restaurant and they serve a great fish casserole.

Las Teresas is a place where the locals come to drink their coffee con leche in the morning. The also come back in the evening to drink beer with their tapas.

El Rincon is one of Seville's best kept secrets. This restaurant is popular with the locals and it is thought to be one of the best restaurants in the area.

When you find a new restaurant, see if it is empty or if it is popular with the locals. If you find the locals eating there, you can almost guarantee that you have a great meal ahead of you.

The Tops Five Costa Blanca Resorts

Ed — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 07:47:01 +0000

The Costa Blanca is one of the most visited areas in Europe and if you want to have a quiet beach holiday in the summer, then this isn't the place for you to visit. If you are looking for a holiday which is full of life and people, then you should be looking at the top five Costa Blanca Resorts for your vacation.

1. Alicante is the capital of the Province of Alicante. It is a sea port and many cruise ships stop here. You will find places here to suit all age groups. It is a great place to watch people from the cafes around the harbour area.

2. Gandia is south of Valencia and in the main city you will find the home of the Borja dynasty. 4 Km away you have the costal place of Playa de Gandia which has a broad beach. You will find that a lot of Spaniards take their vacations here.

3. Denia is sometimes said to be a fairly dull town but it more than makes up for it with some great, sandy beaches to the north. The beaches in the south are rockier but they have some wonderful coves. This is the place where you can take a short crossing to the Balearic Islands.

4. Xabia/Javea is not a place where there are many locals. You will find it to be a very laid-back city; especially if you arrive before the crowds descend for their vacations.

5. Benidorm attracts around 5 million visitors each year and many of them are British. It was in the 60's that Benidorm became a hotbed for tourists who wanted to get away to warmer places. There is something here for all ages, but in summer, the majority of visitors are young people and some of them have given Benidorm a bad reputation. In the wintertime, you get a lot of older people who want to escape the cold weather of home. Here you will also find Spain's answer to Disneyland. If you have children with you then a trip to Terra Mitica is a must.

Most of the people who head for Costa Blanca for their vacations are looking for a beach holiday but there are many places inland which will appeal to those who don't want to spend their days on the beach.

Come To Vegas For An Elvis Wedding

Ed — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 05:36:01 +0000

Las Vegas is known for a great many things, not the least of which are Elvis Presley and weddings. Elvis is literally everywhere in Vegas. There's a museum full of Elvis memorabilia and most of the hotels have some kind of Elvis presence. Weddings are as much a part of Vegas as Elvis is. About 100,000 wedding ceremonies are performed each year in Las Vegas and there are wedding chapels all over town. With so many weddings and so much Elvis it seems only natural that the denizens of Las Vegas came up with a way to merge the two into a bizarre yet popular hybrid known as the Elvis Wedding.

Elvis Weddings have been available at a number of Vegas chapels for quite some time. The concept that seems like a bad sitcom joke is actually quite popular in Vegas and couples show up every day to be married by Elvis, serenaded by Elvis, picked up in a limousine driven by Elvis, or accompanied on a tandem bicycle by Elvis. One chapel offers the option of having Elvis give away the Bride. The Elvis wedding is nothing short of a unique experience. And that experience is offered at just under a dozen chapels on and off the Strip. Some of the chapels themselves seem designed around the Elvis Wedding. If you're getting married at the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel or the Graceland Wedding Chapel, you pretty much have to expect an appearance by The King. The Viva Las Vegas chapel offers a "Blue Hawaii" Elvis Wedding that includes a Priscilla impersonator.

It may go without saying that the Aladdin Wedding Chapel is proudest of their Elvis Weddings and they are quick to point out that they were host to the original Elvis Wedding – the eight minute wedding of Elvis and Priscilla Presley took place in one of their rooms (at the original Aladdin) in 1967. The Elvis Weddings at the Aladdin Wedding Chapel may be the most low key of the bunch. Here you can be married by Elvis and have the option of having him serenade you.

Other locations that offer Elvis Weddings in Vegas include the Silver Bell Wedding Chapel, A Las Vegas Wedding Chapel, Cupid's Wedding Chapel, A Hollywood Wedding Chapel, and the Shalimar Wedding Chapel. Each chapel has different features included in their Elvis weddings and your choice of a site may be determined by just how much or how little Elvis you'd actually like in your Elvis wedding.

The prices for an Elvis Wedding vary by location and the different options included. Most are priced similarly to what you'd pay for a regular (i.e. non-Elvis) wedding at a Vegas chapel. So, if you're going to choose to marry in Las Vegas, why not go all out with the wackiness and fun of the Elvis Wedding? You'll definitely be left with interesting stories to relate to your friends, family, and any little Lisa Maries that may be in your future.

Find That Adventurer Inside Yourself Backpacking In Europe

Ed — Mon, 03 May 2010 11:02:01 +0000

Sometimes it is just tough to imagine yourself actually being able to go somewhere far away, like Europe for instance. It is also difficult for some people to feel confident enough to take such an adventure, if you have never done it before. However, if you can dig deep down within yourself and find that adventurer that has been hiding out for so long, you might be able to surprise yourself and learn how to take risks and be more of an exciting, spontaneous individual. Something that everybody should consider doing, alteast one time throughout your lifetime, is going backpacking in Europe. This kind of experience could really change everything about you and show yourself that you do have an incredibly adventurous side to you and that you have the courage and strength to do anything that you set out to do and you are capable of having the time of your life, without worrying about every little thing.

Backpacking is an amazing thing, but backpacking in Europe is just an unbelievable thing! It will give you an experience of a lifetime and prove to yourself that there is so much beauty out there for you to see and by you taking that risk, you have allowed yourself to witness and experience so much of that beauty that has been hidden away for so long. If you do not take part in an experience such as this one, atleast once during your life, you are just really missing out terribly. Everybody deserves this at some point and once you have done it, you will have a feeling like no other, it will really be an irreplaceable experience to say the least. Be brave, stop holding back, get away for awhile and do something that you would normally never try doing, because of being too afraid of the unknown. Life is way too short for anybody to hold themselves back in such a way. There is so much to see and just so little time. Stop wasting your time away, living that old boring life, without any excitement, make a change!

It will give you such a feeling of accomplishment and the confidence in knowing that you are capable of doing anything that you want in life. It will have an amazing affect on your life and the memories will be some of the most fascinating memories that you could ever possibly create, just sitting around back at your house, being bored and just working all the time. Take time out for yourself and this is an incredible way to spend that time. Backpacking in Europe is highly recommended for any individual and if you could ever save up enough money to do it, you really must give it a shot. You might end up loving it so very much that you decide to do it again one day, bringing someone special along with you for the next go around.

Culinary Traditions Of Cuba

Ed — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 20:25:01 +0000

The East Caribbean island of Cuba has a rich cultural heritage from which has arisen culinary traditions that are as vibrant and varied as the variety of cultures that have contributed to the development of this distinct and delicious cuisine. In addition to the ancient influence of the native peoples of Cuba, the Spaniards brought their own culinary styles, tinged by those of the Moors who held huge parts of Spain for centuries. The slaves that were brought from Africa made significant culinary and cultural contributions, with other culinary traditions being brought to the island with the French colonists fleeing uprisings in Haiti.

As these various influences came together, a distinctly Cuban flavor and style evolved, which is reminiscent of country peasant styles of cooking by oral tradition and eye, rather than relying on specific measurements and the creation of dishes that tend towards the simple and hearty, and that can be left on their own to simmer. Fussy, heavy sauces are unusual and deep-frying is simply not a favored cooking method. The island nation, naturally, uses a great deal of seafood in its cuisine, which encourages the use of simple cooking techniques and spicing that is meant to enhance, not smother, natural flavors.

The most common spices used in Cuban cuisine are garlic, cumin, oregano and bay or laurel leaves. Sofrito is also popular, and used in a wide range of dishes, from those of beans to those of meats to those that are made from a base of tomato sauce. A typical sofrito is made of green pepper, onion, garlic, oregano and black pepper fried in olive oil until the pepper, onion and garlic are soft and translucent and the flavors blend to perfection.

The dense, nutritious, energy producing vegetables commonly used belie the African and native peoples' influence on the cuisine of Cuba. Yuca, malanga, boniato, and plantano are among these, and are often simmered together with complementary vegetables and served simply, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with chopped fresh onion – a satisfying, strengthening and simple dish for a hard working people.

Meats are often prepared using island flavored marinades of that use lime juice or the juice of a sour variety of the orange as a base. Then, the meats are roasted or simmered very slowly with spices, often for hours. Beans and rice are an essential part of most meals, with black beans being well known as a Cuban specialty.

Cuban cuisine is also notable for its baked goods, which include a variety of turnovers. Some are filled with spiced meats and other types feature a particularly Cuban blend of cream cheese and guava paste. Flan is among Cuba's most beloved dessert items.

In Cuban cuisine, the subtle flavors of healthy foods are enhanced by cooking and spicing methods designed to bring out the best in each component of a dish. The culinary traditions of Cuba are a delight to the tongue, naturally, but they also offer a fascinating glimpse into a culture that has brought together many varied elements to create a cohesive whole.

The Top Ten Tourist Attractions In Barcelona

Ed — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:47:01 +0000

When you decide to take a vacation to Barcelona, you will want to spend time enjoying the sites. What are the top ten tourist attractions in Barcelona? Where should you visit?

1. Sagrada Familia by Antonio Gaudi (2,056,448 visits/year) and if you only have time to visit one site, then this is the one you should see. It is the most visited site in Barcelona. Work is ongoing since the building has never been completed. The work has been going on for 100 years. It is thought that it will be completed by 2020 but there are no guarantees that will happen either. At the moment it looks like the first Mass might be held in 2008, but only if the roof is completed on time.

2. L' Aquarium de Barcelona (1,375,271 visits/year) is a great place to take children. Here they have an 80 meter long shark tunnel. You can even arrange to dive among the sharks if that is a dream you have always had. As a special for children between the ages of 8 – 12, you can spend the night with the sharks where you can see what they do at night.

3. Poble Espanyol de Montjuic (1,346,938 visits/year) otherwise known as the Spanish Village, has different areas where houses and architecture can be seen which cover different locations and styles seen in Spain.

4. La Pedrera – Casa Mila by Antonio Gaudi (1,133,220 visits/year) This building has wavy bricks and tiles which are very colorful. This gives it a very distinctive look.

5. Barcelona FC Museum (1,032,763 visits/year) If you love football/soccer then you will want to visit this museum. You can take a tour that starts in the changing rooms, goes out through the tunnel, onto the pitch and then ends up in the presidential box.

6. Barcelona Zoo (1,015,000 visits/year) You will find the zoo located at the arc de la Ciutadella. If you go to the park you will be able to walk to the zoo by following the signs.

7. Picasso Museum (887,958 visits/year) Here you will find a collection of Picasso's paintings. You should allow quite some time to visit here because you will want to look at sketches, oils, doodling and painting.

8. Imax Cinema (671,512 visits/year) When you visit the L' Aquarium de Barcelona go to the Imax Cinema because they are next door to each other.

9. Mir

Culinary Traditions Of France

Ed — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:03:01 +0000

French cuisine is the amazingly high standard to which all other native cuisines must live up to. The country of France is home of some of the finest cuisine in the world, and it is created by some of the finest master chefs in the world. The French people take excessive pride in cooking and knowing how to prepare a good meal. Cooking is an essential part of their culture, and it adds to one's usefulness if they are capable of preparing a good meal.

Each of the four regions of France has a characteristic of its food all its own. French food in general requires the use of lots of different types of sauces and gravies, but recipes for cuisine that originated in the northwestern region of France tend to require the use a lot of apple ingredients, milk and cream, and they tend to be heavily buttered making for an extremely rich (and sometimes rather heavy) meal. Southeastern French cuisine is reminiscent of German food, heavy in lard and meat products such as pork sausage and sauerkraut.

On the other hand, southern French cuisine tends to be a lot more widely accepted; this is generally the type of French food that is served in traditional French restaurants. In the southeastern area of France, the cooking is a lot lighter in fat and substance. Cooks from the southeast of France tend to lean more toward the side of a light olive oil more than any other type of oil, and they rely heavily on herbs and tomatoes, as well as tomato-based products, in their culinary creations.

Cuisine Nouvelle is a more contemporary form of French cuisine that developed in the late 1970s, the offspring of traditional French cuisine. This is the most common type of French food, served in French restaurants. Cuisine Nouvelle can generally be characterized by shorter cooking times, smaller food portions, and more festive, decorative plate presentations. Many French restaurant cuisines can be classified as Cuisine Nouvelle, but the more traditional French restaurant cuisine would be classified as Cuisine du Terroir, a more general form of French cooking than Cuisine Nouvelle. Cuisine du Terroir is an attempt to return to the more indigenous forms of French cooking, especially with reference to regional differences between the north and south, or different areas such as the Loire Valley, Catalonia, and Rousillon. These are all areas famous for their specific specialty of French cuisine. As time has progressed, the difference between a white wine from the Loire Valley and a wine from another area has slowly diminished, and the Cuisine du Terroir approach to French cooking focuses on establishing special characteristics between regions such as this.

As part of their culture, the French incorporate wine into nearly every meal, whether it is simply as a refreshment or part of the recipe for the meal itself. Even today, it is a part of traditional French culture to have at least one glass of wine on a daily basis.

The Top Ten Tourist Attractions In Valencia

Ed — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:30:01 +0000

1. Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias is the main attraction in Valencia. There are 4 different attractions here and the Arts and Craft center gets over 4 million visitors a year. You will find the Hemisferuc, which is a planetarium, IMAX cinema and a laser show. Then you will have the Museo de las Ciencias Principe Felipe which is an interactive science museum. The Oceanographic is one that the children will not want to miss. There is enough water here to fill 15 Olympic pools, with underwater tunnels and a place where people can see different forms of marine life. The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia has seating for 4,400 people where people perform plays and operas.

2. Cathedrals are found in many Spanish cities. This cathedral was built using different architectural styles. It is claimed that the Holy Grail is kept here.

3. Instituto Valenciano de Arte Moderno (IVAM) is being expanded and it houses an impressive collection of 20th Century Spanish art. At the top of the tower you will be able to see the marks left by the cannonballs fired by Napoleon's troops during the invasion in the 19th century.

4. Museo de Bellas Artes has artwork by El Greco, Goya, Velazquez, Murillo and other artists.

5. Museo de Historia de Valencia shows more than 2,000 years of the history of Valencia.

6. Palacoio del Marques de Dos Aguas has a display of ceramic from around the world.

7. Plaza del Marcado used to be the Valencian commodity exchange and it is now a World Heritage Site. You also have the Mercado Central which is a covered market.

8. Torres de Serranos and Torres de Quart are part of the old city walls. Torres de Serranos was the main exit to Barcelona and the Torres de Quart faced towards Madrid.

9. Palau de la Generalitat is a 15th Century building built in the Gothic style and is the government building of the area.

10. Plaza de la Virgen is on a site that was once a forum for the Roman Valencia and it is where the north, south, east and west highways met. There is a statue of the Virgin Mary who is the patron of the city. You also have the Cripta de la Carcel de San Vicente Martir which was used as a prison for the 4th century martyr San Vicente.

A Gorgeous Hawaii Wedding

Ed — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:04:01 +0000

Almost every girl dreams of a beautiful and romantic wedding for most of her life. Now that your time has come and you're planning your dream wedding, what could be more beautiful or more romantic than a dream wedding in Hawaii? With the costs of so-called destination weddings dropping into the ranges of affordability for more and more people and resort hotels and airlines offering attractive packages at reduced and combined rates, now is the perfect time to arrange an incredible and exotic Hawaii wedding!

If you're interested in holding your wedding ceremony among the beauty and splendor of the Hawaiian Islands there are an incredible number of sources to help you plan your lavish Hawaii wedding. Hawaii has long been a favorite destination for newlywed honeymooners and couples looking for an exotic locale for their wedding celebrations, and there are a large number of companies on the islands that specialize in helping you create and enjoy the most amazing wedding in the splendor of Hawaii. Companies that specialize in waterfall wedding and beach weddings abound and are there to see to every detail of a wedding service that you will remember for a lifetime. A romantic tropical paradise wedding can be yours for much less cost than you may think.

Feeling adventurous? Then a whirlwind wedding on the island of Maui followed by a thrilling helicopter trip high above the beautiful landscape may be right up your alley. Maybe you and your beloved are more reserved? Then perhaps a quite beach or garden gazebo Hawaii wedding is more your style. There are companies that will marry you on a yacht in the middle of the Pacific Ocean if that's your style. And who could resist the temptation of saying "I do" at a small, private Maui ceremony followed by a romantic dinner for two? All these options and more await you when you decide to have your wedding in beautiful Hawaii.

If you've dreamed of a glamorous Hawaii wedding but never looked into it because you assumed the cost would be prohibitive, you should put those thoughts out of your mind right away. Companies offering the romantic Hawaii weddings discussed above have rates that will surprise you. Many of the tempting Hawaii weddings available can be had for anywhere between several hundred to less than two thousand dollars (not including hotel and airfare, of course.) With the costs of traditional weddings skyrocketing, a small but memorable Hawaii wedding may be well within your reach.

Regardless of where you have your wedding, you're sure to remember it fondly for the rest of your life. If you want those memories to be that much more special and to spark romance in your heart and mind whenever you think of them, then an amazing and breathtaking Hawaii wedding on the beach, in a lush garden paradise, or in front of a romantic waterfall may be the perfect thing for you and your spouse to enjoy today and remember forever.

Culinary Traditions Of South America

Ed — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 08:21:01 +0000

Argentina is South America's second largest country, snugly situated between the Andes mountain range, the Pacific Ocean, and the South American countries of Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, and Chile. Being situated in such a manner, Argentina is exposed to many different cultural influences from all directions, including countries all the way across the Pacific. Spain took it upon themselves to permanently settle in the country in the late 1500s, and remained there until Buenos Aires formally emancipated themselves in 1853. One of the most remarkable differences between Argentine Cuisine and exotic cuisines from around the world is the heavy influence that the cuisine of the Italian and Spanish cultures had on it.

Startlingly enough, due to the influence of the Italian culture on the country of Argentina, Italian food staples such as lasagna, pizza, pasta, and ravioli are commonly seen on the Argentine table, at least in the country's major cities. Unusually enough (when it comes to Italian food), white bread is also common, as are side dishes made of vegetables native to Argentina, such as potatoes, egglpants, squash, cucumbers, and zucchini.

Argentina is also one of the world's leading producers of milk, wheat, corn, and meat (including, but not limited to beef, goat meat, pork, and lamb) so naturally, these things are very common in the Argentine dish. Argentine dishes are normally very high in protein, so grilled meats are commonly seen on a plate of Argentine food.

Empanadas, pastries stuffed with meat or cheese, are also an Argentine favorite. They are commonly served in Argentine restaurants, and are national favorites. Empanadas

are normally eaten baked or fried, and are often served at parties or festivals as appetizers. The dessert version of an empanada usually consists of brown sugar or fruit such as apples or oranges.

In smaller cities, the foreign influences of Spain and Italy are less apparent. Milanesas, thin slivers of meat dipped in eggs, bread crumbs, and then fried in oil, are common fare in the rural areas of Argentina. Their simplicity makes them great snacks, but they can also be served as part of a meal piping hot served with mashed potatoes, or between two slices of bread as a sandwich.

The master chefs are more apt to return to the more classic, provincial style of preparing and cooking food, which bears more of a resemblance to Mexican cuisine than that of Italy. Bolder, more intense spices are used. Calling forth once more the Spanish influences in Argentina, Argentine cooks are famous for their tortillas; unlike the Mexican version of the tortilla the Argentines use potato dough, in contrast to the traditional Mexican corn or flour tortilla.

Desserts are more popular in these areas, as well. Dulce de leche (which roughly translates into "Milk Jam"), a sweet pudding of sugar and milk, is a popular dessert in Argentina. This lightly brown-colored pudding is eaten alone, or stuffed in cakes or pies. Sometimes the treat is also crystallized into a solid wafer-like candy substance.