The hotel first opened in 1929 and was known as the “Number One mansion in the Far East” both for its luxury and for its location. In renovating the property, the designers and architects worked closely with historians to recreate the grandeur of the hotel while bringing it into the modern era.

Guestrooms feature 1930s art deco furnishings and decor, yet include contemporary amenities such as a 37-inch plasma stereo TV, a bath-side LCD screen, Blu-ray DVD player and wireless and broadband Internet with ‘plug-and-play’ connectivity. Additional room amenities include Illy espresso machines, 400-thread-count Egyptian cotton bed linens and exclusive Miller Harris Cologne Series 1888 bath products.

The Fairmont Peace Hotel offers 270 deluxe guestrooms and suites. Six restaurants and lounges are available to guests, including The Jazz Bar, a Shanghai institution since the 1930s. A new extension to the building will house a sky-lit swimming pool and a Willow Stream Spa.

Room rates at the Fairmont Peace Hotel start at RMB 2,300 a night (approximately US $355). Through August 31, 2010, the hotel is running a special introductory 4th night free with all bookings.

I’ve never stayed at this property, but I have stayed at the Fairmont Banff and I can vouch that the service at this chain is top notch. Pair that with such a beautifully restored hotel in a centrally located area of Shanghai and I can imagine this will once again be a very popular place to stay in the city.

On night on our recent trip to Montana, my teenaged daughter announced she wanted to sleep in our Toyota Camry rental car instead of on an Aerobed in the cabin with us. Perhaps she felt the need for some alone time. The next morning, when I peeked in the car window to the backseat where she was still sleeping, I thought  her neck looked a bit cramped and noticed that she had snuggled her face into her hoodie to keep out the early morning light. She did have a pillow and a blanket which were two pluses.

In retrospect, she looked much more comfortable than I was when, years ago, I slept in the back of a Peugot station wagon rental one night in France. Tired and unsure where to stay, and wanting to save money, my traveling companion and I decided to pull off the road.  With only a thin sheet to keep me warm, and no padding to soften the cargo section of the car where I slept, the night wasn’t comfortable.

These two scenerios, my daughter’s and mine, bring up the question. How does one sleep comfortably in a car? Is it possible? My mom, who just drove from New York to Montana and then to Ohio by herself swears by sleeping in the car for an hour or two naps. She was prepared to sleep in the car  before she pulled out of the driveway. Although sleeping in a car will never be the same as sleeping in a bed, here are tips to keep in mind for sleeping comfortably in a car.

This kind works for me

Items you need for a more comfortable rest:

• A pillow
• A blanket or sleeping bag
• Padding. My mom used a matress pad on the back seat. It helps cover the seat belts and gives more of a bed feel.
• A neck pillow, if you’re going to be sleeping sitting up. These look dorky, but they work to keep your head from flopping.
• Comfortable clothes. (Changing into a pair of loose pants and a T-shirt instead of wearing the ones you’ve been sleeping in can signal its time for sleep.)
• If you’re going to sleep sitting up, a pair of socks to keep your feet warm.
• A book to read to help transtion from driving to sleeping.

Things to do to help you sleep:

1. Brush your teeth and wash your face. These help to signal your body it’s time to sleep.

Things to keep in mind:

• It’s not okay to just sleep anywhere.  Store parking lots can work. Ironically, a hotel parking lot could work.
• Park far enough away from other parked cars so you won’t be bothered. Rest stops are fine. Park towards the end of them.
• Consider where the sun will be when you park the car. The sun’s angle can affect your sleep
• If you’re going to sleep sitting up, switch to the passenger side where the seat reclines back.

My mom’s own idea for safety. Bring a life-sized, real looking from a distance, stuffed animal dog with you. Seat belt the dog into an upright position. People might think you’re traveling with a dog. She had fashioned a person from a beauty school manequin head for the trip to Montana. She put sunglasses, a hat and a bandana on the head to up its “real” person factor, but the head kept rolling off the body that she had made out of pillows. The head idea was abandoned for the dog she found in a Missoula, Montana thrift shop.

My mom did stay in hotels at night. She swears by Comfort Inns. Her adventure was fabulous, by the way and the dog is still in her car.

If you prefer to shop online, then The Blade Shop is one store that you should click to get knife that you need. This online store has a wide range of knives for various needs, from home needs to adventure travel needs. You’ll be amazed by product inventory this store has. You could easily find many popular brands such as Al Mar Knives, Gerber Knives, Microtech Knives, Sog Knives, TOPS knives, H&K Knives and many others. Those brands always come with top quality knives, each offers different features. So, you can decide which one is suitable for your need and meets you budget. But before even thing that shopping here is expensive, I am assuring you that their collections come with best prices in the market. They even guarantee their knives are more affordable so that you can make big savings when buying knives from them. You can get free shipping service, if your order is more than $125.

You can get further information on the popular knives that they sell only at Thebladeshop.com. This portal is the site where you can see the products in details such as specifications, price, materials, and warranty information. If you are interested in buying one of the knives, you only need to click the ‘add to cart’ button and they will handle your order as fast as possible. Check this online store and enjoy the convenient shopping.

Bodie, California

The quintessential and most well-preserved of all ghost towns in the USA, Bodie was booming at one time thanks to the nearby mines that drew droves of opportunistic people. However, all good things must come to an end and the surge of population severely taxed Bodie, and it was never the same again. It started to lose prominence and practicality in residents minds and a raging fire that went through most of the downtown business district was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Most of the residents made a quiet exit by 1962, by which time it was anointed the Bodie State Historic Park. The city as it stands today is frozen in time, the deserted streets and the interiors remaining as they were. The life has been sucked dry from Bodie, and never will it return.

San Zhi, Taiwan

Asia is no stranger to ghost cities too, with Taiwan boasting one of its own. The northern city of San Zhi has some of the futuristic looking retreats and homes you will find, but they are all left untouched and unwanted. The reason is simple. A number of fatal accidents during construction and a paucity of funds halted an extremely ambitious project and the few structures that stand proud. Interestingly, the government (which had sanctioned the project initially) distanced itself from everything eventually and no one seems keen to take on the project and finish it or purchase the area and make something of it and so it seems San Zhi’s fate remains to be frozen in its half-finished state forever, a symbol of neglect and step-brotherly treatment from those that mattered.

Varosha, Cyprus

Previously an area frequented by tourists, you might find it hard to believe that Varosha was at one time one of the most sought after destinations for travelers seeking a bit of leisure and luxury. But in the summer of 1974 all of that was to change as the Turkish invaded Cyprus as a direct response to a Greek military supported coup in Cyprus which had been staged by the Cypriot National Guard. The island was torn asunder, and citizens fled as most normally would. Some hoped to return in time after hostilities relaxed, but nothing could have been further from the truth. The Turks converted Varosha into a fortress, lining it in barbed wire and controlling all that enter and exit it. Till date, only the Turks and approved UN personnel have been inside what was once a holidayers paradise. Plans are afoot to reopen the doors of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to the public again, and if true it can’t happen soon enough.

Gunkanjima, Japan

Located a mere 15 kilometers from Nagasaki itself, Gunkanjima (or Hashima Island) was purchased by Mitsubishi in 1890 with the intent of mining coal from the bottom of the sea. Eventually, giving in to pressure, a block of buildings were made to house the workers that did play their trade here and by 1959, the population had swelled to 835 people per hectare which further rose to 1391 per hectare for the residential areas). But fossil fuels are not an inexhaustible means of energy and the moment a suitable alternative was found in the form of petroleum, coal mines began to fold all over Japan. By 1974, Mitusbishi joined the ranks and officially announced the closure of the mines and it lies desolate and decrepit today, unwanted once it had outlived its utility.

Balestrino, Italy

Balestrino is a mystery in that finding anything of note or informative on it is nigh on impossible. There is no reliable data on when the town was established, or why it was abandoned as it was. It is clear from seeing a town plan that the city was quite an active place at one time, housing a church in the lower area and a castle in the higher domains. The town was primarily home to farmers that used the hilly landscape to farm Olive trees, and this is still the main occupation of the people that do still reside there today. It is said that the north-west coast of Italy was hit by a spate of earthquakes in the late nineteenth century, and it can only be presumed that one of these affected Balestrino, although official records indicate no such thing. However, a dip in the population around this time and a surfeit of repairs do fall in line with this story. By 1950, the town was abandoned due to geological reasons and the inhabitants that remain today (some 575 of them) reside in the lower area which is a kilometer or more down the road.

Katoli World, Taiwan

Seeing how our list was rather droll and grim up until this point, let’s add a bit more fun to things by steering away from the township theme for a moment. It is a common occurrence in the Eastern and Western worlds to find amusement parks that have been left to their fate, generally one that is rust-filled and sans any children frolicking around. Normally, the given reason for such an occurrence is a lack of funds swirling around in the amusement park’s coffers. Not this time. Katoli World opened in the mid eighties in Taichung and was famed in the region for its rollercoasters. On September 21st 1999, tragedy struck as a massive earthquake shook the region to its core and thousands were killed as a result of this. However, none of these victims were park visitors as it happened during off hours, but the park itself was a write-off, large parts of it lost forever and it was forced to shut doors, never to hear the tinkling sound of children’s laughter ever again.

Centralia, Pennsylvania

Incorporated as a borough in 1866, Centralia was a hub for the anthracite coal industry until the 1960’s. Since coal was the principal means of employment for most families in the region, the shutdowns at coal mines all over the world hit the area hard since businesses folded at the speed of light. To compound their misery, an exposed vein of coal caught on fire in 1962 and what resulted was a huge underground coal fire that raged throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s. Attempts to put out the fire bore no fruit, and several residents came down with health complications thanks to the carbon monoxide that was produced. In 1979, when a fuel station claimed temperatures of gasoline had touched 77.8°C, many finally sat up and took note of the gravity of the situation. The near-death of a 12 year old child that was saved from plunging into a suddenly created sinkhole was the straw that broke the camels back. $42 million was spent on relocation, and only a handful of people now remain in the Pennysylvania borough.

Yashima, Japan

A plateau that stretches out to sea, Yashima was the scene of a legendary battle that took place in 1185 during the Genpei war. Yashima temple is a well known Shikoku pilgrimage, an island that is to the southwest of Yashima. Today, it is the only thing drawing in the crowds but it was not so at one time. Japan, as you might remember, had enjoyed a renaissance period in the mid-eighties when the sky was the limit for a buoyant nation. It was with this as the backdrop that the people of Takamatsu took a leap of faith and decided to use the plateau as a tourism destination, and so money was poured into developing the sacred land. Hotels, parks, trails, aquariums; no expense was spared. And then, everyone had an epiphany and realized a view of rock quarry isn’t exactly tourism worthy. Consequently, visitor footfalls dropped as millions of Yen were lost and so all the hotels and shops that lined the plateau shut down, bringing a premature end to a story of promise.

Pripyat, Ukraine

The Zone of Alienation. Why doesn’t it surprise us that an abandoned city exists over here? Located in Northern Ukraine very near the border with Belarus, the city was once home to a populace exceeding 50,000 and most of these people used to work at Chernobyl. Everyone knows what happened at Chernobyl over in 1986, so we’ll digress a bit from the history lesson and simply tell you that Pripyat was abandoned due to fear of radiation. And so Pripyat remains the perfect slice of Soviet life, preserved for posterity. That was until the beginning of the turn of the millennium, when the place was ransacked and nothing was left behind. Ravaged by fates, ravaged by mankind, Pripyat will not be safe to stay in for still several more years and perhaps even longer than that until people feel safe to come stay here at all. The power plant was about to built close to Kiev when public dissent changed the mind of those that mattered. In the end, it was a timely decision that saved countless generations of lives.

Craco, Italy

Located at the heel of Italy some 25 miles inland from the Gulf of Taranto, the region is typified by long, undulating hills that are beneficial for farming of wheat and other crops. Craco has a long-running history with the church, dating back to when the land itself was owned by Archbishop Arnaldo and it can be safely said that the church has had great authority over the inhabitants of the area down the ages. Back in 1891, Craco’s population was pegged at more than 2000 people. This was a time when problems began to arise, and poor agricultural conditions only compounded this issue. Add a major war, earthquakes and landslides to the equation and you can begin to understand the strife faced by the region over the course of a coupe of decades from 1892 to 1922. Between 1959 and 1972, three more earthquakes rocked Craco and by 1963 the last of the natives moved out, leaving Craco in a state of desolation today.

You do not have to buy flat Kolea condos than to enjoy his home, Maui condo rentals and are not as expensive as you might think they are. Do not let this mean that all the renting of houses on the beach in Maui Condo and other types of homes for cheap rent. As goes real estate, Maui is not a cheap place to ownership of any lot, but Hawaii property values in the first place high, if not you can get rid of too much care about the property is not that you want. Maui is home to some of the best views of the Pacific Ocean out there.

Toronto is known to be the largest city in Canada and the provincial capital of Ontario. The city is rich with amazing places to visit and extraordinary attractions to explore.

Some of the major tourist attractions in Toronto are the amusement water parks, art galleries, movie theaters, entertainment complexes, festivals and events, gardens and parks, heritage sites, historical landmarks, markets, museums, space and nature, spas, wineries and breweries, and zoos.

Bingemans is the largest and the most popular waterpark in Toronto. This waterpark offers amazing fun for those who are visiting this place with their family. There are many amazing water rides and a camp area or more popularly known as the “Camping Resort” which is situated on the banks of the Grand River, and a golf course and an indoor children’s playcentre.

Fallsview Indoor Waterpark stretches upto three acres, and has many rides and which are simply amazing.  The major attractions in the waterpark are the Falls Avenue Entertainment Complex, and features almost sixteen thrilling slides which are upto six stories high, a giant wave pool, two oversized only adult Jacuzzis, Mammoth play area, tiny tots Splash Park, and an outdoor sun deck and an activity pool.

Apart from the amusement parks, there are a number of art galleries also. The Art Gallery at Ontario is the most famous and the popular one. This art gallery is home to 73,000 works and houses an award winning and a street front two floor retail store.

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir and the Museum of Cultural Heritage of Indo- Canadians is a cultural place to discover and experience the 10,000 year old art and architecture.

Other than the art galleries and amusement parks, there are many heritage sites too. The Black Creek Pioneer Village is the most authentic and the most amazing one. When you step into this village, you get a glimpse of the 1860’s hamlet. There are many lodges in the area where you can stay and taste the local food.

Casa Loma is a former estate of the Canadian financier, Sir Henry Pellatt. This place houses the decorated suites, a 800- foot tunnel and towers.

Apart from that, there are some great museums where you can visit. The most popular and the most famous museum is the Canadian Air & Space Museum. This museum houses some of the best collections of science and adventure and rare aircrafts.

These are some of the very interesting places to visit in Toronto. This place is simply amazing and there are many tourist destinations.

If you wish to head toranto for some shopping, the most ideal place is the downtown and some flea markets in the area. There are many shopping malls in the city and you can get the best branded stuff there.

A must try out is the local cuisine of the place, which is available on the restaurants in the downtown.

Well, that was kind an old story. Now you can feel worry no more, since there is a smart application for BlackBerry that will free your time in managing business travel. Only with one application, you can manage your itinerary, search for flights, search for best hotels, book for restaurants and shopping centers, and a lot of more.

This BlackBerry application has so many functional features with user-friendly design and easy-to-use navigation.  Take TripCatch for instance. This feature allows you to identify travel confirmation emails and syncs them to your itinerary without need to forward confirmation emails.

There is also Automated Flight Alerts that enables you to automatically check all upcoming flight’s status.  If there any delayed or cancelled, this feature will send an alert status direct to your BlackBerry. So, you can catch another flight easily while on the go without being trapped in a hustle.  What’s more? This application is equipped with over 800 airlines schedule from the Official Airline Guide’s database (OAG).

Travel is supposed to be fun. Therefore, Yelp Local Search is designed to help you find restaurants, night-clubs and business wherever you go. You can reserve a fine-dining restaurant or compare reviews of night-clubs before deciding where to spend the groovy night. And what makes it more comfortable is, you can do it without afraid of getting lost. Thanks to its Maps and Direction feature.

So, with just one BlackBerry application you will have a full control of your business itinerary. And most importantly, it’s fun and easy as a click-thru. Go check it for yourself, and have a good business itinerary ahead.

Bangkok is known to be not only the capital city of Thailand, but also the cultural capital in the country. There are many remarkable places where you can visit here and also have some great fun.

Some amazing tourist places in Bangkok includes the Grand Palace, Temple of the Dawn or Wat Arun, Chatuchak Market, Jim Thompson House, Chao Phraya River, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Suan Lum Night Bazaar, Bung Sam Lan Lake, Chinatown, Flower Market and the Floating Market.

These are some of the amazing places to visit in Bangkok.

The Grand Palace is an amazing place that tourists must not forget to visit when they are in Bangkok. The Palace is located on the eastern banks of the Chao Phraya River and covers almost 218400 sq mts. This palace was built in the year 1782 and served as the home for the Thai king for almost 150 years. The Royal Court and the administrative seat of the government. This Grand Palace is a beautiful piece of architecture and continues to be an intricate one. This Grand Palace is considered to be one of the most amazing and the most creative piece of craftsmanship in Bangkok.

The Temple of the Dawn is another place which is of prominent importance. This temple is located on the western banks of the Chao Phraya River in the Yai District and is considered to be one of the most historic and the heritage tourist destination in Bangkok. This temple is known as the temple of dawn since the first rays of the sun gets reflected from the surface of the temple.

The Chatuchak Market is considered to be the largest market not only in Bangkok but also in the entire country of Thailand. This market is one of the main attractions of this place and there are many things which are sold here. From clothes to household stuff, there are many things which are sold in the market here.

The Chao Phraya River is one of the most prominent and the most popular river in Bangkok. The name of the river means, “Lord” or “General”. This river is also many times as the “River of the Kings”. This river is simply the most important and the most attractive tourist destination in Bangkok.

Jim Thompson House is a museum which is located along a canal in Bangkok. This house is a great piece of architecture and is one of the most renowned places to visit in Bangkok. This house is also considered to be one of the most oldest constructions in the city.

Temple of the Emerald Buddha, also known as Wat Phra Kaeo popularly, is located on the same campus of the Grand Palace. This temple is regarded as the most “valued temple which features the magnificent Emerald Buddha”. This statue of Lord Buddha dates back to somewhere around the 14th century.

The Ancient Market is another destination which is located in the southeastern part of Bangkok. This place is considered to be one of the largest open air museum in Bangkok, where you can spend your time reading, and researching and accumulating more knowledge about the place.

These are some of the most remarkable and the most interesting locations to visit in Bangkok.

Apart from this, there are a number of places where you can reside in Bangkok.

Accommodation

There are a number of places in Bangkok where you can put up. There are some amazing hotels, resorts and lodges located in the city. These are some of the best places where you should be looking at, since staying somewhere in the remote part of the city might be inconvenient for you. There are public modes of transportation available within the city limits and these hotels and resorts are accessible from the tourist areas.

Dining

There are a couple of places where you can get great Thai cuisine. Also, multicuisine is also available in some of the hotels and restaurants in the city. But, a must try out is the amazing Thai cuisine.

Bangkok is definitely an amazing destination to visit in Thailand. This place is surely the best to visit with your family and friends.

Water sports, beautiful marine life, and a great fusion of cultures and cuisines of India, Africa and Europe. Secluded lush green region in the insides of the island make way for waterfalls and hidden water springs. Also put on display are the portraits of the dodos which make us think of the future of the great Indian tiger.

History:

The prince of Orange, Maurice of Nassau gave the island nation its name. Controversy is at the helm of the discovery of the island. The Malay traders and Arab merchants claim to have been aware of the Islands existence since the 10th century. According to history the first to colonize the island were the Dutch.

Location:

The island of Mauritius lies in the Indian Ocean. On the map of the world it is a small speck of land floating in the ocean. The hot summer season is from the month of November to April. And the warm months are from May to October.

Sight seeing:

Shopping is never out of the schedule here in Mauritius. Intricate models of Ancient ships make for great souvenirs. Luxury wear, great clothing of suits, trousers, dresses, shirts, swimwear of European brands cost one third of their price here. A memento of the extinct dodo bird makes for great gifts. Vanilla tea, rum, spices, and Mauritian fruit pastes are also good buys.

You can see rare kestrel, the pink pigeon, and Aldabra giant tortoise at the Ile aux Aigrettes. These are protected species which are cared for by the Mauritius Wildlife Fund which has international standards for safe being of endangered species.

Grand bay is a Mecca for shopping, restaurants, discos and bars which liven up the nightlife. One can also indulge in windsurfing, water skiing and sailing. The Pereybere Public Beach is the best stop for bathing activities. Belle Mare has miles and miles of sandy beaches with Casuarinas trees beautifying them.

Plush waterfront shopping complex of Central market is located in the capital city of Port Louis. Chinatown, the bustling modern markets, serene harbors earned Port Louis the title of Star and key of the Indian Ocean.

Beautiful tea plantations, awe inspiring views are common in Trou-aux-Cerfs. The naval Museum is a must see for the local history.

Food:

The people who have made the vacation island their home; have brought their unique cultures and cuisine here as well. The Indian Ocean cuisine favorite is the rougaille in which the chief ingredient is Tomato. Mauritian styled Biryani is a delectable rice, meat and vegetables affair.

‘Naked noodles’ is a local Chinese dish known as ‘mines touni’. The French fricassee is local favorite dish made up of bats. A paradise for sea food lovers where fresh oysters, shrimps, crabs, crayfish, prawns and many other varieties are all vying for your attention.

‘Heart of a palm tree’ is an expensive delicacy which along with sauce rouge and other sea food make the Millionaire’s Salad. Tamarind juice or the Alouda drink can help quench your thirst in the hot sun.

Dining out in Madrid

When it comes to eating, it’s hard to find anything to dislike in Madrid. One of Spain’s great inventions is the menu del dia – a three course meal, often with a drink thrown in, for around EUR10 to 15. That’s lunch taken care of quite beautifully, and when it comes to the evening, there are tapas.

The word ‘tapa’ in Spanish means ‘lid’. It is thought that tapas originated when drinks were served out in the dusty, fly-blown open. The theory goes that people used bits of bread to put over their drinks and keep them clean, and things gradually developed from there.

How Tapas Works

Of course, tapas is no longer a concept limited to the Iberian Peninsula. The concept has spread worldwide, but while you’ll go to a tapas restaurant elsewhere, in Spain the idea is still to eat the small dishes throughout the evening.

Of course, there’s no set way of doing things. At some old fashioned joints, you’ll sit at the bar and they’ll throw the odd morsel on a plate towards you as you drink. In other bars, you pick out what you want, either from the menu or the display cabinet on the bar. Sometimes it’s free, sometimes it isn’t and sometimes it can be darned expensive – depending on what you’re choosing.

Some places are almost restaurant-style, some look like they haven’t changed in years and some are adding contemporary twists to famous recipes in stylish environments. The joy, of course, is flitting between them, trying a bit of everything as you embark upon a rollicking good night out.

Tapas Crawling

It’s possible to do a tapas bar crawl in almost every area of Madrid. Near the centre, Chueca, Malasana and Huertas are almost overflowing with options, but the classic route is through the La Latina barrio.

Calle de la Cava Baja, in particular, is ready made for a bar crawl. It has a mixture of vibes, but is widely regarded to have many of the best tapas joints in town. On a Friday and Saturday, the street can be absolutely heaving with people.

You most certainly don’t need a guide to enjoy a great night out, but where a guided tapas tour comes in handy is picking out specific bars and allowing you to learn about the differences in tapas culture across Spain.

The Asturian Sidreria

Our first stop was at a traditional sidreria – El Escarpin. Cider is a big deal in Asturias, northern Spain, but before you can drink it, you need to learn how to pour it. The Asturians pour the cider from on high in order to let the cloudy, sediment-heavy drink release its flavour molecules and gain a bit of fizz. Alas, for the clumsy, this means a lot ends up on the floor.

Asturias also produces some rather magical tapas dishes, as we soon discovered. Cabrales cheese is not for the faint-hearted. It’s a rich blue cheese, traditionally made with both cow and sheep milk and left to mature in a cave with mushroom in the middle. Mash it up with some of the cider, however, and it’s delicious. So too are the potatoes with a buttery olive-oil taste, and the slow-cooked chorizo which are quite unlike any other chorizo I’ve ever tasted. It’s soft, almost gamey. And, of course, it’s cooked in cider.

El Madroño

Our second stop was for a palate-cleanser. El Madroño is one of the few places remaining that still sells madroño liqueur. It is made from the berries of the tree of the same name – and the tree has long been a symbol of Madrid. The shots are served in wafer cups coated with chocolate and the drop is actually rather nice. Bottles are on sale for 8.50 euros if anyone really takes a shine to it.

El Lacon and the divine dogfish

Stop number three was at El Lacon. It’s a bit of an old school place with waiters clad in black bow ties and a ceiling that wouldn’t look out of place in a Tudor house. They’ve got some pretty good wines in stock, and it seems as though the more you splash out on the wine, the more free food they’ll give you. We ended up with eight tapas ranging from a chick pea stew to an empanada. Again, they were mostly delicious. But when we actually got round to buying one, I found a new favourite. I’ve no idea what it was called, but I could have happily eaten the little chunks of breaded dogfish soaked in a divine vinegar dressing all night.

Bring on the Octopus…

From there, we headed to Cerveceria Cervantes. The name may suggest a beer-swiller’s paradise, but you only need to look at the octopus legs in the window and aging hams hanging up on the wall to know that it takes its food rather seriously.

We picked a mushroom dish that manages to appease even those who aren’t too keen on mushrooms, plus the big one: octopus. It comes with potatoes, salt crystals and paprika – and boy it’s good.

Rapidly devoured dishes in El Lacon

By now, this doesn’t come as a surprise. The quality of food in Madrid is absolutely sensational. It’s a place where every tiny bar – and there are supposedly more bars here than in any other city on the planet – has its own specialties. Hopping between them is a joy, but to get a lesson in the tapas of the various Spanish regions and to have gorgeous backstreet tabernas and cervecerias pointed out to you is a real treat. It’s a uniquely Spanish bar crawl – and one where cheese and seafood are far more important than beer and shots.

- David Whitley