No Name Hole in Wall? - Rome, Italy

This was where we stayed. Via Borgo. And the restaurant below just across from where we stayed is where a decent pasta dish could be had for a reasonable price, at least by Italian standards.

Does this eatery have a name?

Actually this place must have a name. If I weren't so shaky with the camera, I would have gotten the name.  It was like an oven inside. Italians seem to get along fine in with heat, wearing long pants.

Pasta Bolognese

Pasta Carbonara. Give the Italians credit. They know how to make good pasta.

Pork Sandwich. The pork in the counter tempted us to buy the pork. The pork was delicious and so was the bread but the bread masked the flavors of the pork.

       

Weinerbrod and Hotdogs - Copenhagen, Denmark

With Ida Davidsen closed, we were out of luck and didn't know where to go.  We wandered the street and found this inviting bakery.

Weinerbrod is a traditional flaky pastry with various middle sections like marmalade and cream. Boy were these buttery flakey good! But expensive. This place didn't have any air conditioning. Americans are spoiled with their AC.

We walked back to get our luggage and stopped for a hot dog to tie is over until we got to the ship.

Hot Dogs are traditional fare in Denmark. This was better than most offerings I've had Stateside.

Bacon Dog with the works. A strip of bacon or two is spiraled around the entire length of the dog.


At the Palace

Food in Rome, Italy

I realized after I got back that I didn't get the name of this eatery.


Although it would have been nice to have a sit down meal with pasta, we just had too much on the itinerary. These were a few sandwiches we had while in Rome. Fairly tasty but not memorable. I remember the service more than the taste. Cost per was about 3 Euros.

Cafetaria S. Nicolau - Lisbon, Portugal

I have this recorded as Portugal. Is it? It was a friendly laid back environment but we did see a tourist have her purse snatched.

Two pastelarias. Portugal is known for its Portuguese cream tarts. They were absolutely delicious. One of my favorite desserts if not favorite dessert during the entire trip.




Dinner
Mushroom ravioli

Beef something...

Creme brulee. It wouldn't win any awards but creme brulee is alway creme brulee.

Scorpion on a Stick - Beijing, China

Roasted Scorpion on a Stick. Squid tentacles on a stick. It's unfortunate I didn't photograph other foods on a stick like roasted cicadas, crickets, and lizard. These were not isolated offerings but available in a number of competing stalls in a very well known and packed market square in Beijing.


How about a nice Starfish lollipop?

It was about $2 USD. Now most importantly: Was it good? It was...mmm....I don't know. I chickened out on the scorpion. I had reservations about the poison and passed. I was later told the cooking destroys the poison.

Various Beijing Restaurants - Beijing, China

March 18, 2008

After a few minutes in Beijing, I could only believe money and politics were the reasons the 2008 Olympics would be held here.

Beijing felt like Tim Burton's Gotham City come to life; dark, gray, devoid of joy, populated by people who look through you. Maybe the summer Olympics broadcasters will report on the indomitable spirit and charm of this nation but when you dwell among the people, you are left with a totally different perspective, one that doesn't typify the spirit of an Olympic city.

Now let's turn to the food of Beijing. March 18, 2008 dinner.

We were part of a tour group and meals with the dishes placed on a Lazy Susan. The experience should have been enjoyable and relaxing but we were grouped with gluttons who shoveled the lion's share of food into their bowls and left the crumbs for us dogs. I really don't remember what the food tasted like because our first priority was to grab what we could to fill our stomachs. As such, I took only a few photos of the food and restaurants on this tour.

March 19, 2008 lunch




March 19, 2008 Dinner




At this place pictured above, we ate Peking Duck, the national dish of China (or is it Beijing Duck?).

March 20, 2008 lunch


March 21, 2008 lunch



March 22, 2008 lunch

The guard didn't like me taking pictures.