travel tip from barcelona

How to find a good, reasonably priced local restaurant!

- Walk away from the tourist strip until you don’t see any other tourists.

- A good sign – if the restaurant doesn’t have an English menu.

- Check price list. Could be tricky when you don’t understand the language of the menu. Starters/appetizers can give the illusion that the restaurant is cheaper than you might anticipate. In my case today at lunch, I read in my guidebook about a “menu del dia” or set menu that is often offered in Spain at lunch time.

- Peer in through the window. Full of locals? Walk right in!

- Point at items on menu or on others’ tables along with asking the waiter (hopefully he knows some English) and pray it works out.

For a set price of 10.50 Euros I got a two course meal, bread, fruit salad, drink and coffee! My first plate was arros negre, rice made black with cuttlefish ink, a dish listed in the Lonely Planet guide. Tasted much better than it sounds – it was a really creamy risotto-like dish with clams, scallops and tiger prawn. My second plate wasn’t nearly as good – chicken cutlet and french fries – as I had no idea what it was from just pointing to something at random on the menu. Couldn’t finish all my food, though I tried. For my coffee, I ordered a “cafe Americano”, which I guess was an extra 1.15 Euro. So, this method isn’t fail-proof, but if you don’t want to take any risks, may as well stay home and eat at McDonald’s right?

See you in a week!

I am so behind on my blog it’s not even funny!

And still, I’ll have even travels to blog about. This weekend we go to Stockholm! And about time – strange that I’ve been here for this long and still hadn’t visited, no? I had considered that since Per is studying for final exams, it would be good timing to go on a week long trip somewhere where Ryanair flies. Originally I wanted to go to Poland to soak up some history and see a bit of eastern Europe… But after weeks of grey weather and little sun, I booked myself a last minute ticket to Barcelona departing on Monday!

I think when (if?) I return to Sweden after returning to Canada, I’ll definitely buy a special lamp to combat SAD. I find it really affects my mood, being in a place with little daylight. It doesn’t snow very often in Linköping, and when it does, it only stays around for a few days. I actually enjoy the fact that Edmonton has bright sunny winter days, despite cold weather and snow – I think I prefer it over Vancouver for that reason. Last night it snowed in Linköping, so today feels much brighter and sunnier, at least!

I can now say that I’ve ridden a bike AS TRANSPORT into town several times (9 km one way), on loose gravel, in the rain, through the snow (very little snow), in the dark, in fog at night, and every combination thereof. I think I’ll even attempt to ride my bike to work and as transportation when I return to Edmonton! Surely I can find a route that is somewhat safe? (Not down the Yellowhead obviously.)

Now, I should ride my bike into town and take advantage of the sun while it’s out! It’s too easy to while away the daylight hours, only to realize by the time I want to leave the house, that the sun is setting or has already set See you in a week!

Nice day for a bike ride! (And I’m being completely serious here!)

Lots of Christmas decorations are up in town right now. Very pretty!

Swedish chefs made of marzipan in a store window