Eating My Way Around Madrid...

La Puerta del Sol

I would like to start this post off by apologizing for the sporadic posting-- I guess that's what happens when life takes over!... After my 4 days in Madrid here is a compliation of some my favorite images in this delicious city. I really tried not overwhelm you with food photos but that's pretty much how I spent my days.

I normally hate olives but I can't stop eating Spanish olives

"I live with my parents" very common in Spain

Random Belgian guy who gave Monica and I tapas and wine... free wine? score!

I go mad for seafood

One of my favorite buildings in Madrid

Plaza Mayor

That's me stuffing my face

Tuna, bacalao, croquetas and beer... yummy! ok the tuna wasn't so yummy but everything else was

We didn't intend to order this much food

This jambon was to die for!

Street view from my room

Don't you just love the matching mani

I love the doors in Spain

Upon my arrival I immediately realized that if you're a vegetarian or vegan you will probably hate Spain or you'll just end up starving. Spanish food so heavily meat, seafood, carbs and cheese based. I mean I'm not complaining I literally ate my way around Madrid... The little fat girl inside me was always satisfied. I'm amazed that I'm not bursting at the seams. If you love food as much as I do, you will love Madrid. Unlike Paris or London Madrid is relatively very affordable. Another nice thing about Madrid is that it's a relatively small city so you can easily find yourself walking just about anywhere and everywhere. I really love how the culture is very much centered around food. Almost everywhere you go there are always friends and family meeting around a table sharing a meal, drinks and laughs. I don't think I even noticed one person eating and walking on the streets of Madrid people here take their meals seriously. But I have to say that what I love most is that even with the economic crisis that Spain is experiencing, people here still seem to have a super positive outlook on life.

Some of my favorite Places in Madrid

Plaza Mayor
La Puerta del Sol
Prado Museum
Casa Labra Desde 1860
Mercado de San Miguel

Sweeting on Paris!

Here are a few glimpses of my beautiful week in Paris. Unfortunately I didn't take that many pictures because trying to capture the beauty that is Paris is impossible and it didn't help that I was also busy being wooed by a sexy Spanish French man :)

Notre Dame Cathedral

Basilica of the Sacre Coeur

The prestigious Paris cemetery Pere Lachaise

Fresh drinking water from a well

Oscar Wilde's grave

Montmartre, best view in Paris

One of my favorite hidden parks near

Rainy night in Paris

Triumphal Arch

After an eight hour bus ride from London I finally arrived in Paris on Tuesday afternoon... I have to say that Paris is definitely one of those cities that one must visit at least once in their lifetime. But I will admit that the combination of culture shock, rain, tourist jammed Champs-Élysées, dismissive waiters can easily tarnish any romantic vision you might have of the city. But all in all I think I was extremely lucky. The first 3 days I was there the weather was nothing less than perfect. I was warned that French people don't normally take a liking to tourists not speaking their language, but almost everyone I had the pleasure of meeting was exceptionally nice, considering that my French is very limited... and I mean LIMITED. I hope to one day go back and by then hopefully my french will be very much improved.

Must see Places in Paris


1. Montmartre: it's absolutely beautiful, unfortunately my pictures don't do it justice. It has the best views of all of Paris and it's free.

2. The Champs-élysées: it's always crowded with tourists but you know it's definitely worth walking down.

3. Eiffel Tower: it's one thing to see this beautiful structure in a picture and it's a whole different experience seeing it in person... I swear to you, it will take your breath away. If you happen to have the patience to wait at least 2 hours in line to take the elevator to the top... power to you! because I personally I don't have that kind of patience. But for me just seeing it in person and the views of Paris from Montmartre were enough.

4. Arc de Triomphe, it's just so beautiful

5. Catacombs, if you're not easily creeped out then this place is a must see.

6. If you're into cemeteries Paris has some of the most beautiful ones I've ever seen... but the most known is the Pere Lachaise.