FOT Forum
FOT Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: theyellowchair on January 19, 2009, 07:59:11 PM
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Since the FOT are a worldly, well-read bunch-of-munches, I thought it would be entirely beneficial to start a Q-and-A repository for traveling dos and don'ts. Where to go, what to see, where to stay, what to avoid, etc.
I'm traveling to Barcelona in March. Any suggestions? Any warnings?
Thanks! And I hope I can be of service if you're ever venturing to one of the Regions of My Expertise (Hudson County, NJ...)
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yesno's suggestion of lonelyplanet.com was perfect. and i used it as a point of reference for my phoned-in trip to LA this weekend. i would suggest checking out lonelyplanet.com or tripadvisor.com
i cant remember if any FOT have been to barcelona. i know andy posted some photos a while back of him and his lady in a foreign country, but i cant remember what country.
ive heard if you like dance clubs, youll have fun in barcelona. if you like sight seeing, its great. those two websites will give you so many recommendations of things to check out, it can be overwhelming.
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I've been to Barcelona but can't think of anything specific to recommend. For some reason every bar we went to was playing reggae. All seafood was excellent. Beach was a little dirty. There were parades almost every day but not for any specific holiday or event. Interesting hookers and performers down at La Rambla. The place was almost so festive it was exhausting, I started fantasizing about finding trails up in the Pyrenees (which is probably awesome).
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Big party town and lots of fun, just watch out for thieves I guess. Check out as much Gaudi stuff as you can as it is pretty cool. If you can get away to some of the small beaches a bit north they are pretty nice, like Tossa de Mar
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Hey this thread looks pretty good. I'm gonna bump it!
I'm going to Montreal with my wife on Thursday; we're staying until Sunday. I haven't been since I was like 12; does anyone have any recommendations for food, sights, etc.? Record store suggestions are especially welcome!
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My wife and I were in Montreal for a few days in September. Had a great time. I hope the weather is good for you, because we spent most of our trip walking around the different neighborhoods and parks.
In terms of restaurants, we absolutely loved Au Pied du Cochon on Rue Duluth. It's probably not the best choice for vegetarians and likely impossible for vegans, so keep that in mind. It's very popular, so you'll need a reservation. Whether you try it or not, Duluth is a great street for wandering--lots of bars, restaurants, cool stores. In fact, I stumbled across a very good vinyl record store. Small, but well stocked. Can't remember the name, but it was definitely on Duluth, near Au Pied du Cochon.
In the same neighborhood (Plateau Mont Royal), we really liked Laloux (http://www.laloux.com/ )--a very nice French restaurant.
If you like delis, Schwartz's is pretty great. Service with a friendly snarl. Take a seat at the counter for maximum gruffness.
I'm a bit of a bagel aficionado, and I can honestly say that Fairmont Bagel has the best I've tried. (Yes, better than any I've had in New York.)
In terms of stuff to do, strolling around the park on Mont Royal is a great way to spend a couple of hours. (Then you can wander over to Rue Duluth for records and dinner!) We also enjoyed Pointe-a-Calliere, the archeology and history museum. The botanic gardens were pretty good, but what was really memorable was the Insectarium within the gardens. (Better than it sounds.)
The old city is beautiful and excellent to walk around in, but it's very touristy and the restaurants all appear to be major rip offs. I'd do my eating elsewhere.
Have fun!
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Thanks for the suggestions, AdamM! Hopefully I can track down that vinyl store!
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I guess this is probably too late for you, but the record store on Duluth is Sonik Records, and is indeed near Au Pied de Cochon. It's mostly garage rock. My favorite record store these days is Aux 33 Tours (http://www.aux33tours.com/), also more or less in the same part of town. Cheap Thrills is also pretty good, but it's downtown, in an area that doesn't really offer any other attractions for a tourist.
And yes, as I've commented before, Montreal bagels are superior to NYC bagels. Try Fairmount or St. Viateur bagels.
Hope you had a good trip!
More Mtl. recommendations on this thread (http://www.friendsoftom.com/forum/index.php/topic,5503.0.html).
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Hey Bryan - We're actually going this coming Thursday; thanks for the record store info!
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Definitely go up the mountain! Pack food and a cheap bottle of non-depanneur wine (don't ever buy wine from a dep! It is paint thinner with grapes. Dep beer is good, though, especially the Unibroue beers with the weird dungeons-and-dragons-looking labels) and go up when it's still light. Then sit at the top and watch all the lights in the city go on. One of the best things about Montreal. Wear your boots, though - I went up last week and the leftover ice and snow from winter haven't totally melted.
Other little things:
-Walk around the Plateau for a couple of hours and look at all the twisty staircases. Also the weather's supposed to be really nice when you're here, so Parc Lafontaine is always pretty and good for people-watching.
-Go to the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal (www.macm.org (http://www.macm.org)) and look at the Marcel Dzama exhibit.
-Brunch at Reservoir (9 Duluth e.) or else just go for beers - they have their own really good microbrew stuff.
-If you have too many beers: La Banquise (994 Rachel e.) for late-night poutine.
-The absolute opposite of Au Pied de Cochon is Aux Vivres on St-Laurent. Really good cheap vegan food, but get ready to wait in line.
-I also really like Cagibi, which is a little out of the way (5490 St-Laurent) if you're just looking for a coffee or a beer.
-The Word at Milton and Aylmer is one of the best used bookstores here, if you like that kind of thing. And it's on your way if you're going up the mountain.
To add to what other people have said: St. Viateur has better bagels than Fairmount, ten times out of ten. And Disques Sonik is totally fun. If you show up in the middle of the afternoon you can have the culturally enriching experience of getting yelled at by drunk French punk guys!
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Rich people problems!
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Definitely go up the mountain! Pack food and a cheap bottle of non-depanneur wine (don't ever buy wine from a dep! It is paint thinner with grapes. Dep beer is good, though, especially the Unibroue beers with the weird dungeons-and-dragons-looking labels) and go up when it's still light. Then sit at the top and watch all the lights in the city go on. One of the best things about Montreal. Wear your boots, though - I went up last week and the leftover ice and snow from winter haven't totally melted.
Other little things:
-Walk around the Plateau for a couple of hours and look at all the twisty staircases. Also the weather's supposed to be really nice when you're here, so Parc Lafontaine is always pretty and good for people-watching.
-Go to the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal (www.macm.org (http://www.macm.org)) and look at the Marcel Dzama exhibit.
-Brunch at Reservoir (9 Duluth e.) or else just go for beers - they have their own really good microbrew stuff.
-If you have too many beers: La Banquise (994 Rachel e.) for late-night poutine.
-The absolute opposite of Au Pied de Cochon is Aux Vivres on St-Laurent. Really good cheap vegan food, but get ready to wait in line.
-I also really like Cagibi, which is a little out of the way (5490 St-Laurent) if you're just looking for a coffee or a beer.
-The Word at Milton and Aylmer is one of the best used bookstores here, if you like that kind of thing. And it's on your way if you're going up the mountain.
To add to what other people have said: St. Viateur has better bagels than Fairmount, ten times out of ten. And Disques Sonik is totally fun. If you show up in the middle of the afternoon you can have the culturally enriching experience of getting yelled at by drunk French punk guys!
unibrow beer sounds kind of gross.
anyway, there are a whole slew of travel guides on these here forums already.
i might be in barcelona this summer and i'll definitely be in london! fun!
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-The absolute opposite of Au Pied de Cochon is Aux Vivres on St-Laurent. Really good cheap vegan food, but get ready to wait in line.
I highly recommend Aux Vivres and their amazing, amazing BLT sandwich.
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Mmmmm, eyebrow beer.
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This is a bit counterintuitive, but last time I was in Montreal I had the best traditional English breakfast in history at a place called Sparrow, in Mile End (north of the Plateau on St. Laurent). Fancy stuff for meat eaters; if you go there for weekend brunch arrive at least 15 minutes before the doors open at 10.
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Fredericks recommends:
Maudite has a deep amber-red color with a rocky foam head and an appealing aroma of wild spices and floral hop notes.
It is spicy, vinous, and deliciously complex with a crisp hop finish.
Since May 1993 ...MORE
(moe-dzit)
Strong amber-red ale
8% ABV
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Fredericks recommends:
Maudite has a deep amber-red color with a rocky foam head and an appealing aroma of wild spices and floral hop notes.
It is spicy, vinous, and deliciously complex with a crisp hop finish.
Since May 1993 ...MORE
(moe-dzit)
Strong amber-red ale
8% ABV
What the heck, Fredericks? Did you open your own brewery or something??? How are you dropping this knowledge?
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Eli Cannon's is a hint!
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Eli Cannon's is a hint!
Hey, speaking of FOT and travel, I'm gonna be in your neck of the woods, Fredericks...sort of. I'm going to Sanibel Island next week. Never been. Thoughts? Suggestions? I've heard it is pretty and quiet. I've also heard it's uptight and snobby. Which one of these things?
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Fredericks recommends:
Maudite has a deep amber-red color with a rocky foam head and an appealing aroma of wild spices and floral hop notes.
It is spicy, vinous, and deliciously complex with a crisp hop finish.
Since May 1993 ...MORE
(moe-dzit)
Strong amber-red ale
8% ABV
Yes, it's good stuff and it'll knock you on your ass. If you like beer, we've got some interesting breweries and brewpubs here in town. Dieu du Ciel is a great brewpub, in a nice neighbourhood (walkable to most of the record stores etc. mentioned earlier in the thread.)
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Hey, speaking of FOT and travel, I'm gonna be in your neck of the woods, Fredericks...sort of. I'm going to Sanibel Island next week. Never been. Thoughts? Suggestions? I've heard it is pretty and quiet. I've also heard it's uptight and snobby. Which one of these things?
I stayed for a week in a friend's Sanibel condo, many years ago. Wasn't just pretty; it was beautiful. Kayaking was great. Saw tons of dolphins.
As I recall, it was white, uptight and snobby. I didn't let that bother me. Although I'm sure the security guys were glad to see me packing up to leave.
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Hey, speaking of FOT and travel, I'm gonna be in your neck of the woods, Fredericks...sort of. I'm going to Sanibel Island next week. Never been. Thoughts? Suggestions? I've heard it is pretty and quiet. I've also heard it's uptight and snobby. Which one of these things?
I stayed for a week in a friend's Sanibel condo, many years ago. Wasn't just pretty; it was beautiful. Kayaking was great. Saw tons of dolphins.
As I recall, it was white, uptight and snobby. I didn't let that bother me. Although I'm sure the security guys were glad to see me packing up to leave.
Thank you! My kids are gonna be so excited if they see dolphins up close that they'll burst into flames.
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Thank you! My kids are gonna be so excited if they see dolphins up close that they'll burst into flames.
OH! That reminds me, I was down there recently for a work thing, and even though we were staying at a Marriott not on the actual island, it was still gorgeous and I saw dolphins jumping around and breaking the water and stuff. Awesome.
I'll say this about FL though: if you are vegetarian, get used to that one thing on the menu you can eat.
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Thank you! My kids are gonna be so excited if they see dolphins up close that they'll burst into flames.
OH! That reminds me, I was down there recently for a work thing, and even though we were staying at a Marriott not on the actual island, it was still gorgeous and I saw dolphins jumping around and breaking the water and stuff. Awesome.
I'll say this about FL though: if you are vegetarian, get used to that one thing on the menu you can eat.
Thanks for the heads up! I am a vegetarian.
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Thank you! My kids are gonna be so excited if they see dolphins up close that they'll burst into flames.
OH! That reminds me, I was down there recently for a work thing, and even though we were staying at a Marriott not on the actual island, it was still gorgeous and I saw dolphins jumping around and breaking the water and stuff. Awesome.
I'll say this about FL though: if you are vegetarian, get used to that one thing on the menu you can eat.
is it oranges?
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Hey, speaking of FOT and travel, I'm gonna be in your neck of the woods, Fredericks...sort of. I'm going to Sanibel Island next week. Never been. Thoughts? Suggestions? I've heard it is pretty and quiet. I've also heard it's uptight and snobby. Which one of these things?
I stayed for a week in a friend's Sanibel condo, many years ago. Wasn't just pretty; it was beautiful. Kayaking was great. Saw tons of dolphins.
As I recall, it was white, uptight and snobby. I didn't let that bother me. Although I'm sure the security guys were glad to see me packing up to leave.
Thank you! My kids are gonna be so excited if they see dolphins up close that they'll burst into flames.
Sanibel: rent bikes. Its THE way to get around. There might be better prices on bike rental on the mainland than on the island. Look into it, maybe.
Bridge btw mainland Ft. Myers and Sanibel has a toll, be prepared with singles and change. The bridge is kind of pretty, like a sandbar between the mainland the key. Alongside the toll road onto Sanibel proper are some gorgeous places to pull over and admire the gulf. Lots of picture-perfect drift wood and crystal clear water.
There's a casual restaurant named/themed on cow-pies(???) it was FINE, but nothing special. If you are staying in a condo, stock up on staples on the mainland. It's kind of expensive. If you do any supermarketing, you can buy wine/liquor at the market, and if its a fancy one, there's a wine chiller in the store that you can use while doing your other shopping (truth: I kind of love Publix, but it ain't no shop-rite).
There's also a Waffle House close to the car rental places right when you leave the Ft Myers airport.
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Fredericks recommends:
Maudite has a deep amber-red color with a rocky foam head and an appealing aroma of wild spices and floral hop notes.
It is spicy, vinous, and deliciously complex with a crisp hop finish.
Since May 1993 ...MORE
(moe-dzit)
Strong amber-red ale
8% ABV
Can't agree with fonpr more. I also enjoy Unibroue's A Trois Pistoles and Ephemere ale on lees.
If you shop at Trader Joe's, the TJs Special Reserve is actually a licensed Unibroue product.