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Bandeja de FaboritI'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


Feria del Libro 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.



Moscow in Foster Care
Posted by Slavito in Moscow » Attractions on 25/Mar/2006
Moscow TowerWe Russians just don't know when to stop. Most people would consider this mental peculiarity a drawback. We, on the other hand, are proud of it (that's because we don't know when to stop being proud either).

This sweeping generalization applies equally to alcohol consumption and building skyscrapers. For proof, one needs to look no further than the "Moscow City" project that has been under development for the past decade. Many an architectural rendering has been discarded during this timespan - only to be replaced by drawings of towers that are bigger, better, badder. And more "Moscow". (Like Moscow actually needs vertical growth).

Last year, SiteBits wrote about the "Federation Complex" - two towers of 340 and 240 meters respectively. This year, this already feels too short. We need another tower and we're talking at least 600 meters...

Read the rest of: "Moscow in Foster Care


VIPS: Breakfast in Madrid
Posted by Slavito in Madrid » Restaurants on 20/Mar/2006
Breakfast at VIPS in Madrid
Don't get me wrong - I love Spanish food. In fact, I adore it. I can't get enough of all that cocido, jamón serrano, chorizo and tortilla española, so whenever I am in Madrid, I basically eat in advance. Madrid is a city where I can go to a sketchy diner, sit on a bar stool at the counter pretending to be a visiting American, take out a French novel from my pocket... and still get friendly service along with a hearty, delicious meal - all for less than 10 euros!

But that doesn't help me solve the problem I encounter almost every morning. My problem is breakfast...

Read the rest of: "VIPS: Breakfast in Madrid


Buenos Aires Dreaming
Posted by Slavito in Buenos Aires on 25/Feb/2006
Moveable Fiesta You know you're already too late to the game when New York Magazine publishes an article (newyorkmetro.com) telling you that you should be living not in New York, but in Buenos Aires, enjoying warmer temperatures, cheaper real estate and "girls in bikinis".

Written by the GoodAirs.com guy, Ian, this article borders on advertorial in the way it unabashedly plugs the author's expat buddies with their hobby-like business projects while simultaneously propagating this whole myth of a warm, sunny, cheap New York (or Paris) on the other side of the globe. If you're too lazy to follow the link and read it yourself, I'll summarize it for you. The gist is that in Buenos Aires, even a "nobody" from Manhattan can suddenly and effortlessly become somebody. And, presumably, get to hang out with "girls in bikinis" as a result.

The secret behind this miraculous transformation?...

Read the rest of: "Buenos Aires Dreaming


Café Gijón
Posted by Slavito in Madrid » Restaurants on 12/Nov/2005
Cafe Gijón (header) To have a coffee in a literary setting that's oozing atmosphere and tradition in Madrid requires almost no effort.

Just walk to Pasillo de Recoletos, look for the address plaque that says "21" and open the door to Café Gijón.

Read the rest of: "Café Gijón


Whale Watching In Quebec
Posted by Slavito in Montreal » Escapes on 05/Oct/2005
Beluga Whale
There are two important things I learned from my recent whale-watching trip. One: whales come in all sizes, mostly smaller than you think. And two: whales are not dolphins!

Read the rest of: "Whale Watching In Quebec


El Ateneo Store in Buenos Aires On my last trip to Buenos Aires, I was pleasantly surprised with the book-shopping scene there. Walking the streets of downtown B.A. was like traveling in a time machine - this must have been what New York City was like in the 1970's: crowded, polluted, with lots of small bookstores...

Read the rest of: "Book Shopping in Buenos Aires


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