Tag: travel guide

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Portugal travel guide

What to Eat in Portugal: Famous Portuguese Foods

Sharing the Iberian Peninsula, the Spanish and Portuguese cuisines have many similarities, but they also bare great differences. Both have been influenced by the Greek cuisine, though, but the Celtic, Moorish and Beriberi ways of cooking can also be found in the Portuguese dishes. The Portuguese dishes are closely related to the Mediterranean cuisine.

A rule of thumb is to stay away from the touristy places and choose a restaurant which is popular among locals. That’s where you’ll find the best foods. Cooking is simple and the ingredients used are fresh and local.

Açorda

It is the classic Portuguese dish, featuring a simple broth which is thickened with bread and egg. Garlic is used for seasoning and, in costal areas, seafood may be added to it.

Bacalhau

It is salted, dried cod. To be used, it’s soaked in milk or water then cooked in many ways (about 365 ways to be exact). Sardines, octopus and anchovies are also popular and used in cooking.

Chouriço

It’s a pork sausage with distinct garlic and paprika seasoning in it. It’s eaten alone, or cooked with vegetables, beans or eggs.

Cozido

It’s a slowly simmering meat (or sea food) dish, cooked with vegetables in a special pot.

Sopa seca

You can find it in northern Portugal and features leftover bread, meats, vegetables, added in layers and moistened with broth.

Caldeirada

It is a stew made with a variety of fish, shellfish, tomato, potatoes and onion.

Caldo verde

This is a green soup made with green cabbage, mashed potatoes and served with sausage.

Tripas à moda do Porto

It is tripe with white beans and , if you are not familiar with tripe, you can pretty much put in the bizarre foods category. The recipe dates from the 14th century.

Leitão assado

This is roasted suckling pig and is a dish popular in Central Portugal.

Feijoada

This is a meat stew made with beans (kidney or butter) and is popular all over Portugal.

Gazpacho

It is a cold soup made with fresh tomatoes, chilies, cucumber, onion, garlic and vinegar.

Wine

Wine is the traditional Portuguese drink. Port wine is a fortified wine, but “green” (young) wines are also very popular here.

Arroz doce

This is a desert, a rice pudding seasoned with cinnamon and lemon.

Pão de Ló

It is a sponge cake which can be flavored with a lot of things, depending on the region: lemon, cinnamon, orange juice or Porto wine.

Photo credits: Acorda , Bacalhau , Chourico , Caldo verde , Feijoada , Gazpacho , Port Wine , Arroz doce , Pão de Ló , Tripe ,Caldeirada ,Cozido

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travel guide Turkey

What to Eat in Turkey: Famous Turkish Foods

The Turkish cuisine is one of the greatest cuisines in the world. While influencing plenty other cuisines in the countries the Ottoman Empire formerly occupied, the Turkish cuisine reflects the country’s history. The varied climate allows for almost everything to be grown within the country.

Contrary to what you might have experienced, Turkish cuisine is not spicy, unless you visit the Southern part of the country, which has a strong Middle Eastern influence. Lamb used to be the most important meat eaten, but now it’s too expensive. The eggplant remains the most popular vegetable, enjoyed in various forms.

Turks don’t eat pork, because of the religion. But you can find beef, lamb , fish and poultry in the dishes, although the vegetarian specialties are also incredible.

Meze

Just like their Greek “sisters”, the meze is a selection of food served as appetizers. Borek, cacik, octopus, dolma, fava, hummus and kofte are just some of the foods you’ll be able to enjoy as meze. Some of these are also served as a main meal.

Dolma

In Turkish, Dolma means “to be stuffed”. The vegetables used for dolmas are unlimited but the most popular version is the “stuffed grape leaves” or Yaprak Dolmasi . Greeks call them dolmades .

Dolmas generally use: tomatoes, bell peppers, cabbage leaves and eggplants. The stuffing contains, aside from rice, nuts and raisins, but it varies from region to region. Dolmas made without meat are served cold; while dolmas made with meat are served warm.

Kebap

Kebap (kabob) means any kind of meat grilled alongside with vegetables. There are plenty of kebap varieties in Turkey. The most popular meat used was lamb, but now it’s been replaced with beef or poultry.

The Sis Kebap is the traditional way to grill meat, in which pieces of vegetables are added among the pieces of meat.

The Doner Kebap is made from the meat which grills on a vertical skewer.

Kofte is a kind of kebap but is made with minced meat to which seasoning is added and they resulting mixture is shaped along a skewer and grilled. But you can also call them the Turkish meatballs because they can be grilled in a meatball shape, too.

Adana Kebap is a very spicy kind of ground meat, grilled on the skewer.

Taze Fasulye

These are green beans cooked with tomato (or tomato paste) and onions.

Karnıyarık

The egg plans are fried, after being filled with a mixture of minced meat, onion, tomato, garlic and parsley.

Borek

It is layers of dough (phyllo) which are filled with spinach, cheese (feta) or meats.

Bulgur Pilavı

It is a side dish which resembles rice, but it’s cooked bulgur (which is wheat). It’s cooked with roasted onions, bell peppers , tomatoes and mint.

Hamsi

It’s probably the most popular fish eaten in Turkey and there are 50 ways to cook it.

Cacık

It is the Turkish version of the Greek tzatziki . The cucumbers are also grated and mixed with yogurt , garlic and mint, but the mixture is more watery than the Greek one.

Lahmacun

It is the “Turkish pizza”: a thin layer of dough is spread with minced meat, tomatoes , onion, parsley and red pepper.

Baklava

It is the most famous Turkish desert: layers of filo pastry are spread with melted butter, pistachios or walnuts, and a lot of honey. When they are baked, the baklava is soaked in a sweet fluid. You can try helva, too.

Lokum (Turkish delight)

Once it was eaten to aid digestion, now it’s just a very common sweet, with a range of varieties.

Kahve / Coffee

Anyone knows the Turkish coffee, a small cup which packs a punch. The grounds sit on the bottom and the coffee is served with a glass of water on the side.

Photo credits: Meze , Dolma , Kebap , Borek , Lahmacun , Hamsi , Baklava , Lokum , Turkish coffee

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Croatia travel guide

What to Eat in Croatia: Famous Croatian Foods

The Croatian cuisine dates from the Ancient times and there are notable differences between the foods eaten on the mainland and those from the coastal regions. The mainland cuisine has Slavic origins and a lot of influences from the Hungarian, Austrian and Turkish cuisines; on the other hand, the cuisine found on the coastal regions has Ancient Greek, Ancient Roman, modern day Mediterranean and French influences. While on the mainland you’ll find the garlic, black pepper and paprika used a lot , on the coastal regions you’ll find oregano, olive oil, rosemary and cinnamon.

Lignje

Squid – either breaded or fried – served with boiled potatoes and blitva (swiss chard) in olive oil.

Filana paprika

This is a simple yet very tasty dish: green peppers, filled with a mixture of meat and served with tomato sauce. The side dish is mashed potatoes. Try the dish hot, in colder days.

Brodet

It’s the Dalmatian fish stew served with polenta. The dish in an excellent dinner choice after a day at the beach.

Štrukli

These are large dumplings, filled with cottage cheese. They are served with fried bread crumbs. Try them with sugar on top.

Kalja

This is a present dish made with lamb, veal, potatoes, carrots and cabbage. Simple and hearty meal.

Lamb on a spit

The Croatian lamb has an incredible taste and the way it is cook on the spit makes it a wonderful choice even for those who turn the nose when they hear the dish is made with lamb.

Pašticada

This is another Dalmatian dish, consisting of beef stew cooked in red wine and served by gnocchi.

Fritaja (Omelet) with asparagus

It’s a must-try during summer; the simple dish features eggs and freshly picked asparagus.

Palatschinke

It’s the same as the Hungarian palacsinta and is basically crepe (pancakes) with a sweet filling (generally gems).

Goulash

It’s the same as the Hungarian gulyás; it’s a soup or stew made with meat (pork or beef usually), vegetables and noodles, seasoned with paprika. In some parts of Croatia, dear is used instead of beef and the bacon is an important part of the Croatian variety of Goulash.

Black Risotto

This is sea food risotto which gets the color from the squid’s ink. Cuttlefish is also added to the dish.

Truffles

When visiting Istria, don’t forget to try the dishes made with truffles. They are typically served on pasta, but they can also be the main ingredient in the dish.

Orehnjača

It’s a desert, basically a roll filled with walnuts. Poppy seeds can also be used.

Mlinci

This is a dried flat bread, which is either boiled in a soup, a stew or simply fried in poultry fat. And it’s often served to accompany the main roast.

Photo credits:Mlinci by Icebone, Truffles by heatheronhertravels , Black Risotto by jomme , Goulash by traveldot , Palatschinke by VLKR , Pašticada by nurettin , Lamb by leiabox , Štrukli by nocas , Lignje by BLDUMMY

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Argentina travel guide

Top Ski Destinations in Argentina

If you’re looking for unforgettable ski packages as part of a vacation, the slopes of Europe are among the best in the world, but you also shouldn’t overlook Argentina.  Here are the top ski destinations:

Bariloche, Argentina—most people don’t think of the Southern Hemisphere as a skiing hotspot, but the Andes mountains are the second-highest range in the world!  The actual skiing is at nearby Cerro Catedral, but the town of Bariloche is where you’ll settle between hitting the slopes.

Photo by Andre Charland

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Argentina travel guide

Argentina in December

December falls during the summer but the high season hasn’t kicked in yet. However , do expect more crowds and higher prices, especially around Christmas. You can plan to visit the beaches now, but they tend to be quite packed. Buenos Aires can be quite hot , but at least it’s not overrun by tourists. Patagonia is excellent for spending time in the nature.

Weather in December

With the variety of climates in Argentina, the summer takes various forms here. It’s definitely hot in Buenos Aires and the weather is excellent for sunbathing. If you want to cool down a bit, head to Patagonia. It’s hot and humid in the North , so Iguazu can be quite steamy now.

Sample temperatures

Buenos Aires avg high 27C / avg low 18C
Cordoba avg high 28C / avg low 17C
Iguazu avg high 30C /avg low 20C
Mendoza avg high 18C / avg low 9C
Ushuaia avg high 13C / avg low 3C

>>read more about Weather in Argentina

Flights and accommodation in December

December does fall during summer but the high season hasn’t started yet. Still , expect crowds and expect prices to be higher. Book your flight to Argentina at least 4-8 weeks in advance , especially if you plan to hit one of the beach reasons.

As for accommodation , of course, plan in advance if you want to go to the beach or travel before Christmas. Even if you just plan to visit large cities, it’s still best to plan in advance.

What to do

If you plan to see Iguazu Falls then you should know it’s steamy right now but no one stops you from going. However do prepare for the heat and humidity. You can try different activities, but you might want to stick to train or boat ride, rather than hiking.

The capital of Buenos Aires is also quite hot in December, but, on the plus side, it’s not extremely crowded, as everyone starts to head to the beaches. Some of the things to do in Buenos Aires : walking through the neighborhoods, taking photos of the Obelisk, watching people dance tango on the streets and walking through the famous Recoleta Cemetery. Make sure to plan for the heat and avoid staying in the sun during the hottest part of the day. You can always try the food or do some shopping meantime.

For a cooler alternative, head to Mendoza . You can visit the parks, try the local wine or try your skills at horseback riding, paragliding or climbing.

>>read about the Things to do in Mendoza

For an even cooler area, Patagonia is waiting for those into adventure. It’s summer but the temperatures aren’t very high so make sure to pack accordingly. You can try hiking, climbing glaciers and even taking a cruise to the arctic region. Ushuaia is a good base for your explorations in the area.

>>read about Getting from Buenos Aires to Patagonia

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Argentina travel guide

Argentina in August

Argentina is a large country and therefore it also has quite a lot of climates. August – which still falls during winter – is best for visiting the North and Northwest, so if you have Iguazu Falls on your mind, now it’s the time to go. For snow lovers, Patagonia is the place to be, while Buenos Aires can be visited any time of the year.

Weather in August

Just like in July, in the North and Northwest, the rains and heat have subsided, and the weather starts to feel more and more like spring. Not so much in the South , where it’s still winter with cold days and nights. If you have the capital in mind, expect the temperatures to start going up a bit , warming as the spring approaches.

Sample temperatures

Buenos Aires avg high 16C / avg low 5C
Cordoba avg high 19C / avg low 6C
Iguazu avg high 22C /avg low 12C
Mendoza avg high 17C / avg low 4C
Ushuaia avg high 5C / avg low -2C

>>read more about Weather in Argentina

Flights and accommodation in August

The crowds have pretty much moved away from Iguazu Falls by now, so you can plan the vacation a bit easier. Still, it’s a good idea to book the flight to Argentina at least 4-8 weeks in advance , especially if you have Patagonia in mind. Make sure to keep your eyes on the special deals, too.

As for accommodation , the same rule about booking in advance should be used. You can usually find cheaper rooms if you do the homework in advance.

What to do

Iguazu Falls can be on your list for August because the crowds are gone by now and you can enjoy the falls and the park at a more relaxed pace. You can even plan to spend several days in the area. You can try rock climbing, or maybe you prefer to take a train or a boat ride and or hike.

If you are into visiting cities, then the capital of Buenos Aires shouldn’t be forgotten. It is starting to warm up so you can easily plan to try some of the things to do in Buenos Aires such as: walking through the colorful neighborhoods, taking photos of the Obelisk, watching people dance tango on the streets or even learn yourself and walk through the famous Recoleta Cemetery. Llet’s not forget the food , either.

Or you can visit Mendoza and plan to explore its parks, squares and try the local wine.

>>read about the Things to do in Mendoza

Patagonia , however, is the place to visit for those seeking the snow and the adventure. August still falls during winter so, between hiking on glaciers and exploring beautiful cities, you can also try sleigh rides, skiing, trekking in the snow or snowshoeing.

>>read about Getting from Buenos Aires to Patagonia

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Argentina travel guide

Argentina in July

Argentina is a large country with a huge number of climates. Winter time – and July falls during winter – is best for visiting the North and Northwest, but you can also plan to spend some time in Patagonia. You can visit the capital any time of the year. Plus, July is high season and the locals tend to travel quite a lot now.

Weather in July

In the North and Northwest, the rains and heat have subsided, so the weather allows for sightseeing. Head south but prepare for (very) cold days and nights. Some areas might even be closed because you are so close to the arctic, the cold can be very bitter. If you have Buenos Aires in mind, expect colder temperatures but don’t worry about the snow.

Sample temperatures

Buenos Aires avg high 14C / avg low 5C
Cordoba avg high 16C / avg low 5C
Iguazu avg high 21C /avg low 12C
Mendoza avg high 14C / avg low 2C
Ushuaia avg high 3C / avg low -3C

>>read more about Weather in Argentina

Flights and accommodation in July

July is a popular month to travel for those heading to the Iguazu Falls or Patagonia (for winter sports), so expect to find quite a bit of demand for the flights to Argentina during this time of the year.

It’s always best to book the flight to Argentina at least 4-8 weeks in advance. Make sure to keep your eyes on the special offers available.

As for accommodation , make sure to look for a hotel room or a hostel bed in advance. If you plan to save some money , then a private room in a hostel will cost less than a room in a budget hotel.

And don’t forget that July is high season because of the winter holiday, so the locals travel quite a lot, making the prices higher than the rest of the year.

What to do

Iguazu Falls is definitely one the most popular places to visit during winter in Argentina. There are plenty of things to do once you get to the park, such as: rock climbing, taking a train or a boat ride and , of course, hike.

If you are into visiting cities, then Buenos Aires can be on your list now. It can be cold – sometimes dipping below freezing – but you don’t need to worry about the snow. Some of the things to do in Buenos Aires : walking through the colorful neighborhoods, see the Obelisk, watch people dance tango on the streets and even walk through the famous Recoleta Cemetery. And let’s not forget the food , generally catering for meat lovers, but vegetarians can find some good dishes.

But for those wanting adventure, Patagonia is the place to visit. Yes, it’s winter and that means cold…sometimes very cold. However, between hiking on glaciers and exploring beautiful cities, you can also add some winter sports to the mix, such as: sleigh rides, skiing, trekking in the snow or snowshoeing.

>>read about Getting from Buenos Aires to Patagonia

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Argentina travel guide

Getting from Santiago de Chile to Mendoza

Santiago de Chile is the capital of Chile and also an important travel hub in South America. The city offers a lot of interesting places to visit and things to do. It is also a very good base for exploring the near-by cities and countries.

Quick summary

The cheapest option for traveling between Santiago and Mendoza is the bus. Although it’s a 6 hrs ride crossing mountains – which can be a problem for those with motion sickness – the scenery is amazing. Catch a bus in the morning to enjoy the views.

Flights from Santiago (airport code: SCL) to Mendoza

Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL), also known as Santiago International Airport is located 15 km from the capital of Santiago. There is no local public transport option to get into the city , but there are two airport buses which you can use. The airport is hub for LAN Airlines, Sky Airline and PAL Airlines. It is the 7th busiest airport in Latin America and handles direct flights from Europe, the Americas and Oceania.

Mendoza is served by a small airport, Governor Francisco Gabrielli International Airport (MDZ) , also known as El Plumerillo International Airport. It is located 8 km from the city center and is not hub for any airline.

There are direct flights between Santiago and Mendoza operated by Aerolíneas Argentinas and LAN Chile. The flight time is 40 min. In late May 2012 expect to pay from US$401 one way on Aerolíneas Argentinas. Slightly cheaper are the connecting flights via Buenos Aires (fares starting at US$378 one way).

>>book a flight to Mendoza

Buses from Santiago to Mendoza

There are many bus companies operating direct buses between the two cities:

  • Andesmar Bus Company : single fares start at AR$150 / US$34 and all buses leave in the morning (8 a.m,. 8:30 a.m. , 9:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 1 p.m.)
  • CATA Internacional : single fares start at AR $190 / US$43.10 and all buses leave in the morning (7:30 am. , 9 a.m. , 10:30 a.m.)
  • El Rapido International : single fares start at AR$150 / US$34 and there are three buses leaving in the morning (8 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10 a.m.) and three more in the afternoon/evening (1 p.m. , 10:30 p.m.)

You can purchase the tickets online but make sure to do that a week or so before departure.

The travel time between Santiago and Mendoza is about 6-7 hours (but it does depend on how long you’ll stay at the border crossing). However, you’ll be rewarded with lovely views along the way. And if you want to enjoy these views, choose a bus which leaves in the morning.

The buses drop you at the bus station in Mendoza, which is 20-30 min walk from the main plaza. Buses depart from Santiago’s Terminal Alameda.

Driving from Santiago to Mendoza

If you plan to rent a car and drive the 365 km between the two cities, make sure to ask the rental company if you are allowed to take the car across the border. The scenery along the way is fantastic but be prepared for many curves and challenging road conditions. The drive time is about 5 ½ h but you also need to consider the time spent at the border crossing.

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Argentina travel guide

American Embassy in Buenos Aires

In general, when an American citizen needs the help of the American Embassy, something went terribly wrong. The American Embassy in Buenos Aires is meant to offer assistance to the US citizens living in Argentina and those traveling to Argentina.

The emergency services offered by the American Embassy include:

  • assistance to US citizens arrested in Argentina
  • making inquires with local authorities if a US citizen is missing
  • assistance to US citizens victims of crimes in Argentina
  • if a US citizen dies while in Argentina
  • access to list of lawyers
  • replacement of lost or stolen passport
  • emergency transfer of funds

Other special consular services are provided, such as reporting birth abroad and notary services.


Emergency contact

All US citizens living in Argentina or traveling to Argentina are encouraged to register with the Embassy.

American citizens can call these numbers 5777-4354 (during the office hours) or 5777-4873 (after hours) .

US Embassy in Buenos Aires

Address:
U.S. Embassy Buenos Aires
American Citizen Services
Av. Colombia 4300
C1425GMN Buenos Aires

E-mail: BuenosAires-ACS@state.gov
Web site

Office hours : Monday-Friday: from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.

Categories
Argentina travel guide

Getting from Buenos Aires to Uruguay

Uruguay is the second smallest country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the west and Brazil to the west. It has an Atlantic Ocean coastline and has a subtropical climate.

Montevideo is the capital of the country and home to the largest airport in Uruguay, while Punta del Este is a very popular beach destination in the country.

Quick summary

Buses and ferries are the cheapest options to get between Buenos Aires and Uruguay. If you want to travel to other cities than the capital of Montevideo, you’ll need to connect through the capital anyway (to catch a bus).

Flights from Buenos Aires to Uruguay

Buenos Aires to Montevideo

Montevideo is served by Aeropuerto Internacional de Carrasco (MVD), the largest airport in Uruguay. It is hub for Pluna. The following airlines offer flights to/from Buenos Aires: Aerolíneas Argentinas (Aeroparque, Ezeiza) , BQB Líneas Aéreas (Ezeiza), PLUNA (Aeroparque, Ezeiza) and Sol Líneas Aéreas (Aeroparque).

In mid-May 2012 expect to pay from US$82 one way on PLUNA (from EZE) , while a return flight starts at US$134. The flight time is 1 h (one way). It’s actually cheaper to fly from EZE and back into AEP (on PLUNA and Aerolineas Argentinas).

Buenos Aires to Punta del Este

Capitan Corbeta CA Curbelo International Airport (PDP) serves Punta del Este and offers direct connections to Buenos Aires – Aeroparque. There are direct year-round flights operated by BQB Líneas Aéreas and PLUNA, while Aerolíneas Argentinas operated only seasonal flights.

In mid-May 2012, expect to pay from US$103 one way on PLUNA with a connection in Montevideo, while in mid-September 2012, expect to pay the same fare. Direct flights start at US$108, regardless of the time of the year.

>>book a cheap flight to Buenos Aires

Ferries from Buenos Aires to Uruguay

Buenos Aires to Montevideo

Buquebus operates a high-speed ferry between the two capitals and the single fare starts at $178.42 UYU / US$41 (promo web). The travel time is about 3 h 15 min and there are several departures per day.

Buenos Aires to Colonia

The main connections to Argentina from Colonia are two ferries linking to Buenos Aires. Buquebus operates the fast ferry (1h) and the single fare starts at AR$ 157.26 / US$35.80. There is also a slower boat which takes 3 hours and the single fare starts at AR$ 102 / US$23.22.

Buses from Buenos Aires to Uruguay

Buenos Aires to Montevideo

There are three bus companies operating between the two cities. The single fare starts at AR$ 160 / US$38 and the travel time is 8 h.

To get to other cities in Uruguay, you need to connect via the capital of Montevideo. Once you get there, just ask for a ticket at the bus terminal (unless you travel during the weekends or holidays, it’s hardly likely to worry about not finding a seat).

Read more about:
>>Getting from Buenos Aires to Montevideo
>>Getting from Buenos Aires to Punta del Este

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