Munnar a breathtaking beautiful and pleasing hill station a haven of peace and serenity is the idyllic honeymoon destination in the Gods Own Country Kerala, India. This beautiful city of Munnar is situated at sangam (confluence) of three mountain streams Mudrapuzha, Kundala and Nallathanni. This small but picturesque hill town of Munnar is famous among honeymooners and tourists from all over the world for its cool climate, cozy weather, picturesque landscapes, tea plantations, natural beauty, etc. Munnar tour has top priority on the itinerary of Kerala tours. Exploring beautiful landscapes and exceptional natural beauty of the city of Munnar provides a pleasant travel experience. Tourists never for get to visit Munnar during their Kerala tours to India.

Munnar is one of the most popular honeymoon and summer gateways of India. The home of exceptional natural beauty and unique flowers, the city offers true honeymoon ambiance for nature lovers and honeymooners. In fact, the city is a paradise for nature lovers and honeymooners. Every year a large gathering of tourists and honeymooners during the summer visit this beautiful land of Munnar, Kerala, India. It is a dream Kerala honeymoon destination which provides honeymooners true essence of Kerala honeymoon tour. You too should not forget to explore the picturesque hill town of Munnar during your Kerala tours, India.

Have a dream Kerala honeymoon holidays in the picturesque hill town of Munnar. Hold the hand of your loved one in your hand and explore scenic beauty of the town and get pleased with the sweet fragrance coming from the Munnar tea plantations. Visit the Anaimudi peak with your loved one where you will find exceptional natural beauty and rare Neelakurunji flower that blooms one in 12 years. Let the colonial aura, romantic ambiance, fresh & cool breeze, pristine nature beauty enter into your sprits on your Munnar honeymoon tour in Kerala, South India.

On your Kerala honeymoon tours to Munnar you will also have wonderful opportunity to visit Attukal, Kuthumakal Waterfalls, Observatory hills, Echo Point, Powerhouse waterfalls, Eravikulam National Park, Kundala, Devikulam, Lock heart gap, Tea & Coffee plantations, Rajamala wildlife sanctuary, Kalvari mount, Valara waterfall, etc. Munnar honeymoon tours to Kerala also provide opportunity to indulge in some adventurous opportunity. Try catching fish with your loved one. Enjoy boat ride with your spouse and say sweet nothing in the ear of your spouse. Enjoy paragliding with you life partners. Surely, adventurous sports will be a unique experience of your Kerala honeymoon package in the picturesque hill town of Munnar. While you are in Kerala honeymoon tour dont miss to grab opportunity to visit Munnar and explore its beautiful attractions.

In fact, Munnar has a special charm to offer honeymooners or newly-wedded couples during their Kerala honeymoon tours. Gifted with exceptional natural beauty and dotted with beautiful lakes, lovely mountain streams, wooded valley, wavy grass hills, and several tea plantations this beautiful hill town of Munnar provides a pleasant & romantic ambiance for making honeymoon in Kerala, India. Munnar honeymoon tour to Kerala is considered as one of the most special and truly fabulous Kerala honeymoon packages. If you too have decided to celebrate your honeymoon holidays in Munnar, Kerala, it is advisable that book your Kerala tour package, well in advance, for Munnar so that you can travel in Munnar in more and more convenient ways.

Ayers Rock stands as a challenge to those that view it its imposing, and it challenges all with questions. What is this chunk of rock doing here? Is it of terrestrial origin? What is it made of? The huge prospect of the mass of rock confounds logic, much like the rock-face in the Hollywood movie Mission to Mars that raised a thousand questions.

It not without justification for the local aborigines, who call this rock Uluru, probably a family name, is worshipped as a sacred place. Like Benares or Parthenon, it is a place or worship to some, and a venue of tourist wonderment for others.

Situated in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, it is virtually in the middle of nowhere, but it draws tourists year round from throughout Australia and the world. Temperatures during summer months can be uncomfortable, and it is always advisable to wear clothes in accordance with weather.

At a height of around 350 meters above ground, it is 8 kilometers around. Mistakenly called a monolith, it is part of a much larger underground structure which includes nearby mountains like Mount Connor and the Kata Tjuta, or Mount Olga. Largely a limestone structure, it affords varied surfaces, from long clefts on the surface, perforations and smooth faade.

Discovered in 1872 by explorer Ernest Giles, he described it as the remarkable pebble, an apt name for the smooth megalith named Ayers Rock after the Chief Secretary of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers. The rock is famous for changing colors. Not only does it seem to change color from season to season, but even during the day as it captures sunlight from differing angles. The surface feldspar reflects a red light during sunsets and sunrise. A rare rainfall brings out a rush of black algae on its surface, giving it a silver-grey color.

The whole area including and around Ayers Rock is filled with cultural and spiritual artifacts of the local aborigines. The rock is said to house dozens of ancestral beings whose abodes are decorated with venerated artwork. The rock forms part of a religious myth that tries to explain the birth of time. It is not surprising, therefore, that many of the aborigines are offended at the tourist intrusion of their ancient land which is held sacred by them.

While climbing Ayers Rock remains a favorite pastime of many sturdy tourists, the aborigines dissuade climbers, in essence. The Cultural Center located in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is a veritable treasure trove of local culture and artifacts and is a center of education on the local culture. The photo collages, history panels, sound samples, interactive audio-visual productions and live interaction with the Ananga people brings about a great understanding of what Uluru has come to mean for them.
However climbing the Ayers Rock is considered a done thing by most tourists, much like taking a snorkel dive in the Great Barrier Reef. But tackling the Rock can be a bit of a challenge to all but the fit trekkers. There are many routes that one can take depending upon how comfortable you are with each. It is generally advised that starting trekkers should take the easier routes lined with railings and notices. You can also go with local guides who take you through easier routes providing you with running commentary on significant places. Many people like traveling in groups which is, in fact, a safer option. Of course, it is mandatory that you are properly dressed, have the requisite gear and take lots of water.

Very near to the Uluru are The Olgas, literally meaning little heads, another group of peculiar rock formations that attract a lot of tourists. A little more distant (100 km) is the much larger Mount Conner, located southeast of Lake Amadeus.
Ayers Rock has fascinated people for as slong as we can remember. It has been a venue of religious veneration and mystique, and now it is an object of public fascination. A symbol of the elemental Australia, Ayers Rock is a must see for all who visit the Northern Territory in this part of the world.

Disclaimer
We take no responsibility for inaccuracy or omissions in the information provided, which is not intended as specific advice. Before relying on the material, you should obtain appropriate professional advice relevant to your individual circumstances to evaluate accuracy, currency, completeness and relevance of the information to your specific needs.

Sotogrande

Sotogrande is found within the province of Cadiz and is situated near the Straits of Gibraltar which can offer quiet beaches and coves although the hustle and bustle of the Costa del Sol is only half an hour away. It is within easy reach of Malaga, Marbella, Cadiz and Gibraltar.

Sotogrande is an exclusive sports and residential development which has developed over the last 30 years. It is a quiet area based around a substantial marina which will have over 1,000 berths once the second phase is completed. Sotogrande is also home to the famous Valderrama golf club as well as many others.

Sotogrande is an all year round resort offering golf, sailing and tennis with lots of good bars, restaurants and large hotels for relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere.

Estepona

Estepona is a coastal town on the Costa del Sol which, despite its expansion, has maintained its character and old town feel. There are still numerous places where one can find traditional Spanish food amongst the narrow cobbled streets.

Estepona has good, sandy beaches but is also within easy reach of Puerto de la Duquesa and also close enough to visit some of the lovely inland towns and villages such as Gaucin, Casares and Genalguacil. It is just an hours drive to Malaga from Estepona. The Plaza de las Flores and the Clock Tower (Torre de Reloj) are attractive places to visit within the town and there is a popular market on Wednesdays. There are many golf courses in the area which makes it a popular destination as well as the fact that the average temperature is 18C.

The port and harbour are just a short walk from the town centre and is mainly centred around fishing although there are modern marina facilities and aside from the market in the town centre on Wednesdays, it also has its own market on a Sunday.

Puerto Banus

Just a few kilometres to the west of Marbella, Puerto Banus is famous for its marina full of luxury yachts as well as offering expensive bars, restaurants and designer shops. The beach, the Playa Levante, is to the north of the town and is very clean, long and wide. There is a market on Saturdays near the bullring. Puerto Banus has a busy nightlife with a wide choice of bars, clubs or discos to visit, or maybe you just want to sit in the open air with a meal and a drink and watch the world go by.

Marbella

Marbella is probably one of the most well known resorts along the Costa del Sol. It has a wonderful climate with over 3000 hours of sunshine per year. It is close to Malaga airport, has an impressive yacht harbour and many golf courses within easy reach.

Away from the glamour of the harbour area the old town still retains some character. The Plaza de los Naranjos (Orange Square) is a popular place to take a breather before setting off to explore the many streets and alleyways full of shops selling anything from local produce and crafts to designer clothing.

El Fuerte and El Fontanilla are two of the largest beaches in Marbella or you may just wish to take a stroll along the promenade, the Avenida del Mar.

Lots of people choose to holiday in Marbella because of the busy nightlife which offers a wide variety of bars, restaurants, clubs, theatres and cinemas to suit everyone. There are many quality hotels to choose from as well as numerous self catering apartments and villas.

Fuengirola

Fuengirola is a coastal town on the Costa del Sol situated partway between Malaga and Marbella. It has been a popular tourist resort since the 1960s to the extent that tourism has now replaced fishing as the main industry. It has a lot of high rise hotels and apartments adjacent to the long, sandy beaches although it is still possible to find smaller, more traditional accommodation. It is a very busy resort, full of entertainment in the summer months but can also be the ideal place to visit out of season when it is much quieter. Fuengirola is truly an international resort with approximately 25% of its inhabitants coming from other countries, although in the summer it is still very popular with the Spanish and British alike.

Fuengirola offers all the facilities which you would expect to find in a major tourist resort as well as a zoo, Zoologico de Fuengirola, an Arabic Castle, the bullring and open parks. The old port is still used by local fishermen and the sports marina can provide berths for boats of all sizes.

Two of the suburbs of Fuengirola Los Boliches and Torreblanca are worth visiting. In Torreblanca there are thermal baths and in Los Boliches the remains of a Roman villa can be seen. Los Boliches also has its own beaches and is a little bit quieter than Fuengirola itself.

A single day maneuvering through Londons museums will prove to be very enlightening and educational. With perhaps the worlds highest concentration of museums per square mile, the choices are as varied as the tastes of the visitors. An itinerary of one day, depending on energy levels, can prove to be absolutely packed to the brim with not a moment to spare. This one-day guide will provide the most interesting options for a packed itinerary, and for those who want a calmer day, pick and choose what sounds best for your energy and speed levels. As everyone knows, London can be expensive; as not everyone knows, some of Londons best museums, like the British Museum, are free of charge. Thus, an itinerary is provided for those who want to spend the minimum of money seeing the maximum of Londons culture. On the other hand, some of the best museums, like the Tower of London, are quite pricey. The London Pass can be an economical solution, giving free entry to countless London attractions for a set fee. Tourist-oriented museums, like Madame Tussauds wax museum, are a category in themselves, perfect for the day when the visitor seeks entertaining education rather than analytical thought in a museum visit. So, let this article be your guide through the best that Londons museums have to offer for minimal or free admission fees, through the benefits of the London Pass, and through the attraction museums that provide fun and fast-lane learning.

The museums in London whose permanent collections are free of admission are not too few in number, and will fill up your one day of London travel. To start, the British Museum is one of the worlds best-known museums, showcasing one of the widest collections of world cultural history. Some highlights are the Rosetta stone; the first known image of Christ; Lindow Man, whose well-preserved 2000-year-old body was found in a bog; and the Reading Room, where Lenin, among others, studied and wrote plans for his Revolution that would affect the whole world. After this contact with world heritage, promenade over to the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, where you can see art by Europes best painters and sculptors. Nearby is the National Portrait Gallery, concentrating its collection on Englands most famous citizens throughout the centuries. For a change of taste, follow up with the Tate, Londons best modern art museum, with paintings, photo exhibitions and installations. If you have time at the end of the day, conclude with the Museum of London, informing its visitors about Londons history and culture. If youre interested in London, this museum is for you; and, presumably, you are interested in London if youve traveled all the way to get here!

When you think of the distance youve traveled to get to London, you may think it worth spending a few pounds while you are here. The one-day London Pass costs 27 pounds (it can be bought in combination with an Underground Travelcard for 32 pounds), gives you free access to countless museums, castles, and other places of interest, saving you a good sum of money at the end of the day. In this sample itinerary, you would save 30 pounds: start off at Kensington Palace, former home of Princess Diana, and enjoy the museum as well as the grounds and gardens. Next, St. Pauls Cathedral is a stunning architectural achievement, offering stunning views of London from its cupola. Shakespeares renovated Globe Theatre will have the bard charm you encore with his wit as you learn more about him and his theater. In the afternoon, climb up Tower Bridge and learn about the history and construction of this world famous bridge. Conclude the afternoon with a tour of the Tower of London, which will glitter your eyes with the Crown Jewels, and turn your stomach with the tortures and mystery surrounding the prisoners of this VIP prison, which definitely lacked in VIP treatment. Finally, wind the evening down with a discounted West End show, to give you a full and well-spent day discovering Londons culture.

For those seeking to discover Londons culture in a more interactive setting, attraction museums are ideal. The London Dungeon mixes history with a haunted house theme, with museum employees and wax figures unexpectedly frightening the visitors. In the north of London are the London Planetarium and the neighboring Madame Tussauds wax museum, which not only houses the worlds largest and most up to date collection of wax figures, but also the most life-like you will likely take a double take to make sure Prince William isnt really standing in front of you. For those who want to stand at the location where time begins, the nearby town of Greenwich, home of the Prime Meridian, will impress you. There you can visit the Royal Observatory, enjoy the beautiful park at the base of the Observatorys hill, the National Maritime Museum, the famous Cutty Sark ship, and get a feel for an English village, so close to the metropolis of London.

Whether you choose to partake of the free collections of Londons museums, the countless options that the London Pass provides, or the attraction museums both in and near to London, you will be happy with the result. Londons museums are very well organized and are full of surprising facts about the city that jump out at you from paintings, photos, sculptures, documents, architecture, and wax figures! Any visitor is bound to be surprised and impressed by the London they see guided by its museums.

Thailand means the land of the free lies in the heart of Southeast Asia. It is one of the most beautiful places in the world and one can only experience the exotic beauty of the place when you get there. The fresh air kissing your face when you walk on the beach, the mouth watering dishes and the rush and madness in the market is something you will perhaps not get to see anywhere else.

Thailands geographical region is divided into four parts:

The mountains and forests are in the north. You can find fascinating handicrafts and multicolored orchids.

The central part where you will find paddy field, farms and all kinds of fruits.
The northeast plateau is famous for its rich archaeological and anthropological heritage.
You will find tropical islands in the southern peninsula. The people on this place are involved in fishing, rubber cultivation and tin mining.

The people of Thailand are very friendly and hospitable. This place is rich in monumental heritage and famous for its beaches. Thailand is an ideal holiday destination for all, from those who are looking for a romantic holiday, to shoppers to the food lovers as you get to taste varieties of sea food, down in the street to the most expensive restaurants. It offers something to every traveler.

Many travelers also come here for adventurous holiday. As this place offer all kinds of sport for all ages like scuba diving, snorkeling, wind-surfing and water-skiing .After all these activities you can simply relax by lounging on the beautiful beach sipping your favorite drink with a good company.

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand.Bankok means city of angels, it is a small Thailand in itself. It is the centre of commercial, industrial and cultural activities. If you are looking for peace and simplicity you can visit the Buddhist temples and the amazing part is it stands by side by side with nightclubs and cafs. You can see monks walking in their red robes all over the place and one can only wonder how they can attain such peacefulness in this rush and hectic world.

Another main attraction in Thailand is Phuket known for its exotic island. The nightlife there is lively with its multicuisine restaurants and bars always filled with tourists. But of course if are looking for a quite meal you can do that by going to the right place.

Chiang Mai is another place which is a combination of modern city life and the old village charm. There are elaborate temples and cultural relics some of which are very old close to 700 years. On the top of the mountain is Doi Suthep monastery which overlooks the fertile valley embracing Chiang Mai.The local night bazaar is the favorite shopping place for tourists where you can get hand made local stuff, tribal wears and also latest modern junks for a good bargain.

You will have no problem communicating as most of the hotels, restaurants and tourist places speak English and other European languages. There are various modes of transportation. You can either hire a taxi to go around the city, or take the city bus .There is also something called Tuk-Tuk, a three wheeler. You would definitely enjoy the open air ride on this three wheeler and for longer destinations there are trains always running to all the places.

Thailand is blessed with three seasons-summers from February to May, Rainy season from June to October with plenty of sunshine and the cold season from November to January. A lot of people go for holidays in Thailand during December and January as it is the perfect season to relax and party. Thailand becomes a mini world as people from all over the world come here for holidays during this season.

Surely now you know what your next holiday destination is -Gods very own creation Thailand!!!

I have had the privilege to travel to all fifty states in America over the last ten years. For some reason, all of my training in writing has somehow qualified me to travel our great country and to take in some of the best (and worst) things that cities all over the US have to offer. So I’ve spent my fair share of time in cities all over the country, and I’ll be the first to tell you that few cities compare to the charm of Charleston.

One of the best places in South Carolina, Charleston is a great city to visit for so many reasons. For starters, being the history lover that I am, there is so much to be learned in and around Charleston that I could be busy for days on end just soaking up the rich history of the area and of the state. You can find amazing tours and visit amazing museums that will teach you more than you could imagine about significant people and events that are rooted in Charleston.

Another great reason to visit Charleston is the sheer beauty of the place. I have been to few cities that have ranked nearly as high on the scale of natural beauty as Charleston. There is something about the quaintness of the city that invites visitors in and makes them feel like they are a part of something special. Charleston is big enough but not too big to get overwhelmed in. It is the perfect size to visit.

Charleston also boasts great hospitality, and I have never been let down when it comes to feeling welcomed and at home in this great southern state. The people are always warm and friendly and ready to help in any way possible. If you want to experience true southern hospitality, than Charleston is the place for your next trip. You’ll love the wide variety of great bed and breakfasts you can stay in and you’ll be filled all the time with great southern cooking.

Do a quick internet search about Charleston or pick up a book at your local library. Read for yourself all this great city has to offer. And then, when it comes time to plan your next vacation, look no further than Charleston, South Carolina. You’ll be glad you chose it and you may even find yourself wanting to visit again. Charleston is truly one of the best undiscoverd cities in our great country. See for yourself.

Athens is the pre-eminent city of Greece and the main arrival destination. No city mixes history and a chaotic energy better than Athens.

Athens

Athens is city with stunning archeological sites, colorful neighbors, overcrowding and smog like youve never seen it. For many travelers, the general impression is one of a poetic chaos. Roads are packed, taxi drivers are nuts and shops seem to spill off the sidewalks and into the middle of roads. Yet, in the middle of this chaos youll find peaceful places such as the Acropolis, even though it is packed with tourists.

History

You cant mention Greece without talking about the Greeks impact on civilization. The city is littered with sites of extremely significant significance. This is not the place where youll stand in front of an old structure where Sir so and so fought Sir so and so to the death in a duel that established something faintly important. Instead, youll stand in front of monuments where civilization took a quantum leap forward.

The Acropolis is the dominant archeological site in Athens. It is one of those rare locations you can visit where the massive number of tourist do not diminish the impact. Towering over Athens, the Acropolis has seen better days until you consider how old it is. The Pantheon and Erechtheion are the two standing structures and both are impressive.

While contemplating the Pantheon, one cant help but be impressed by the ability of the Greeks to build such a towering, stone structure when much of humanity still considered a hut a luxury. The Erechtheion is amazing because it contains the famous Caryatids, the columns molded into the form of female figures. Standing upon the mount, youll have a view of Greece that will reveal the chaos and a sense of the age of the city.

Athens has much to offer beyond the Acropolis. Books have been written on the subject. Large books. Im not going to try to cover them here, but you should try to get over to the Tower of the Winds, where the Whirling Dervishes got their start.

Walking through Athens is like walking through history. They say time travel is impossible, but Athens seems to suggest otherwise.

Colombia, the Republic of Columbia is a country in the north west of South America. The country of Colombia is bound to the north and north-west by the Caribbean Sea, to the east by Venezuela and Brazil, to the south by Ecuador and Peru, and to the west by Panama and the Pacific Ocean. The official language in Colombia is Spanish. The capital city of Colombia is Bogotai, with an estimated population of 44,000,000.

Colombia with a total area of 1,138,910 sq km is the fourth biggest country in South America. This rank of fourth comes after Brazil, Argentina and Peru. This area can be devided up into land, 1,038,700 sq km, and water, 100,210 sq km. Although it is in the Tropical area The Colombian climate, is made different by the influence of the Andes mountain range. Colombia is tropical in the coastlands and lowlands and can get very cool in the mountains.

The eastern half of Colombia, which is more than half its total physical size, is plain and composed by rainforest. Colombia is crossed by rivers which belong to both the Amazon and Orinoco basins. The northern part of Colombia is called “Los Llanos”, it is a savanna region. Colombian Pacific Plains at times of the year are among the most rainy parts in the world!

Feel free to reprint this article as long as you keep the following caption and author biography in tact with all hyperlinks.

Holiday Decorating Tips: Thanksgiving, A Time For Gratitude And Giving

Get new holiday decorating ideas for Thanksgiving and Autumn. Start a new family tradition. Your home will look fabulous and your guests will love you.

Turkey and Cranberries! Yeah!

Before you dig into that turkey, take a moment for each person to say one sentence beginning with…

“Today, I am grateful for…”

You will be surprised at what children say, so keep a notebook handy to write down the gratitudes, or, better yet, record the event.

Thanksgiving Decorating Tips

“Welcome to Our Home” Ideas

Holiday decorating isn’t just for Christmas! Door wreaths welcome all to your home and set the stage for celebrating. Make a simple wreath to hang on your front door with Thanksgiving colors–brown, russet, olive green. Use tree branches from your garden; attach a few gourds, nuts, and ribbons.

Place a gorgeous mum by your front door. You can plant it later and get flowers next Thanksgiving to use inside. It just takes one bright spot near your front door to attract the eye of arriving guests.

Wrap your front door with gift wrap appropriate to Thanksgiving.

Make a “welcome to our home” banner. Add your ribbons and fall leaves.

Group vines, pumpkins, and mums for display impact near the front entrance. Adjust the vines to add height and movement.

Fall Leaves make great interior and exterior decorations. Be sure to hose off any bugs!

Interior Holiday Decorating Tips

Tie ribbons around your candle bases and around your floral arrangements.

Set fall-color leaves under your decorations. Safety Tip: Keep leaves separated from melting candle wax.

Extend your flower arrangements with fall tree branches. Just one flower package makes a huge impact when you divide and spread it around.

Use copper, bronze, and gold spray paint to dress up plain gourds. Fill a glass or crystal bowl with the gourds, oranges, and nuts.

Display vegetables and mini pumpkins on a tray. Fill in any gaps with fall leaves, moss, straw, or wheat.

If orange clashes with your home’s interior, use green apples and spray paint the mini-pumpkins.

Did I already say leaves? Here’s another way to add fall color: Place the leaves in your green potted-plants.

One beautiful way to kick off your holiday season: Wrap tiny gifts in gold foil; top off with brown and russet ribbons, and place the gifts on the dinner plate. Your table will look fabulous and your guests will love the thought.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jeanette Fisher

Your visit to Madrid has all chances to be one full of wonderful sights and experiences, for this city is truly fascinating and colorful. But the cherry on top will assuredly be your discovery of the local cuisine. Those of you with a gourmand inclination will become reluctant to leave restaurants, so you should take with you some vegetarian or diet-dedicated friends which could drag you back to sightseeing or to your hotel.

Getting you ready for the upcoming feast

As a matter of fact, youre probably going to the best food citadel in the whole of Spain. Not that other cities dont have tasty dishes to tempt you with, but the capital has managed to adopt more than a few of the cooking styles from different parts of the country. The local cuisine will offer you recipes from all over the area and not some pale copies of the originals, but goodies as well prepared as in their home regions. Still, cooks in Madrid were never devoid of gastronomical ego, so they have more than a few house specialties in store for you. Just read below and start drooling.

Dont miss out on the must-eat recipes

The banner of Madrid cuisine is the stew or hotpot, so youd better place it high in your eating priorities list. One of the best dishes of this kind is a kitchen-born miracle called “Cocido Madrileo”, with plenty of chick peas and vegetables its quite popular in Madrid, among tourists and locals alike, so it must be worth trying at least once. Whether or not you have a pathologic fear of vampires, order some “Sopa de Ajo”, “garlic soup”, that is. And if youre wondering where the meat is in all of this, let the answer be “callos” a tripe recipe which youll encounter in many variations, all of them pleasing to the stomach.

La Tapa – The legendary appetizer

If you have never before heard of tapas, youll likely never forget them after your culinary sances in Madrid. At a first glance, theyre no big deal, just some appetizers made from often simple ingredients. Locals eat them anywhere, with almost anything on the side and tourists usually find themselves caught in the same eating routine. You will be amazed by the staggering diversity of the ingredients which go into the various forms of tapas: olives, almonds, lemons, tomatoes, beans and many others.
Tapas started simple. According to history, their no-thrills ancestors were in fact the slices of bread used by bar customers to cover their glasses against the peril of flies while in-between drinks (incidentally, the name tapa comes from “tapar to cover”). And then some bartender became inspired. Little did he know that tapas will evolve into almost becoming a meal in their own right. As a matter of fact, not only will you find a tapa and a glass of wine (or beer) on the menus of almost any bar in Madrid, but some places actually serve only tapas, or a certain breed of them.
Another story tells that tapas were used as pseudo-meals, some snacks gobbled up in between meals by workers to keep them going until the main meal. This eating practice is probably still in full swing.

Im just here for the meat

Another culinary reason for which you should be glad to be eating in Madrid is that meals prepared here tend to have more vigor and consistency than in other regions of Spain (the South, for instance). In the north and centre of the country, one must have warm, deliciously filling food to better face the challenges of winter or so the story goes. In fewer words, you get to feast on some lip smacking roast meat recipes during your Madrid expedition, whether its winter or not. Picture it: they put the juicy chunks of meat in an oven, a special one, made of wood, and they leave them in the blessed heat until they become all tender and scented. This special treatment is applied especially to suckling pig and veal, so watch out for dishes based on those.

The sweet end of a culinary adventure
I guess youve already realized by now that Madrid is not the place to indulge in culinary extravaganzas if you want to go home with no extra-pounds. This warning was quite necessary, as we are about to plunge in the sweet matter of local dessert specialties. Many of these are to be encountered in different seasons, which makes it all the more interesting. For example, you might schedule your next visit to Madrid during the Holy Week just to get a bite of some fresh “torrijas” (they may look like mere bread and butter French toast, but theyre surprisingly delicious). If you happen to be in Madrid around Christmas, be on the lookout for “turrn” (nougat in soft and hard varieties) and “mazapn” (highly addictive marzipan). In other periods of the year, you can also get: bartolillos con crema (custard pie at its best; get many, as theyre quite small), buuelos (the whipped cream filling is a delight), rosquillas de anis (doughnuts with an unusual anise flavor), barquillos (a kind of wafers) and plenty of other sweet dangers.

Acquainting yourself with the hidalgos of wine

Such wonderful food can only be complimented by an exceptional choice of wines. Fortunately, the wine-cellars of Madrid will provide you with the finest of the fine. As in the case of food, you can get wines from all over Spain to grace your table. But you should be at least a bit familiar with some of the names designating those regions famous for their vintage.
One such place is Castilla-La-Macha, renowned for wines that are not to be taken lightly, as they bring fire to your spirit but also burden your head. If such is your choice, ask for bottles produced by Zapardiel, Vinicola de Castilia or Bodegas Flix Solis.
If, when it comes to drinking, youre sure that not only you can take it, but that also your wallet can, order wines from CastillaLen. This is where Spains most expensive and famous wines are concocted, including the world famous Vega Sicilia Unico Reserva. Beware the price it equals the fame.

Your own Madrid at home through cooking

As wonderful and memorable your excursion to Madrid may be, the time to end it will surely come. And when you are finally at home and you look back to the fun times you had while exploring the Spanish capital, the culinary adventures from those days will be some of your most pleasant memories. Here is a take-away recipe for the whole family:

Buuelos de Chorizo – In order to prepare these, you need a red sausage (preferably from the Canary Islands, but you cant have it all) and oil. The 5th part of an original red sausage would give you 5 portions of buuelos. For the batter, youll use 1 egg, salt and about 100-130 g of flour and one teaspoon of yeast. Slice and dice the red sausage (the slices should be no thicker than your finger). The yeast, the flour, the beaten egg and the salt should be put together in a mix. In this you will put the sausage slices, and thusly wrapped, you will put the “battered” slices in deep oil and fry them mercilessly, stopping only when they rise. All you need to do is drain them to get rid of the extra-fat and youre free to dig in.

As weve reached the end of this culinary tale, it becomes clear that Madrid is one of the few European cities where you can truly taste the spirit of the country it represents. If you draw your gastronomical strategy like a true gourmand, the time you spent in Madrid restaurants may be at least as well spent as the long hours you dedicated to belly-thinning sightseeing.