Restaurante Botin, Madrid ES

When I was planning the trip, I really had no plans on trying this place out. Besides, how could I  when I hadn't even heard about it?! It was my colleague, Les, who introduced me to the "World's Earliest Restaurant" - Botin! We used to travel online together!!! *wink


It was my first day in Madrid. I had just arrived from an overnight train travel from Paris. Overnight = exhausting. After having checked in the hostel, although still a bit worn out, I was still excited somehow to find the place. However, I have to admit, I was bad with directions - still is. I asked several people for help but unfortunately, they weren't so familiar with the place either. Until now, I wonder why?! So, it took me almost an hour maybe to spot it! 


I came in and asked to be seated. Luckily, there was an available seat. Others would recommend though that you book ahead as the place is always full! Anyways, so the place was old, ok. The people were nice. As I was clueless what's the best in the menu, I had someone else order for me - the person working there.

The Menu - Botin

Ready to order? This was what I had... The House Menu @ 40.20Euros. My face? looked like this: '$o$' ..cost me an arm and a leg as I wasn't used to spending that much only in one meal.. and just for one person! Not even buffet.

Gazpacho was served first. To my surprise, it was cold so I was to call the waiter and ask why but since I wasn't aware of what I was having, I decided to look it up in my mobile phone's dictionary first - only to find out that "Gazpacho - a spicy soup made from tomatoes and other raw vegetables, and eaten cold : Cambridge"! o_O

Next was the main course. It was just like "lechon" - only ours, in my biased opinion, is tastier! It was served with potatoes, no rice! I didn't finish the whole slab of meat. I could not. I wanted ice cream. And, I had ice cream - gelato as they call it!!

The House Menu - Roast Suckling Pig + Bread + Water + Wine + Andalusian Cold Soup (Gazpacho) + gelato

Sobrino de Botín (Calle de los Cuchilleros 17, 28005 Madrid, Spain) is a restaurant established in 1725. It is listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest eatery in the world. The artist Francisco de Goya worked there as a waiter while waiting to get accepted into the "Royal Academy of Fine Arts". The restaurant is also mentioned in the book Fortunata y Jacinta by Benito Pérez Galdós (published 1886-1887).

The restaurant was founded by Spanish man James Botin and his spouse, and was originally called Casa Botín. It was inherited by a nephew of theirs called Candido Remis, thus explaining the change of name to Sobrino de Botín, which survives to this day. 

The Sobrino and its speciality of cochinillo asado (roast suckling pig) are mentioned in the closing pages of Ernest Hemingway'snovel, The Sun Also Rises. Its other signature dish is sopa de ajo (an egg, poached in chicken broth, and laced with sherry and garlic): a favorite pick-me-up with Madrileño revellers. - Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sobrino_de_Bot%C3%ADn

Planning a trip to Europe? Yes! It can be done!

Maybe this can help..

Basically, citizens who are not visa exempted are expected to produce the following:

*Note: The list is for information purposes only. Please contact respective embassies for official information.

1. Application form completed and signed by the applicant
2. Passport photos
3. Passport having validity of atleast 90 days from date of expiry of visa
4. Covering letter from the applicant detailing purpose of trip, duration of stay and travel itinerary
5. Copy of labour contract
6. Original and photocopy of passport
7. Proof of adequate financial guarantees (e.g. salary slips/salary certificate + personal bank statement for the last 6mos)
8. Confirmed hotel booking
9. Confirmed return air ticket
10. Travel insurance with minimum coverage of Eu30,000 (this would cost about 70~150AED)

Please note: 

It is important to be specific in the itinerary and that the number of days requested will most likely be the only number of days granted for your travel. That means, if you are specifying 5 days in the itinerary, your visa will be good for 5 days only too! 

Consequently, staying in their territory beyond those days would mean overstaying and that would cost you a fine of Eu600 (if not more),! Astounding! 

Overview of Expenses: 

Sample Computation in AED on the average (Departing from Dubai)

Return airfare :

Gulf Air offers ~ 2,000 dhs while 

Air France and Lufthansa ~ 2,500 dhs during normal season. 

*We got ours for 2,600dhs via Air France.

Accommodation :

Hostel ~ 25 to 40 Eu (125 to 200dhs or 1,500 to 2,500php)

Hotel ~ 50 ++ Eu (250dhs ++ or 3,000php ++)  or have a look at this post hotel in Rome

Entrance Fees:

Usually 0 -15Eu (free to as much as 75dhs or 480 to 900php)

Food:

Free breakfast at the hotel (?)

Heavy lunch or dinner ~ 10 - 25Eu

Water! from 0.5Eu to as much as 2Eu at major tourist spots!! That's for 500ml of bottled water. 

Fast foods are always available, in case you want a familiar taste. Once at McDonalds, I had burger, fries, pie... all at 1Eu each. They're always cheap but of course you'll not have them the whole time, right? Besides, you're travelling to explore! And, food is one of its greatest adventure!

Hop On, Hop Off Tours:

15 - 25Eu (40 to 75dhs or 480 to 900php)

Local Transpo.:

Just prepare to spend maybe 5~15 Eu per day.. 

There are many places where sightseeing can be done on foot and does not involve taking the subway nor buses too much. However, in some instances, attractions are situated quite far that I advise you to just take the aforementioned Hop On, Hop Off Tours as it offers more convenience saving you from the hassle of planning 'where, when and how' to proceed!


Tickets from public transpo then looked like these:
Please always VALIDATE your tickets!!!

Accommodation in Rome - Hotel Zone

It was already late at night when we arrived in the lovely city of Rome. In fact, late enough that finding a decent but cheap accommodation was a bit impossible. Whatever happened to the advance booking? hmmm we actually had our hotel reservations cancelled a day or two before the travel time as our visas were only released at the last minute - just when our hopes were close to the bottom!  

Anyways, got the visa. Flew in to Rome. Settled for a temporary hostel at the center of the city for 35 euro per head (about 175aed or 1900php) for 2 nights. Then transferred to this hotel - Hotel Zone. The rate? It was supposed to be only 77euro per room (cheap because it's quite off the center) as I can remember if booked online. However, when we got there, to our surprise, the rate was actually different for walk-ins! And, the difference was huge! It cost us 105euro instead! 

So if you plan on travelling, I strongly advise you to book online and ahead if possible!

As for the hotel, the location wasn't a problem at all since they offer pick up and drop offs. The hitch would just be getting to the hotel the first time as not too many people know it. 

So here are the photos of our room: Clean and comfy

Internet connection would be an additional charge of 11 euros for the 24hrs.

A bit out of the budget but Rome is such an expensive city that this was the price we actually had to pay for a bit of comfort after long walks and exhausting days.

Unexpected sofa :)

The Roman Coliseum, Rome Italy

My account about the following photos will only be as far as I could picture things out for it has been almost 3 years now. Although most parts of the experience are still vivid, I find it such a struggle to articulate the totality of it!

Anyways, here goes another hard work in writing:

The Roman Colosseum or Coliseum

Like the previous days, we were sent to Piazza Cavour (piazza ~ 'an open square in a European town' ) - being the hotel bus's drop off point. From there, with the help of a tourist map (several versions of which are always available in many hotels), we found our way to the famous Roman Coliseum. We did it by foot. And, I assure you – with comfortable footwear, already picturesque surroundings and loads of enthusiasm, one wouldn’t notice how far nor how long the hike was!

Okay, so we got there. 

Clueless of where to start but guided by a huge throng of tourists, we figured out where to buy tickets for entry. As expected, queues in places like this were always discouraging. Nonetheless, it was reassuring to see officers keeping the order. So, we patiently waited for our turn as we could not afford to miss this one. This was what we came here for anyway!

Guided Tourists

Hotel Zone's Bus Pick up and Drop off Schedule 

Piazza Cavour Area - Pick up and drop off point

Street Scene Near Coliseum

Inside the Coliseum

As for the fees, one can choose between ‘entrance only’ and the one which comes with audio guide. Which one did we choose? Yes, definitely the cheaper one – the entrance ‘only’. I think by that time it cost 12Euros. So, we got in and were actually happy and relieved to get in!

The structure? Enormous and ‘awe-inspiring’. 
Seeing the actual thing and being there felt different. Hence, we spent about an hour inside, marveling.


"The Colosseum, or the Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre (Latin: Amphitheatrum Flavium, Italian Anfiteatro Flavio or Colosseo), is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering.

Capable of seating 50,000 spectators,the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology.

Although in the 21st century it stays partially ruined because of damage caused by devastating earthquakes and stone-robbers, the Colosseum remains an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colosseum 

That's me!