 When you get tired of all the "typical" Spanish food, when you want small dishes (but... please, no more tapas!), when you want to try something eclectic yet vaguely Spanish-themed, you might want to consider eating at Bazaar on the southern fringes of Madrid's Chueca.
Read the rest of: "Bazaar in Madrid"» When we asked around in Sainte-Rose, someone told us about the springs at Sofaia, a half-hour drive outside the city. So away we went, along a steep road that got progressively narrower, and eventually wasn't even paved...
Read the rest of: "The Hot Springs at Sofaia"»  I've already talked about
my abnormal interest in this very important meal and
how those morning calories are hard to come by in Madrid. Well, given
that nobody here eats much in the morning, you might as well do as the
Madrileños do - that is, eat only un poco. But where?...
Read the rest of: "Why Faborit is my Favorite. Reason #1: Breakfast"» 
Walking along Paseo del Prado yesterday, I couldn't help but notice all those kiosks and stands filled with books. Bookish types were swarming around them like insects.
So, I browsed a little bit and even though most of the material on display was clearly junk, I had to remind myself more than once about airline weight restrictions - otherwise, I would already have in my possession various 2€ encyclopedias and sub--10€ hard-cover editions of literary classics published in the 70's.
I couldn't figure out the exact dates for this event, but it looks like the stalls will be there for at least a few more weeks.
My fiancée and I were in Rome because I had to get a visa
at the Canadian Embassy. While in town, we managed to
avoid most tourist traps, staying at a reasonably priced hotel
and working a couple of delicious meals into our busy schedule
- all while remaining consistently vague about our nationalities...
And of course, doing as the Romans do...
Read the rest of: "When In Rome, Do As The Romans Do"»
Moments that should be documented photographically throughout one's life: birth, kindergarten graduation, prom, marriage, first ride in a glass-bottomed boat. Of all the days to forget the frickin' camera....I did. So, this time you're just going to have to rely on distant views and verbal images of the Jacques Cousteau nature preserve, off Guadeloupe's western coast.
Read the rest of: "Jacques Cousteau Reserve"» 
The second waterfall at Carbet is the most accessible, a fact made obvious by the tour buses parked by the side of the road. The waterfall is visible even from the parking lot, if you're just there for a photo oportunity. Otherwise, there are a few kilometers of well-maintained boardwalk through the forest, down a valley and up the other side.
Read the rest of: "Les Chutes du Carbet"» 
The replication wonders of Japan never cease....
Read the rest of: "Patterns Of Japan"» 
When (or if) you ever get sick of all those remnants of the Roman Empire and that over-rated Michelangelo and you really want to forget where you are, check yourself into the Zoo in Rome. It's also one place in Rome where you probably won't run into your neighbors from Nebraska, your roommate from the hostel, or anyone other than Roman grandpas with little kids in tow.
The entire Zoo is in a gentle state of decay, and the reptile room was vaguely "under construction" when we visited (that is to say, Not Open). A few peacocks wandering around adds to the general mêlée, and the surrealistic atmosphere is sad but pretty...
Read the rest of: "Monkeying Around in Rome "»  We only discovered this place a couple of months ago and already we've been there three or four times.
My personal opinion, as somebody who has lived in Italy for 5 years,
is that Vago tries to be faithful to the original taste of Italian cuisine...
Read the rest of: "Vago in Westmount"»
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