As the capital of Spain there is no doubt that Madrid delivers a great deal of excellent dining choices, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you get good food from the region everywhere you go. Like every other bigger city it is a melting pot for different regions where different cultures and with that different flavours get mixed together. So what are typical dishes from Madrid? If you're going to stay in apartments in Madrid you … [Read more...]
Walking the Walk in NYC
On a recent visit to New York City, I followed in the footsteps of immigrants, celebrities, and George Washington by taking a fun, educational and free walking tour provided by NYC by Foot. Their "Historic District" tour began at Spring Street and 6th Avenue, conveniently across from the subway station. The two hour walk covered about 1.2 miles of Soho, Chinatown and Little Italy - an area that includes part of the historic Five Points District. … [Read more...]
Southern Jordan, Fun in the Sun
We are watching the sun slowly drop below the Egyptian skyline here on the edge of the Red Sea merely 3 clicks from the Saudi border. It is so quiet from our mountain side desert perch. 6 minutes walking gets us to the beach. The air is warm and intoxicating. We are on the Jordanian side now. This arm of the Red Sea contains the world's most northerly coral reefs. The Red Sea is full of coral and brightly colored fish. Just got in from a 1 … [Read more...]
Hitch Hiking through Jordan
There is the Arabic world, the Western world, the Indian world, the Asian world and the African world. we are loving every minute of our time in the Arabic world. Greetings from Dead Sea high on top of Mt. Nebo overlooking Jerusalem City and Palestine Territory. Can see lights of this old city already popping out, about 15 clicks from where we are standing. We are near the John the Baptism site and at the Moses memorial. One … [Read more...]
ALO’s Guide to Finding yourself in Turkey
The cradle of civilization reaches across Asia and Europe welcoming all who enter its majestic beauty. In the hotel high above the Mediterranean Sea, a sunny day with light grey, puffy clouds wrap the sky in silver gauze. Rain seems imminent, but that is not a concern this morning. Shopping is on the top of my list - that is after room service. I like to brag that my idea of roughing it on vacation is either no cable television or no room … [Read more...]
Morocco: Where is my crown of olives?
There is far more to Morocco, Al Maghreb, as it is known among its citizens, than I can describe in just a short little blurb. Other than the intrusions of various cultures into this part of the african continent, the geography plays a large role in shaping Morocco as well. First and foremost, the High Atlas mountain range dominates the heart of the land. Eclipsed only by Kenya's volcanic Mt. Kilimanjaro, the High Atlas rise to a maximum … [Read more...]
Olive Pit, Corning CA – October 2002
The Olive Pit located in Corning, CA is famous for their varied selection of olives and their "olive burgers". Look for their billboards spread out along the 5 freeway. Once you reach Corning, you will see their tall sign just off of the freeway as the restaurant is located merely a few blocks east of the 5 freeway. They have an excellent free sampling of many different types of olives in their store. Some of our favorites include the Zesty … [Read more...]
Paros, Greece – Restaurants
Greek food when prepared authentically is some of my favorite food. Greek salads are towards the top of my culinary list. These usually consist of olives, lettuce, cucumbers, red onions, fresh tomatoes and a touch of dried oregano. I never had any problems with food sickness on Paros and I ate at many different restaurants. There is nothing quite like eating authentic Greek food along the waterfront of Parikia watching the sun go down on a … [Read more...]
Europe – Restaurants
I ate at restaurants which ranged from luxurious to basic, to eating food from the street vendors. As with prices for other items and services, the prices of food at restaurants generally becomes more expensive moving from the south to the north. The exception to this was food in eastern Europe, which was a bit cheaper than the rest of Europe. Most restaurants charge for every little item. The only thing I don't think I was charged for was for … [Read more...]