photos – EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog https://www.eurocheapo.com/blog EuroCheapo editors take on the world of budget travel. Tue, 18 Nov 2025 18:54:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.3 Barcelona: 10 photos that will inspire you to visit https://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/barcelona-10-photos-that-will-inspire-you-to-visit.html https://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/barcelona-10-photos-that-will-inspire-you-to-visit.html#comments Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:42:55 +0000 http://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/?p=27913 Do you still need to be sold on visiting Barcelona? From its fascinating history to mind-blowing Gaudi architecture, the city offers so much for those in search of a rich cultural experience. Meanwhile, its affordable restaurants, bars and tapas spots make it a top destination for culinary tourists. Even those into more active vacations will » Read more

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Do you still need to be sold on visiting Barcelona?

From its fascinating history to mind-blowing Gaudi architecture, the city offers so much for those in search of a rich cultural experience. Meanwhile, its affordable restaurants, bars and tapas spots make it a top destination for culinary tourists. Even those into more active vacations will enjoy riding around the city on bikes or hitting the beach!

Need a little nudge? Let these photographs I’ve taken of some of my favorite aspects of the city convince you to come this spring and summer to Barcelona:

The Santa Maria del Mar Church

The Santa Maria del Mar Church

1. History

Stroll cobblestone streets and gawk at thousands of years of history hidden in the walls around you.

Barcelona street art

Barcelona’s streets offer lots of free art.

2. Art

You don’t need to pay to go into a museum to see art in Barcelona, it’s all around you. Street art is abundant in the metropolis! Of course, the city has plenty of art museums, too. Here’s a list of free and cheap places to see great art.

La Barceloneta

Hit the beach in nearby towns or even in Barcelona itself. Above, the beach in la Barceloneta

3. Beach

From May to October, swim in the Mediterranean Sea along the Barcelona shoreline! Before you race into the water, read our essential guide to visiting Barcelona’s beaches.

Spanish wine

Excellent Spanish wines are very affordable in Barcelona.

4. Wine

Spain produces some of the best wine in the world. Guess what? You can drink it in Barcelona and it won’t cost you more than $6 a bottle! Here are some of my favorite wine bars, plus suggestions for more great central bars.

Go back to nature by wandering through the city's gardens.

Go back to nature by wandering through the city’s gardens.

5. Hike

Walk around the many gardens tucked into the folds of Montjuïc Mountain, an area easily reached from the city center. Look for Jardins de Mossen Costa i Llobera for a wonderful cacti collection! (Read more about the Parc de la Ciutadella and the Parc Guell.)

Gaudi

Go Ga-Ga for Gaudi’s eclectic architecture in Barcelona.

6. Architecture

You could spend a week or more just visiting Antoni Gaudí sights and buildings in Barcelona… Check out this article on surviving Parc Guell in all its Gaudi glory, tips for visiting the Sagrada Familia and this round-up of our favorite hotels near Gaudi architecture.

summer drinks Barcelona

Enjoy summer drinks at night in plazas throughout Barcelona

7. Plazas

Nothing is sweeter than a cold drink on a breezy plaza in the evening come spring and summer in Barcelona. Here’s a list of beach-side bars and here are my three favorite plazas to visit.

Catalan food

Eat locally by buying yummy Catalan food at the outdoor food markets.

8. Markets

Buy fresh local products at the many outdoor and open markets in the city. Goat cheese anyone? Here’s a list of my three favorite outdoor food markets in the city.

Cabaret Barcelona

Embrace the night in Barcelona.

9. Nightlife

Every night of the week there is something going on in Barcelona. In this photo, patrons line up for El Molino, a cabaret club in Poble Sec. Looking for some nightlife suggestions? I outline some club and bar options in my “Cheapo night out” article. And here’s a list of good budget hotels located near the city’s nightlife.

Barcelona food

Great food at affordable prices is easy to come by in Barcelona.

10. Food

Barcelona is known for its excellent cuisine. Mediterranean eats include lots of veggies, fish and seafood. Need some suggestions for great cheap eats? Read our general tips on keeping your dining budget in check, our guide to local foods worth trying, super cheap dining options (seriously, under €6), and this list of great lunch spots.

Need more?

Obviously, there are many reasons to visit Barcelona this year. For more help on planning your trip, be sure to swing by our Barcelona guide.

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8 tasty and cheapo meals in Barcelona (with mouth-watering photos) https://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/barcelona-photos-food.html https://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/barcelona-photos-food.html#respond Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:47:21 +0000 http://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/?p=26920 What’s for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Barcelona? (Not to mention tapas…) While we’ve gone on and on in other posts about recommended cheap eats, great lunch spots, and tips for saving on dining in Barcelona, sometimes a picture or two says it all. Here’s some photo inspiration of tasty bites and spots to dine » Read more

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What’s for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Barcelona? (Not to mention tapas…) While we’ve gone on and on in other posts about recommended cheap eats, great lunch spots, and tips for saving on dining in Barcelona, sometimes a picture or two says it all.

Here’s some photo inspiration of tasty bites and spots to dine in Barcelona, Spain.

BREAKFAST- The breakfast of champions, frothy coffee with flaky croissants in the sun! (Read more about breakfast in Barcelona, with addresses for the best breakfast in each neighborhood.)

Eating Tapas in Barcelona, Spain

TAPAS – What would a trip to Spain be without tapas? Afternoon snack or for dinner, tapas should be an important part of your diet in Barcelona. Pictured above: patatas bravas (spicy potatoes) and seasonal wild mushrooms (common in the fall). (Read more about tapas in Barcelona.)

Menu del Dia in Barcelona

LUNCH SPECIAL- Monday – Friday (and in some places on the weekend) look for chalkboards like this one featuring the Menú del Día or “Daily Special”; a set menu usually under $15 for three courses.

Eating Lentil Soup at Blavis in Barcelona, Spain

LENTILS – Legumes anyone? Spain is big on lentils, garbanzos, and other legumes. Above is a veggie lentil soup eaten at Blavis, a restaurant in the Gracia hood.

 

Eating Sea Snails in Barcelona, Spain

SEA SNAILS- Snails are often eaten in Spain. Their texture is, um, not for everyone. The snails above are sea snails served with rock salt.

Eating Roasted Vegetables with Romesco Sauce in Barcelona, Spain

ROASTED VEGETABLES- Asparagus, potatoes, spicy peppers, eggplant… all grilled up and served with thick, flavorful romesco red sauce.

 Paella in Barcelona, Spain

SPANISH RICE- Otherwise known as paella, this is a must when in Barcelona or traveling along Spain’s eastern Mediterranean seaside. Paella can be made with seafood or meats, such as rabbit and chicken.

Eating Burgers at Apolo Diner in Barcelona, Spain

BURGERS – Suddenly, beer and burgers are popular in Barcelona, and “American-style” diners are appearing all over the city. Apolo Diner in the Poble Sec hood is a good choice.

Eating at La Candela in La Ribera in Barcelona, Spain

COZY BARS AND RESTAURANTS – Barcelona has an endless selection of bars and eateries hidden away on cobblestone plazas and tucked down tiny streets. Avoid Las Ramblas and find something special and more local in El Raval, El Born or La Ribera.

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Paris: 5 more spots for the perfect photo ops https://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/paris-5-more-spots-for-the-perfect-photo-ops.html https://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/paris-5-more-spots-for-the-perfect-photo-ops.html#respond Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:31:09 +0000 http://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/?p=20944 Golden leaves are falling in Paris, making it the perfect time to roll out another batch of iconic French backdrops for photo ops, perfect for your social media portraits and status updates, too. Celebrating my favorite street photographers—Brassaï, Robert Doisneau, and Eugène Atget—I’ve meshed the old with the new, fully appreciating the dynamic, overlapping, ever-changing » Read more

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Golden leaves are falling in Paris, making it the perfect time to roll out another batch of iconic French backdrops for photo ops, perfect for your social media portraits and status updates, too. Celebrating my favorite street photographers—Brassaï, Robert Doisneau, and Eugène Atget—I’ve meshed the old with the new, fully appreciating the dynamic, overlapping, ever-changing juxtapositions.

So with Rolleiflex firmly in hand, channel your inner-glamour puss and look this way!

(If you haven’t already seen our first list of “Iconic Spots in Paris for the Perfect Photo Ops,” make sure to check those out, too!)

Paris Pont Alexadre III

1. Pont Alexandre III
Metro: Champs-Elysées- Clemenceau, 7th arrondissement

Raise your hand if you haven’t seen English singer-writer Adele’s sulky-smooth, newly released “Someone Like You” video, and if not, then get thee to a computer. Pack a hanky!

Directed by Jake Nava, the Alexander III Bridge makes a cameo appearance like no other pont to date. In the tear-jerker video, you’ll catch a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Palais (and the Petit) along with Les Invalides and Place de la Concorde. And yes, the La Grande Roue (Ferris Wheel) keeps on turning!

How to get the look: If you want the Eiffel Tower in the shot, photograph it on the Belle Époque beauty’s upstream right bank side of the bridge.

Note to fashionistas: Adele’s fetching black A-line coat with asymmetrical gold zipper is from Moschino’s fall 2010 runway line. I think she scored the very last one. Now who feels sorry for Adele? And the diva’s wild windswept hair? Not a problem, as the damp river air will merrily take care of that for you without a charge. I have been there!

Paris Shhhh mural

2. Shhhh! Mural at the Centre Pompidou
Place Georges Pompidou
Metro: Rambuteau or Hotel de Ville, 4th arrondissement

I recently stumbled upon a massive mural one recent Sunday afternoon while making my way to the Beaubourg (aka, the Pompidou Center) to buy more reporter notebooks. Neatly tucked behind the Stravinsky fountain, “Shhhh” was created by graffiti artist Jef Aerosol back in June 2011.

Measuring in at an impressive 350 square meters, it was created with spray paint, stencils, and plenty-o-scaffolding, along with the mayor’s stamp of approval and commission. The massive mural’s message? “Stop, look and appreciate the city,” according to the artist. It certainly stopped me in my tracks. Flâneurs, while strolling out and about the city, keep your eyes peeled for street art. It’s everywhere.

3. Le Passe-Muraille
Place Marcel Aymé, at rue Norvins and rue Girardon
Metro: Abbesses, 18th arrondissement

In hilly Montmartre, you’ll find Le Passe-Muraille (“Walker-Through-Walls”). The captivating bronze sculpture is a tribute to novelist Marcel Aymé.

Based on his book by the same title, the main character wakes up one morning with the fantastical ability to walk through walls. At first it’s all fun and games, until his newly-acquired gifts lead him into headlong into harm.

The statue was created by actor and sculptor Jean Marais, who starred in Jean Cocteau’s classics “Beauty and the Beast” and “Orphée.” Cheapos, perhaps it’s time to bust a move?

Paris Hotel de Ville

4. Hôtel de Ville
Metro: Hôtel de Ville, 4th arrondissement

Calling all incurable romantics, this one is for you. Here is Paris’s City Hall is where Robert Doisneau staged his legendary photograph, “Le Baiser de l’Hôtel de Ville,” for LIFE magazine in 1950. After spotting Françoise Delbart and Jacques Carteaud smooching, he requested a little replay action for his camera, and the rest was kiss-tory in the making.

Granted, the cooing couple’s relationship only lasted for nine months, but one can still dream about me and my boo and my boo lip locking, all up in the back (near the fountains) because the pigeons keep flocking—pinching from Beyoncé.

5. I’m waiting for the (meat) man on rue Lepic
Boucherie des Gourmets, 18 Rue Lepic
Metro: Abbesses or Blanche, 18th arrondissement

Meet my new boyfriend. Okay, so he’s a little stiff, but he’s never let me down. Whenever I’m out of sorts or suffering a bad hairdo, he’s there for me. With his wolf calls, he’s never failed to make me smile (except when the shop is closed on Mondays!).

Cheapos, you can find eye-catching, funky signage like this all over Paris. Backdrops for photo-ops abound! Boulangeries, fromageries, and pâtisseries, along with cafes and even pharmacies hire artists to create signs, murals or window displays of their own. Most are creatively fun, a few inevitably fall into the category of exquisitely beautiful, but each and every one contributes a little something more to the city’s evolving vistas!

Take one from Hemingway, Cheapos: “There is never any ending to Paris and the memory of each person who has lived in it differs from that of any other.”

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Paris: 6 Iconic spots for the best photo-ops https://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/paris-6-iconic-spots-for-the-best-photo-ops.html https://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/paris-6-iconic-spots-for-the-best-photo-ops.html#comments Mon, 22 Aug 2011 12:00:09 +0000 http://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/?p=19887 Got 24 hours to spend in Paris? Grab the cameras and bucket lists, and let’s shoot the city like there’s no tomorrow. Here are six of my favorite iconic backdrops for photo ops, perfect for your social media portraits and status updates, too. There’s no sin in boasting. Besides, it’s free. Channeling photographers Robert Doisneau » Read more

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Got 24 hours to spend in Paris? Grab the cameras and bucket lists, and let’s shoot the city like there’s no tomorrow. Here are six of my favorite iconic backdrops for photo ops, perfect for your social media portraits and status updates, too. There’s no sin in boasting. Besides, it’s free.

Channeling photographers Robert Doisneau and Robert Capa (who often showcased France’s beloved national moments in their haute couture spreads), it’s now time to snap, crackle and pop! Shall we?

Morning Glory

1. Sacré Coeur
Metro: Anvers or Abbesses, 18th arrondissement

Color scheme: Wedding cake white
Attire recommendations: Warm tones from orange to scarlet

Avoid crowds by arriving early in the morning. Blue skies suit the iridescent basilica, though she also glows at dusk. For inspiration, climb Brassaï’s Les Escaliers de Montmartre, located next to the funicular on Rue Foyatier. Also, watch out for the pair of “living sculptures.” Donned in white and mimicking Roman statues, they’ll pose with you if you throw a few coins their way.

Film buffs, yes, a pivotal scene in “Amelie” took place here near the carousel. In nearby Abbesses, you’ll find Amelie’s “Au Marche de la Butte” on rue des 3 Freres and Café les Deux Moulins at 15 rue Lepic.

After paying homage to Amelie’s gnomes in the hood, take Metro line 12 from Abbesses to Galeries Lafayette at Metro Saint-Lazare.

The rooftop of the Galeries Lafayette

2. Galeries Lafayette
Metro: Saint-Lazare, 9th arrondissement

Color scheme: Blue, beige and black brought to you by Haussmann
Attire recommendations: Mercantile green or pale baby blue

When it comes to classic French backdrops, it’s all about the view and location. Galeries Lafayette’s rooftop possesses both. Avoid crowds by arriving during the morning or after lunch. Here you’ll find one of my all-time favorite views of Paris. A triple-threat photo-op, so get your cameo on with the Tour Eiffel, the Opéra Garnier, and Sacré Coeur.

While calling on the grand magasin, don’t forget to check out its ever-changing vitrines (“windows”) and the stained glass coupole (“domed ceiling”). Heaven on earth, this Belle Epoch beauty meshed with a little exquisite Byzantine styling was installed in 1912. Try gazing up without getting all weepy. Borrow my hanky. I won’t tell.

Afternoon delight

3. Opéra Garnier
Metro: Opéra, 9th arrondissement

Color scheme: Gold, beige, black and “Statue of Liberty” copper green
Attire recommendations: Gold, purple and ruby red, too

After spending time at Galeries Lafayette, jeté across the street to the Opéra. I usually photograph outside the Métro Opéra main entrance. Shining like a superstar, blue skies are this edifice’s friend, though it’s also ideal to arrive just before an evening performance in order to see the red carpet-worthy glittering garb dart across the busy rues.

Drool, much? Fashionistas, I’m talking to you. The Repetto ballet shoe shop is located just a shop, skip and a pirouette away at 22 rue de la Paix. Heaven, I am in heaven.

Reflecting on the Place Vendome

4. Place Vendôme
Metro: Opéra, 1st arrondissement

Color scheme: Beige, black and pale green
Attire recommendations: Gold, royal blue and shocking pink

After snapping a few pix at the Opéra, take Rue de la Paix to Place Vendôme. Keep your eyes peeled for Napoléon’s column. In 1935 designer Elsa Schiaparelli opened one of the first prêt-à-porter boutiques under its shadow at 21 Place Vendôme. Although the shop closed decades ago, the awning still flaps above the entryway. A promotion guru, Elsa would often unveil her collections with squads of circus performances in the middle of the square, complete with elephants and tightrope walkers!

More inspiration? Here’s where Robert Capa photographed the iconic images of poodle-toting models for Dior in 1948! Calling all cinematic fans, Billy Wilder’s “Love in the Afternoon” with Audrey Hepburn and Maurice Chevalier was shot here at the Hôtel Ritz.

5. Arc-de-Triomphe du Carrousel
Metro: Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre, 1st arrondissement

Color scheme: Black, beige, gold, and pink marble
Attire recommendations: Black, beige and one piece of bling

After your Place Vendôme photo session directly below “le petit caporal’s” watch, strut on over to the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, located by the Louvre and the Jardin des Tuileries. The petite size of this “Mini-Me” of the big Arc de Triomphe at the far end of the Champs Elysées makes for an easy, breezy shoot. Also, this is where the infectious balloon scene in “Funny Face” with Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire was filmed.

Twilight time

6. Moulin Rouge
Metro: Place Blanche, 18th arrondissement

Color scheme: red, black and white
Attire recommendations: Sequins and feathers in all colors under the rainbow

It’s now time to wind it back, wind it back, Cheapos, at the end of the day at the Moulin Rouge in historic Pigalle. Yes, we’ve come full circle back to romantic Montmartre! For your portrait taking, I’d recommend arriving around l’heure bleu (twilight). You just might spot the spirit of writer Henry Valentine Miller on the literary prowl. An avid and competitive cyclist, he’d be quite happy with the new bike lanes!

After your photo session, tempt yourself at the Musée de l’érotisme at 72 boulevard de Clichy. It’s usually open until 2 a.m. (oh, la la!). Check out their permanent exhibit on Paris’s brothels. Tired feet? Do like my Moulin Rouge dancer friends do after a long show. Prop your legs up against a door for twenty minutes. It works!

Snappy advice

Cheapos, do you have a favorite picture perfect location for a photo-op in Paris? Do spill!

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Photo Essay: The EuroCheapo and BootsnAll TBEX Party https://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/photo-essay-the-eurocheapo-and-bootsnall-tbex-party.html https://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/photo-essay-the-eurocheapo-and-bootsnall-tbex-party.html#comments Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:05:34 +0000 http://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/?p=10940 This past weekend, June 18-20, 2010, the Travel Blog Exchange (“TBEX”) held its second annual conference in New York City. Hosted at the Cantor Film Center in Greenwich Village, the two-day event featured panels, presentations, and readings featuring travel bloggers hailing from the US and abroad, some coming to town from as far away as New Zealand. » Read more

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This past weekend, June 18-20, 2010, the Travel Blog Exchange (“TBEX”) held its second annual conference in New York City.

Hosted at the Cantor Film Center in Greenwich Village, the two-day event featured panels, presentations, and readings featuring travel bloggers hailing from the US and abroad, some coming to town from as far away as New Zealand. The schedule was jam packed from mid-morning through late afternoon, allowing the more than 300 guests to learn from one another, compare notes, and discuss the intricacies of the travel blog industry with their peers.

In other words, it was the perfect weekend to throw a big party!

To celebrate the occasion, we collaborated with our friends from BootsnAll.com and invited all conference attendees to join us in the East Village on Saturday night for an evening of “anything goes.” What follows is a photo recap of an enjoyable, loud night in New York City.

(Note: We’re missing the names and Web sites of many partygoers pictured in the photos. Please help us out by emailing us the names, Twitter handles, and Web sites of those not named. You can also post the information in the comments section below. When sending a name, please include the corresponding photo number. Many thanks!)

 

1. First start with an interesting conference full of fun attendees: Here’s the crowd lining up to get in to TBEX 2010 on Saturday morning.

Welcome to TBEX, travel bloggers!

 

2. Then wait about eight hours and usher everyone to a lounge in the East Village. We had chosen The Professor’s Loft.

The Loft at Professor Thom's

 

3. Next, add personable hosts for the evening: Tom Meyers and Sean Keener.

Sean Keener from BootsnAll and Tom Meyers from EuroCheapo

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Postcards from France: First week on the road https://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/postcards-from-france-first-week-on-the-road.html https://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/postcards-from-france-first-week-on-the-road.html#respond Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:54:43 +0000 http://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/?p=5058 I just returned from 16 glorious days in France. The journey included six days in Paris and ten days on the road, driving through the rolling countryside to pebble beaches, sun-kissed villages, and major cities. Today I’m posting some “postcards” from the first week of the trip. 1. Vélib’ at work (above). The good news: Vélib’, the city’s » Read more

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I just returned from 16 glorious days in France. The journey included six days in Paris and ten days on the road, driving through the rolling countryside to pebble beaches, sun-kissed villages, and major cities.

Today I’m posting some “postcards” from the first week of the trip.

1. Vélib’ at work (above).

The good news: Vélib’, the city’s bike-share program, seems to be a smashing success. Bike stations are everywhere in the city, with new pick-up (and drop-off) stations being added frequently. The bad news: I didn’t get to try it out. I will next time, I promise.

paris-hotel-jeanne-darc

I took this photo of my room while brushing my teeth.

2. Hotel “Jeanne Dark”

We’ve recommended the Hotel Jeanne d’Arc in the Marais since the site launched in 2001. We’ve never had any complaints–it’s a cute guesthouse with a “country” touch and reasonable rates. When I stayed on July 25 with my parents, however, the hotel experienced a very unusual power outage. The rooms at the Jeanne D’Arc were without electricity all evening and night, meaning that teeth were brushed and faces washed by the lights from cell-phone screens, watches, and laptops. At 2:45 AM, POOF!, the juice came back on, and those of us with the switches flipped the wrong way experienced a bright, unscheduled wake-up call.

The fish are first presented.

The fish are first presented.

3. Bouillabaisse in Marseille’s Old Port

We took the TGV south to Nimes, and then rented a car and made day-trips around Provence. One of those trips was to Marseille, where we feasted on fresh fish at a restaurant along the (very active) port. Above, the waiter presents the fish before “preparing” them for the bouillabaisse.

The Roman Arena in Arles is still in use.

The Roman Arena in Arles is still in use.

4. The Roman Arena in Arles

Lovely Arles, in the heart of Provence, was colonized by the Romans in about 125 BC. Many important sites from those Roman days can be visited today and are a major tourist draw. The most popular of these is the town’s gorgeous Roman Arena, built in 1 BC, and still used today for bullfights.

A steep climb up to "la Cit&eacute" in Carcassonne

A steep climb up to “la Cité” in Carcassonne

5. Carcassonne’s “La Cite” is worth the hike

Heading west from Nimes, we drove through Montpellier and to the walled Medieval city of Carcassonne. We spent the night at the chic (and affordable) Maison Costes B&B in the town center, but dined in “la Cite,” the town’s famous walled fortress. From the city’s center, the hike isn’t very far, but it’s a steep one. And if you take advantage of the region’s delicious wines over dinner, the walk back—downhill—can be tricky!

Coming next week: Photos from week two!

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St. Petersburg Journal: Daily surprises https://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/st-petersburg-journal-daily-surprises.html https://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/st-petersburg-journal-daily-surprises.html#comments Thu, 29 Jan 2009 06:33:23 +0000 http://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/?p=2324 Note: EuroCheapo editor Tom Meyers is traveling in St. Petersburg, Russia and blogging about his journey. St. Petersburg, like most big cities, strikes me as a place of small surprises. For every grandiose palace visit, there’s an insightful trip to the grocery store. For every grand view, there’s a real-world view right behind you. Today I thought I’d post some » Read more

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Note: EuroCheapo editor Tom Meyers is traveling in St. Petersburg, Russia and blogging about his journey.

St. Petersburg, like most big cities, strikes me as a place of small surprises. For every grandiose palace visit, there’s an insightful trip to the grocery store. For every grand view, there’s a real-world view right behind you.

Today I thought I’d post some photos of everyday life in St. Petersburg. Mind you, I don’t have any clue what “everyday life” would be like for a resident, as I’ve only spent four days here. But apologies aside, here are some everyday scenes that struck my fancy.

Some things haven’t changed very much since Soviet times. Above, a man reads today’s newspaper, posted along the street for the public.

St. Petersburg Elevator

This is the control panel of the elevator at my friend Carl’s seven-floor apartment building, where I’m staying. Although there are numbers for floors eight and nine, they aren’t really buttons and you can’t push them. (I still haven’t figured out what the X-button is for. Care to find out?)

When you get off the elevator downstairs, a man sitting in a little room looks at you from behind an open window. The first couple of days I offered smiles, nods, and hellos. I’m a little wiser now and just get out of there.

Russian cafe lunch

This is the meal that I devoured inside the Peter and Paul fortress two days ago at their cafe. Shown here: Beet salad (turns out with pickled herring), a sort of double-wide meatball (beef and pork) topped with soft cheese and baked, rice, a slice of wheat bread, and a glass of strawberry water (a refreshing concoction made up of watered-down strawberry juice with two frozen strawberries dropped inside).

The cafe had a special buffet-style system set up, except you didn’t serve yourself. The lady working behind the bar explained the dishes in basic English, I pointed, and she put it all together and rang it up at the register. This meal cost about 300 rubles, or about $8.50. And yes, it was absolutely delicious. I could eat it again right now.

Russian napkin display

Speaking of lunch, at almost every restaurant or cafe I’ve visited so far, the napkins on the table are presented in this festive manner. They’re folded, fanned out, and displayed upright. It makes quite an impression.

St Petersburg Bathroom

Something about this bathroom, located in the visitor’s center at the Peter and Paul fortress, cracked me up. The stalls (not pictured) are not blessed with their own toilet paper dispensers. You must take your paper before you head in. Choose wisely!

St Petersburg Subway

I’ll bet that you can read that familiar restaurant sign, written above in Cyrillic. I’ve noticed a few American chains, including McDonalds, Pizza Hut, and yes, Subway. However, there are fewer than I expected to see (and certainly than I saw in Paris).  This Subway is located near the Hermitage on Nevskiy Prospekt.

Hermitage Matisse

Finally, because today’s post might paint a rather unglamorous portrait of St. Petersburg, let us focus on one decidedly “non everyday” aspect of the city. In this photo, which I took yesterday in the Hermitage, Matisse’s masterpiece, “La Danse” (1910) is displayed on the wall of a third-floor gallery that overlooks the palace square.

I spent about five hours in the Hermitage, exploring the palace rooms with my audioguide and getting close to priceless artwork. The best part–there’s hardly anyone around. When I took this photo, I had to wait for somebody to walk through the door.

The world comes to St. Petersburg in the summer when the white nights keep the city illuminated nearly around the clock. In January, however, most tourists stay away, intimidated by the bleak weather.

And to think it’s colder right now in New York…  More soon!

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St. Petersburg Journal: Impressions, photos, and a smile https://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/st-petersburg-journal-impressions-photos-and-a-smile.html https://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/st-petersburg-journal-impressions-photos-and-a-smile.html#comments Tue, 27 Jan 2009 08:02:13 +0000 http://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/?p=2293 Note: EuroCheapo editor Tom Meyers is traveling this week in St. Petersburg, Russia. Greetings from St. Petersburg! The city is snowy, slushy, and slippery, and every step outside requires attention. I flew in from Paris on Saturday afternoon and my friend Carl, who lives in St. Petersburg, picked me up at the airport and whisked me » Read more

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Note: EuroCheapo editor Tom Meyers is traveling this week in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Greetings from St. Petersburg! The city is snowy, slushy, and slippery, and every step outside requires attention.

I flew in from Paris on Saturday afternoon and my friend Carl, who lives in St. Petersburg, picked me up at the airport and whisked me off to the grocery store.

Check out the caviar selection:

Sunday we explored the city, holding onto each other to avoid landing on our backs.

Carl introduced me to the St. Petersburg Metro. Interestingly, you must enter through the “enter” doors at street-level (and avoid the exit doors, as I found out when I took the Metro by myself). They’re the doors everyone’s walking into, like so:

st petersburg metro enter

You then put your token into the turnstile and go down a very, very, very long escalator at a swift speed. The St. Petersburg platforms are some of the deepest in the world. (I timed one escalator ride yesterday–I was cruising up it for 3.5 minutes. This may not seem like a long ride, but it is.)

st petersburg metro

St. Petersburg during January doesn’t get much sun. During the days that I’ve been here so far, it gets kind of brighter around 10 AM and stays sort of bright through about 5 PM. But we’re not talking about radiant sun. We’re talking about cloudy, whitish skies, usually with some precipitation falling.

This doesn’t stop anyone from walking around, shopping, or selling their wares. Here’s a cluster of art merchants selling their canvasses along the Nevskiy Prospekt, the city’s main boulevard.

st. petersburg vendors

It all makes you want to drink a lot of coffee. The city has some American-ish style coffee chains (and St. Petersburg is about to get its first Starbucks). The coffee house I like is called, well, “Coffee House.” (That’s what the sign says in Cyrillic.)

st. petersburg coffeehouse

And who says Russians aren’t friendly? When I enjoyed a coffee break at this coffee house yesterday, my waitress was full of smiles and charm. I don’t speak Russian, but everyone I’ve come into contact with has been helpful and we’ve managed to make ourselves understood.

My waitress helped me pick out a chocolate éclair, and when she brought it to the table had decorated it with a little surprise:

smile

That was a first! And so I smiled, this time in front of the Church on Spilled Blood, modeled after St. Basil’s in Moscow:

st petersburg church

And that’s my report. Now I’m going to walk to the Hermitage, where I hope to spend most of the day.

st petersburg hermitage
The Hermitage in the snow, taken yesterday while trying to keep dry.
More photos soon! Until then, well… smile!

The post St. Petersburg Journal: Impressions, photos, and a smile appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

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EuroCheapo’s Spookiest Hotel Ghosts (7 photos!) https://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/eurocheapos-spookiest-hotel-ghosts-seven-photos.html https://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/eurocheapos-spookiest-hotel-ghosts-seven-photos.html#comments Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:58:02 +0000 http://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/?p=1874 We take lots of photos while visiting hotels in Europe.  While most of them look fine and accurately capture each hotel, every now and then we notice something unexpected in the corner of the frame. Something lurking in the shadows.  Something creepy. That’s right Cheapos:  sometimes we take pictures of budget hotel ghosts! Think we’re » Read more

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We take lots of photos while visiting hotels in Europe.  While most of them look fine and accurately capture each hotel, every now and then we notice something unexpected in the corner of the frame. Something lurking in the shadows.  Something creepy.

That’s right Cheapos:  sometimes we take pictures of budget hotel ghosts!

Think we’re kidding? Just have a look at the photos below and see if you notice anything peculiar… mwaaahaaahaaa!

#1.  Creepy toilet

This bathroom shot was taken on a sunny day, in a room filled with natural light. So why does this toilet give us the creeps? Because it’s haunted!

#2. Floating leg in shower!

Looks like a typical bathroom scene in a trendy London hotel, right? Everything looks up to snuff, until you notice the floating GHOST LEG in the shower!

3. Haunted London bedroom!

This was nearly a “hotel crush,” until we developed this shot and noticed the menacing ghost orb floating above the bed—and the greenish pillow stains of guests long gone… (Editor’s note:  This hotel did not make our final cut…)

4. Phantom in Brussels!

This photo was taken by Meredith while making her rounds in Brussels last spring. So who’s that man in the corner? A G-H-O-S-T!

5. Ghost orb in Dublin bathtub!

Another orb appears… this time in a Dublin bathtub. We shouldn’t have been surprised. ORBS TAKE BATHS!

6. Pioneer man in Paris pension!

We swear, we were alone in the room when snapping this shot in the Latin Quarter. Who gave him a key? GHOSTS DON’T NEED KEYS!

7. Maverick looking out the window!

Imagine our shock when we studied this shot of an un-named London youth hostel (located “steps from the British Museum”). How did she get there? No wait, she’s just a figment of our imagination, VANISHING BEFORE OUR EYES!

SEND US YOUR CREEPY SHOTS!

Have any spooks shown up unexpectedly in your photos? Email them, we’ll post ’em! Happy Halloween, Cheapos!

The post EuroCheapo’s Spookiest Hotel Ghosts (7 photos!) appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

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