India offers you a great variety to enjoy new and exquisite flavors. A good example of this is the Jalebi, which is one of the most representative and popular sweets of India. You can find it everywhere and it is popular during festivals and celebrations. It's composition is similar to a fried dough dipped in sugar syrup normally in a circular shape. Its flavor will leave you with the feeling of wanting more and more!
It is believed that the jalebi is native to northern India, probably in the region of Punjab. The jalebi is sold in the Halwai shops. South India have a similar sweet called the jangiri. The name in Persian for jalebi is Zulbiaj. The Maghrebi name for jalebi is Zlabia.

Diversity of cultures, populations, ethnic groups, influences, to which colonization must be added for several centuries. The sum of culinary practices and ingredients in India for centuries and centuries have left a wealth difficult to overcome. What follows is just a small selection of traditional dishes with a high probability of being found in street stalls and restaurants on a trip through India. The best street food in Delhi is definitely in Old Delhi in Chandni Chowk. It really is worth trying some just to taste the different flavors and spices of India. Do not look too much.



If you are familiar with the area, it is a good idea to take a guided walking tour as it is very busy and you can easily feel overwhelmed. This old Delhi street food tour offered by Travel India is an option.

1. Best Jalebis: Old famous Jalebi Wala

On the corner of Dariba Kalan with Chandni Chowk, under a sign that announces that they are the oldest and most famous jalebis shop in the city, they hide under a cotton cloth probably the best jalebis in the city. The stop consists of a large kadai for frying, an area dedicated to the samosas and the corner entirely dedicated to the jalebi. Little more than three meters of facade and three or four workers.

According to what they told us, the recipe is secret. The owners bring it in two shifts in the morning and afternoon, and in the post they are finished and fried. It is a spectacle in itself to see the whitish mass sizzle, taking orange tones, twisting spirally. A popular sweet treat, sweet jalebis are made from fried dough soaked in syrup. It is more forgiving than in ancient famous Jalebi Wala it is fried in pure desi ghee. They are thicker than usual and have been prepared according to the same exclusive family recipe during the last century.

2. Best Parantha: Paranthe Wali Gali

Historical Paranthe Wali Gali became a recognized gourmet place after its parantha shops opened there in the 1870s. Some of them still exist, including Pandit Gaya Prasad Shiv Charan (1872), Pandit Kanhaiya Lal and Durga Prasad Parantha store (1875) and of Pandit Babu Ram Devi Dayal (1886).

The aloo parantha, gobi parantha and matar parantha are the most popular. However, these days it is possible to obtain a wide variety of lentils filled with nuts.

3. Best Kachori: Jung Bahadur Kachori Wala

Located near Paranthe Wali Gali, Jung Bahadur Kachori Wala is a small (not much more than a hole in a wall) very popular street stall that has been serving kachoris sought since the early 1970s.

What's good: Kachori stuffed with urad dal and served with special spicy chutney.

4. Best Kulfi: Kuremal Mohan Lal Kulfi

When it comes to kulfi (ice cream), some of the best has been made by the Kuremal family in Old Delhides from the early 1900s. There are more than 50 eclectic flavors to choose from, including Tamarind, mango, pomegranate and pâan.

What is good: the orange and mango filled with mango juice. The interior of the fruit is extracted in part and filled with mango juice. Yum!

5. Best Aloo Chaat: Bishan Swaroop

Bishan Swaroop can be hard to find but it's worth the effort. It's tucked away in one of the rebellious side streets of Chandni Chowk, which helps maintain an old-world feel (it's been in business since 1923, after all). There are only three types of dishes from the letter-chaat of aloo (potato) and kulla aloo chaat of fruit. However, what makes this place, it does well. If you like potatoes, do not miss it!

What's good: the kulla aloo (boiled potatoes that has been scooped out and filled with chickpeas and decorated with lemon and spices).

6. Best fruit Chaat: Jugal Kishore Ramji Lal

Amid the sights and sounds of Chandni Chowk, this place is renowned for its refreshing fruit chaat. The family that runs it has been in business for four generations. While you're there stop for a classic cup of chai at nearby Satguru tea stand.

What's good: the fruit chaat (fruit salad with a twist) is the specialty here.

7. Best Papri Chaat: Shree Balaji Chaat Bhandar

If the sign of a good place to eat is its popularity with people, then this store has to be one of the best places for the chaat in Old Delhi. Its decoration is average but it serves a great variety of delicious snacks. Adventurous eaters should try it.

What's good: papri chaat (crunchy fried dough wafers, served with boiled potatoes, cooked chickpeas, chilies, spicy yogurt and tamarind sauce).

8. Best market: Prince Paan and Chaat corner

This market is ideal for those who want to taste delicious street food in Delhi but are not willing to venture into the depths of Chandni Chowk. It has a large expatriate follow-up due to its elegant residential and commercial location and strict hygiene regulations.

What is good: the gappas (crispy fried peel filled with an aqueous mixture of potato, Chile and Tamarindo), also known in other parts of India as pani puri.

One of the must-sees in Tokyo is the fabulous Tsukiji Market, located in the center of Tokyo. Although one is not fond of Japanese food or markets in general, it is a unique experience of forced attendance. The Tsukiji Market is the largest fish market in the world and over the years has become one of the most longed for visits when one steps on the capital of Japan.

The first time I entered at 5 in the morning and left after 10. I went through every point of the internal market (now closed to the public until 9 in the morning). And the auction of tuna (at that time without restrictions of any kind) was a real spectacle. The second time I entered at 9 in the morning and toured the inside of the market until after 11. And in this third time, I went twice. In the first, I went through the whole foreign market and in the second I went back to the tuna auction.

At 3 o'clock in the morning, the movement of the trucks that unload the fish coming from any part of the world begins. 3,000 tons pass through the market every day and you can find around 450 species of fish and shellfish. If you can eat or cook and you do not find it in Tsukiji, it does not exist or it is not from this planet.

The market is made up of two large areas: wholesaler with license (in the interior) and wholesale and retail sales (abroad). In the interior zone, it has had restricted access for a few years until 9 in the morning, except for the 120 people who can enter to see the auction (at 5:25 and 5:50).

It is always under the strict control of access where licensed wholesalers (about 900) operate their businesses and where the auction of tuna takes place. The outside is a mix of wholesale and retail sales where you can find everything. There is fish, Japanese cooking utensils, food, packaged products, sauces, condiments, household goods and/or trade, fruits, and vegetables.

And this is where we also find (although inside the internal market there are also) the numerous restaurants and food stalls where any type of Japanese food is served. There is ramen, tempura, sushi, sashimi, and tamagoyaki. What any traveler and tourist in the world (and also from other parts of Japan) wants to see there in the first place, is the auction of tuna.

Every day, between 5:00 and 7:00 in the morning, hundreds of tuna are auctioned (the frozen ones are covered with a thin frozen layer) that are placed and numbered throughout the warehouse used for this purpose. The tuna weigh between 400 and 700 kilos and are placed in rows according to their size. Little by little they will lose the white layer and they will recover their natural color.

Then there is the inspection of the appraisers, who section the tails of the tuna to obtain samples in the form of fillets, where these expert cutters armed with a metal hook and a flashlight can see the quality of each tuna.

These samples reveal the veins of white fat contained in each specimen: the more abundant the better quality the specimen is and the more expensive it is sold. The samples are placed either on the same tuna or on an elongated table with a mark of the specimen to which they belong. The next act is one of the most spectacular. The auction of each copy or batch of copies.

Small groups are formed around wholesalers (many of them climbed on a stool) who sing the auction of each piece or lot of tuna. Buyers with a license to participate in the auctions are dressed in distinctive hats and bid with very quick gestures to the wholesaler. This show has no waste and is a continuous scream, gesticulate, point, write, mark, etc. In a hurry and without rest. There are intermediate wholesalers with businesses within the same market, restaurant agents, and large supermarkets.

Here nobody wastes their time. They told me there is a very special jargon between seller and buyer so that the final price is secret. The best pieces go to the best restaurants and the buyers move along the ship searching for the specimens that they have selected to bid as the batches are liquidated. From bigger to smaller. While the auctions take place (not everything is sold), the transfer begins on carts loaded by the operators of the market.

They go to three different places. One, to the trucks that distribute the pieces in the hundreds of restaurants and shops in Tokyo and surrounding areas that are waiting to receive the product in order to start making their culinary creations. Two to the shops and stalls that there are throughout the market (interior and exterior) and three, to a room of mechanized ronqueo, where they are cut and chopped.

Here the noise and the rhythm are enormous as mechanical saws cut the half-frozen tuna in half. It is part of the market where the tuna is cut, it is only accessible from 9:00 o'clock and at that hour it is very difficult to find any large tuna piece being torn apart. Why? Well, because a few years ago a series of imbeciles decided to start bothering the staff working there, which local authorities were forced to limit and prohibit access in this area. People got into the tuna, played them, used flash, etc.

Come on, there was no respect for the people who make their living there. He was not going any more were some Englishmen who took some motorized cars and they dedicated themselves to make the hooligan by the market. This was the point at which it was said enough. But the pressures by the enormous popularity that the visit has for the tourist, they forced to return to allow the visit inside the market, but under a strict control of attendance and behavior.

These restrictions are going to produce the effect that they seek: that the interest in going away will be lost because it will not be worth it. And if I'm honest, I think they're going to get it because the subject has changed a lot. Too. The amount of tuna and sellers/buyers participating in the auction has decreased considerably (you only have to compare the photos from 2005 and 2012) with what the show has also suffered and every time it goes down.

Throughout the morning and part of the morning, the tunas (and any living marine bug) are cut, sliced, filleted and prepared for resale. Here, everything is used. These experts and specialized masters cut the tuna loins with huge knives with a wooden handle. Some measure more than 1 meter (depending on your specialty within the market, you have a knife and it is so sharp, that nothing has to envy to a katana) and it takes two people to make the cut.

Each part of the tuna is harvested and sold according to its quality. In the showcases of many of the stalls (both inside and outside) the parts of each tuna are exposed to their corresponding price according to the quality.

As I mentioned the position where I had breakfast, it had 40 different varieties of tuna with which they make sushi. There is nothing. Although any animal is cut, it is worth observing that of the eel, since you have to have a lot of skill to do it well.



In addition to the tuna ships, there is a huge number of fishmonger stalls in the Tsukiji market where they exhibit all kinds of marine animals and exotic species. Although there are also numerous sites that sell other types of non-marine products. All kinds of fish and seafood are sold and super fresh, thanks to the fact that almost the place is connected to the seawater by a key and air pipes with oxygen. Each position of sale (be it the product that is) places the genre taking care of the presentation and packaging (there is so much competition that the first impression is very important).

Despite the hustle and bustle of movement, everything is extremely clean and tidy. You do not find remains or large puddles although it is not recommended to go in flip-flops. And it does not smell fishy compared to the markets around here.And they smoke anywhere.

There are no restrictions on this. And it is very surprising because there is so much care in the whole process that it is shocking that in the middle of a sales point there is an uncle who gives the cigar. A separate commentary deserves the mountains of hundreds of white boxes of polystyrene piled up in different points of the market and the mini motor cars that are everywhere. These cars are the most dangerous and you have to be careful, because if they can section a leg.

They are like bulls looking for a piece of gore. Unbridled fury in pursuit of blood. The blood of the absent-minded and distracted tourist who has gotten into the mouth of the wolf. There are those who go with a lot of bad milk, partly because they are fed up with the tourist bothering them while they work and partly because their obligation is to deliver the goods as quickly as possible. And if you are in the middle of your path, you are a hindrance.

Or would it not bother you that in your workplace there were hundreds of Japanese taking pictures around you every day of the year? We would end up crazy. The cars move at full speed and appear from nowhere with what is always advisable to be stuck to the wall and not in the middle of the corridors, although there are so narrow that either they pass or you have to hide. To situate yourself in a point of the market and dedicating yourself to observe the activity of the market is also highly recommendable. It is a chaotic order or an orderly chaos. It depends on how you look at it.

You always have the strange feeling of being observed but never without getting to offend. It's like a double showcase: you look but they also watch you, although in a more indiscreet way. That's the way it is all the time.

Except for the tuna area, this foreign market is accessible without any restriction, being a mess of streets and alleys where there is everything. There is the crustacean, mollusk (giant oysters larger than the hand), fish, algae, fruits, vegetables, knives, wooden utensils, clothes, household goods, etc.

In this outdoor area is where more and more people are wandering in any corner. Surely with time will also put restrictions. Market activity declines around 8 in the morning and at 11 it closes most of the stores. How is it said around here, at this time all the fish is sold.

Going through the interior streets, I discovered two different places that are dedicated to manually elaborate the famous Japanese omelet (tamagoyaki), which is made with square or rectangular pans. I was mesmerized by the process of elaboration.

After enjoying so much marine animal and other edibles, it is worth eating in one of the hundreds of places that are found in the streets and adjoining alleyways. Small establishments where fish is served for breakfast (or other delicacies according to the preferences of each one) open very early. Narrow bars and tiny tables that fill with workers and visitors. The freshness and texture of the sushi here, I'm sorry but it's awesome.

It tastes different Maybe it's the magic and the charm of the place. Or maybe you're so predisposed that everything is more tasty. There are kicks of locals with more or less names. This last time I ate at a very small one called Okame, in Shin-Ohashi Dori almost in the corner with Harumi Dori and that is easily recognizable because it has on top (or in the business next door) a huge fish in three dimensions. There will be better, sure, but to lose two or three hours waiting in line to eat in a certain place, I find it a waste of time.

They say that to remember is to live again and with the many photos that I always take my travels, it is for sure that I love to remember and go back to those beautiful places I have visited again. For years, my mother and I have enjoyed 2 popular desserts like the galub jamun and rasgulla.

Rasgulla is a white ball made with Indian cheese called chhena, like paneer. It is made from whole milk to which is added a little lemon juice or rennet to thicken and then made into a ball. It is bathed in sugar syrup until the syrup completely impregnates the balls and some people flavor it with a pinch of saffron or cardamom. The result is a spongy, soft delight, a sweet snack that nobody can resist. Both are served warm and are delicious!

Among the variants are Kheer Mohan, Rasmalai, where the syrup is replaced with sweet milk, and Kamala Bhog. Between the states of West Bengal and Orissa, the origin is disputed, but now you can taste many types of Rasgulla across the country, even in cans. In Bengal and Orissa, it is creamier and softer. Often it is offered at festivals and other social events are so popular that Indian astronauts who traveled into space in 2016 included in their diet in dehydrated form.



It is difficult to determine the caloric intake of a ball of Rasgulla. It may vary according to the type of milk with which it is made and its size. The estimated average is 186 calories per serving, 9% of a standard 2,000-calorie diet.

Rasgulla is a light and refreshing dessert perfect to eat after a spicy curry filled dinner. One of the early pioneers of wet curd was a seller of sweets called Haradhan Moira, who was probably the first to introduce the sweet in Bengal.

In 1868, Nobin Chandra Das, a sweet seller of Calcutta, simplified the original dish so that it could be prepared in the kitchen of any house. He was largely responsible for incorporating the rasgulla to the local palate. The son of Nobin Chandra Das, K. C. Das, began a large-scale production of the sweet, possibly leading to its greater availability.

In northern India, the sweet is flavored with saffron, rosewater and is sometimes garnished with chopped pistachios. The rasgulla is the precursor of many other Indian delicacies such as rasmalai, raskadam, chamcham, Pantua and malai chop. The rasgulla along with the Sandesh and mishti doi forms the trinity of classical Bengali desserts. In the Kamala bhog, an orange extract is mixed with chhena and is commonly sold in Bengal. In Nepal, the rasgulla is popular under the name of Rasbari.

A similar dish rasmalai has become very popular in India, mainly due to the efforts of confectioners KC Das, Ganguram, and Bhim Nag. In this dish, the syrup is replaced with a sweetened milk of a finer consistency. The malai chop, an invention of Kolkata, is prepared with chhena, which is sandwiched with a layer of sweetened clotted cream. In the Bengali Pantua, chhena balls are fried in oil before being soaked in syrup.

Hello, I hope you're craving for a delicious dessert. Some time ago I had the opportunity to try some rasgullas. I can only say that I fell in love with them. I have always thought that nations are also known for their cuisine. At some point you can feel the temperament and passion of the people involved in the creation of a dish.

On this occasion I want to talk about the rasgulla which is a dessert that I find delicious consisting of a syrupy cheese . It is very popular in India and in South Asia. It is from this dish that other delights like the rasamalai, the rasgulla with the chhena gaja, and gulab jamun together form the classic desserts of Bengal.

In India, sweets are not eaten as a dessert. They are only eaten on special occasions. Most of these contain milk, and sugar. They are definitely a delicacy.

The rasgulla has been the traditional offering to Lakshmi, the goddess of beauty, good luck and fertility. She is something like Venus for the Romans or Aphrodite for the Greeks. Being aware of the history of the recipes and the circumstances in which they arose, should make us respect their creators more.

Rasgulla is an Indian dairy dessert made with a type of fresh cheese known as chhena. It is made from whole milk to which a bit of lemon juice or rennet is added so that it thickens to later form a ball. It is taken bathed in syrup or sugar syrup and some people season it with a hint of saffron or cardamom. The result is a fluffy and smooth delight, a sweet snack that no one can resist.

The states of West Bengal and Orissa dispute their origin, although now you can taste many types of rasgulla throughout the country, even in cans. In Bengal they like whitish and elastic while Orissa takes them creamier and softer. People often offer at festivals or other social events and are so popular that Indian astronauts who traveled into space in 2016 included them in their diet in a dehydrated form.

Over the years, I have been blessed to travel so much that I have never bought a souvenir from every trip I make for my family. It may sound a bit harsh, but if my loved ones get used to that, it would be an additional pressure on every trip to bring something for them. If I find something nice to remind me of someone, perfect. But I do not feel obligated to bring anything for anyone. For years I have seen these balls packed in cans to carry and it was not until now that decided to buy some and bring them with me. You can get them at any candy store, especially at airports.

Peru receives me with a slogan that seems to presage interesting emotions, at least for the palate. I spent a good time of my stay to savor and enjoy the delicious and sophisticated Peruvian cuisine. Lima is a city where it does not rain, surrounded by a desolate desert landscape.

We landed in Lima at 07:30 in the evening with the eyes cast between fatigue after 16 hours of flight. The city of Lima would be the ephemeral point of departure, of a trip through Peru that filled us with anxiety and expectation. We had decided to sleep overnight in the so-called Miraflores neighborhood.

Because of the fatigue, I only remember having negotiated the taxi with a shotgun face, and head to the hotel in the Miraflores neighborhood. During the journey and because of fatigue, I forced myself to observe for the first time the Peruvian capital. With glazed and irritated eyes, a flowery place with a strange monument caught my attention. The taxi driver told me without asking what it was about the park of love!

Day 1

After spending the night at the hotel in Lima, we wanted to take advantage of the morning to visit the Miraflores neighborhood. During breakfast at the hotel, we met a girl, a little lost in life. She did not remember from where she came from or what she did in Peru exactly. We also shared a table with a cyclist who was traveling the world on his bicycle. These are tories that are only heard when we travel.

Without the exhaustion of the previous day, I was able to remember many details of the arrival in Lima. The energy and enthusiasm of the trip to Peru resumed to their highest level. I remembered then that I lowered the price of the taxi to half (with the face of a shotgun).

We only had the morning for a march through the Miraflores neighborhood. We intended to complete the visit to the city of Lima quietly at the end of the trip. Though a little lethargic because of jet lag, we walked in search of the malecon and the Peruvian sea.

This is how we arrived at the Salazar park to realize that the Miraflores neighborhood is a modern and well-to-do district full of hotels, large buildings and elegant boutiques. In the center of the park is the shopping center, with many stores of well-known brands and restaurants with a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean.

We continue the route bordering the Cisneros boardwalk, a very clean, well-kept and quite flowery place. As we walk through this area we come across a nice and calm place, with several parks and terraces full of gardens.

The Miraflores neighborhood ends in a cliff, which ensures stunning views over Lima's beaches. The beach landscape is visited by surfers who take advantage of the breeze and waves that make the site an ideal spot for surfing. In contrast to the seascape, we see a curious and attractive structure that houses a blue restaurant.

Whenever I embark on a great trip, I find it hard to convince myself and set off the things that haunt me in my mind. There are the parasites that accompany us in the life of obligations like work, money, routine and problems. Then I look forward to that moment when my brain goes from survival mode to enjoyment mode.

We were comfortable walking through the Miraflores neighborhood until we found the famous park that had marked me the night before. At that moment, I felt the click on my person. The enjoyment mode was suddenly installed in my head! It may be due to the mix between the sea breeze, the color of the place and the giant monument of a couple in love.

The Parque del Amor is a nice name. There is a work of art of a couple showing the gesture of love with a kiss. The sculpture has the appropriate name of the kiss right in front of the sea and was the work of a Peruvian artist named Victor Delfin. The monument is surrounded by phrases of love, of several Peruvian poets in mosaics of various colors.

That's why for me the real trip through Peru did not start at the airport, neither at the hotel nor anywhere else. Well, the time and the place where I felt prepared to see the Inca country, was there, in the Miraflores neighborhood, in front of the play "el beso" and its park of love. The Peruvian custom says that you have to take flowers, go with your lover and offer a long kiss in front of the park of love!

We stopped on the way to eat at the restaurant overlooking the Pacific Ocean. We have fish (buri) in seafood sauce with corn rice and fish breaded with prawns. We also have glass of strawberries, chocolate mus, vanilla mus and caramelized almonds, chocolate cake, lemon cream, lucuma and raspberries. It was not bad, but I expected more.

Our last walk through Lima passed without direction marching through the Malecon to the lighthouse. I do not know why I did not decide to do paragliding. They continued adding color to the sky next to the lighthouse La Marina, located in the Antonio Raimondi park.

To begin to make contact with the pre-Hispanic cultures and the many archaeological sites that the country offers, I had the opportunity to visit the Huaca Pucllana. Having dinner on the terrace of his restaurant, we see the pyramidal structure.

I was explained the history of the Lima Culture that settled in this coastal area of ​​the country, between the III and XIII centuries. The pyramid grew with the superposition of constructions. Each house was built on top of the previous one, and thus it was gaining height for centuries.

To cope with the strident rhythm of Lima would have been an impossible mission if it were not for the kisses of the Lima people. That made me feel confident for some relaxing jacuzzi and for the flavors of culinary delights. There was hardly anyone passing through the Indian market. The vendors resigned themselves in the absence of clients.

At the hotel, I did not know if I was wrong to be in a theme park. Women of different races dressed in colorful clothes moved from one side to another that made me believe that this was a dream. It turned out to be an encounter of indigenous women of the world.

It was unique to have this unexpected opportunity! Women from many countries, from different communities, from multiple races, adorned with their original and multicolored indigenous dresses. And I was over there, in the middle of all of them!

The next days I go to the Cusco region and to see the Machu Picchu. I would have liked to visit the area of ​​the Cordillera Blanca, the Huascaran, but that required more planning and more company than my own shadow.

If there is one thing that in the land of liberty is better than anywhere else after donuts and family sizes are road trips. It awaits you from the world's most famous bottle of ketchup to French toast at a roadside restaurant. And without a doubt, the authentic American experience begins with a trip on its highways.

There is no better way to start a weekend. The brunch opens up every possibility of being full, because we all love to eat delicious, after having gotten up late. In every town there are characteristic 'breakfast-lunch' dishes. Even some families have created their own to satisfy their tastes.

New York does not escape from this famous routine on Saturday and Sunday. There are many restaurants or small cafés offering brunch on their menus. Today we are here to list a few places where we like to arrive, order and immerse ourselves in the mood of the weekend.

I believe that it is not by chance that the French are known for having the city of love and the richest sweets in the world. Love and desserts always go hand in hand and they are the example of that!

Is that if the world were a dessert, the French would definitely be the capital and there would live the king and queen. Nobody on the planet knows about pastry as much as the French, get to see: Macarons? French Croissants? French Crepes? French Madeleines? French Eclairs? I could continue in this all day but I imagine that you see where I'm going and I also imagine that you are beginning to realize my obsession with French pastry.

Of course, if the French make toast, they will be the best toast in the world! Or is someone tasting breakfast toast richer than French toast? In Canada, the toast is traditionally accompanied with maple syrup. In some regions of France, this dish has other names such as muddy bread or rail bread in the north.

The English name is bread and butter pudding. In Spain, the torrija is a kind of toast, usually associated with the period of Lent. The variant of Argentina and Uruguay is called Torreja. In Switzerland, the dish is called golden crust. In Germany, it is called Armer Ritter, which means poor knight and refers to a meal that can be prepared with little money thanks to cheap ingredients. In Portugal, the toast is a traditional Christmas dish and is called rabanadas.

In Mexico, the term Pan Francés means French Bread. As it was taken over by cooks who have enriched it with flavors such as cinnamon, it has also become a neat dessert item offered in gourmet restaurants.



But do not step on the accelerator without taking with you the following essentials:

1. Songs

There is nothing more liberating than lowering the window while you feel the energy that gives you a good selection of songs. I would take it safely to JT (Summer Love), and Taylor Swift. And you?

2. Junk food

There is no road trip in the United States worth its salt without peanut butter, slim jim, and a slush. For more and better snacks, make a technical stop at a gas station.

3. Books

Let's be honest, in the end the boredom will come and with it, the question of rigor (ie "Have we arrived yet?"). Before this time arrives, open a good book. Whoever goes behind the wheel, will thank you.

4. Maps

The professionals in the field of road travel know very well that technology tends to fail-above all, it does when you find yourself in the middle of nowhere. But do not panic, a road Atlas of all life will save you from the doldrums.

5. A blanket

First of all, because you do not want to miss out on a picnic when you see an appropriate place. And secondly, because it is inevitable that different opinions arise about the proper temperature inside the car. So be cautious and add a blanket to the list of essentials.

Turn up the volume and pass the cheetos! You are ready to embark on an emblematic trip through the United States!

A trip to Paris needs a few things like a weekend, a big dose of adventure, a pinch of thrill and of course romance as a cherry on top. Bon Appetit. Many would say Valentine's Day is passé and that's a good thing. I also think so. Despite all this, I would like to share my little experience on this blog with you of my Valentine's Day trip with my friend to the city of love.

Anyone who thinks that a weekend is too short to discover Paris may be right. The city is far too big, too varied and exciting to capture in its entirety. But what I can say after my weekend trip to Paris is that it is enough to get a sneak peek of her.

And I'll give you a tip at the beginning. Relax, this is your holiday. Do not hurry from one tourist place to the next. Just let yourself go. Do you like a very special place? Then stay there and do not give yourself the stress of rushing through the whole city. So it happened with us. When we liked a spot very much, we radically deleted another place from the list. You just have to savor the little sweet moments.

Day 1 - The beginning of a fabulous trip to Paris

After our arrival here in the evening as we move to the hotel, our wishes were fulfilled. In the heart of Paris, we find this great place that leaves nothing to be desired. The accommodation is not only cute, clean and comfortable. It is also colorful - just like the typical Paris.

The staff was extremely helpful and friendly. Of course, we immediately turned to the staff to get top sightseeing tips straight from the horse's mouth. So far so good. The beauty of the hotel is that it is quite centrally located and therefore many attractions can be reached quickly and easily.

After carrying the suitcases into the room, freshening up quickly, putting on the dress and off we go! We start with a walk. We were on a romantic mission already. Long Story short. Of course, it belongs on every romantic list of things you must have seen in Paris.

The sea of lights up to the Arc de Triomphe gives a very special atmosphere and the beautiful photo opportunities. That's exactly why we went there, and not because that a million travel guides are promoting this attraction.

Our next destination is the Le Lido, a theater in the heart of Paris, offering food and entertainment. No matter how tired and exhausted we are from the journey, in Lido we forget everything! In addition to sophisticated entertainment with dancers, chic backdrops, and best music, there is a gastronomic offer that is difficult to top. It is well known that Lido has wonderful Champagne and a dessert that takes our heart away. It's so true!

Just as fabulous, we end an exciting night and we can say Paris welcomed us with open arms.

Day 2 - The long way to the top of the Eiffel Tower

After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, the day starts very early. We do not have much time. From the hotel in 30 minutes, we reach the Eiffel Tower after walking through the Avenue George V. There are many luxury shops, that give us the opportunity for some window shopping. The architecture of the buildings lining the street also astonish you.

After this walk now begins the test of patience! Enough patience! And a lot of patience! Although we arrived in the morning at the Eiffel Tower, we had to queue for 2 hours. In retrospect, we had to be clear. It was Valentine's weekend and on big holidays, the queue seems endless in front of all attractions.

Did you know that you have to climb 1665 steps to reach the top of the Eiffel Tower? Optionally there is, of course, the elevator. We took the elevator. At the top, the view is terrific. The Champ de Mars, with approximately 25 hectares of greenery at the foot of the Eiffel Tower is incredibly impressive from above.

After such a long walk, the hunger crept in slowly but we had to fulfill a mission before! We had a wish that we tried to fulfill. For this, we needed to visit the Fontaine Saint-Michel. We arrived at the place of desire to the Place Saint-Michel. Like other fountains, this one is said to have magical powers and make wishes come true if you only feed it with a coin.

This may sound a bit exotic as we go dining in a wetland. Our culinary journey was not quite as dramatic and experimental. However, in the past, Le Marais was actually a wetland, which was gradually drained. Today it is one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Paris.

We went to the restaurant with a name that melts in our mouth and lets us hope for delicacies. So it is. The establishment is quite small but pleasant. There are only small portions to eat, as the name suggests. We go for bouchees such as bites or appetizers. We order various small delicacies and try them one after the other.

After the gluttony, we go for a walk through the Rue de Rivoli to the Louvre Museum. The small streets and colorful restaurants somehow supported my image of Paris and made me think I was in a movie. I totally forgot to take photos from all corners, a blessing in disguise, to be totally lost in thought and to leave the smartphone in my pocket.

Lost in the Louvre

Maybe it was our slow stroll or the fact that we were a bit tired from the day, but we did not even get to see everything inside the Louvre Museum. Louvre is far too big to visit in a few hours. We did not even see a third in three hours but I'm proud to say that we got to look at Mona Lisa. She was somehow magical.

In any case, on our bucket list for a trip to Paris, we'll come back to visit the Louvre in its entirety! Our tour continued, but now we combine two of the most beautiful things of sightseeing and dining! But before we had to fulfill another mission given by the nice receptionist in the hotel. Already on arrival, we asked for hotspots for the tastiest sweets in Paris.

We were given the hot tip to walk in the Tuileries Garden and to buy the finest macarons in the Laduree restaurant. Here we find more authentic and typical French treats that are a perfect combo with a coffee or tea. And so it was. We love the Macarons from the Laduree!

The culmination of a long day is a romantic cruise on the Seine. It started at the Pont Alexandre III. In addition to a wonderful dinner and live singers, we literally visit the most imposing sights of Paris as we pass by. The best part is that it is all in the glow of night lighting. The ride lasts for 2 hours and lets us finish the day perfectly.

Day 3 - Panoramic View of Paris

We have to get up early today because the bucket list is still packed with cool sightseeing spots. We were told before the trip that the breakfast in Paris would be something very special and it is a culinary must. So we visit the one close to our hotel.

In addition to hot drinks, the staff prepares fresh fruit juices. There are also daily smoothies that take off our heart away. I especially liked the pastry called Viennoiserie! Of course, the baguette cannot be missed on any breakfast table in Paris. In addition, there was homemade jam and honey.

After garnering the energy, we go to Montmartre and the Sacred Heart of Paris, commonly known as Sacre Coeur. Also, being the romantic (yes, that was still Valentine's Day) we visit Le Mur des Je T'aime, the wall of love. This wall is a real work of art built in 2000, not far from Montmartre.

Here are the most beautiful words, I Love You, written in over 250 languages. Clearly, it is a starting point for all love-hungry and hopeless romantics among us. Speaking of love-hungry I was getting hungry again. Around noon we took the subway to Gare Montparnasse, where, according to Parisians, you get one of the city's best crepes. Well, that sounds great!

In a creperie, we taste delicious crepes and ciders. A Brittany specialty called Galette is also on offer here. These are black salty crepes. It is definitely at least one great theme for your food Instagram account.

A short walk in the beautiful Jardin du Luxembourg, just a 10-minute walk from the Creperie, completes a romantic getaway in Paris. Unfortunately, you cannot squeeze all the places to visit in Paris into a weekend. We could not visit the catacombs of Paris, which we did not manage in time.

We arrived at Howrah station to visit Calcutta, the second largest city in India. We took a taxi after standing in the long queue of the prepaid taxi, for a journey of half an hour. Traffic is very slow at times, where traffic jams occur. And the traffic lights take a long time to change. I was already seeing the panorama from the taxi of shopping centers, and multiplex cinemas in Kolkata.

1 Day in Kolkata

We reach one of the budget hotels in Kolkata. After negotiation we book a room and for what we have seen it is very good and clean. We leave the backpacks at the hotel. We have breakfast at a place in Sudder Street with puri, sabzi and tea. We return to the hotel, after going around the Sudder area.

The market is a mess of alleys that is not bad, because as soon as we enter, a man guides us, taking us to the store we need. This walk ends by tiring our whole body. So we return to the hotel to rest. We bought a sandal. Here it is also very hot, especially at noon.

We enter the Indian Museum. The rooms are dusty with bad lighting, lack of control of humidity and temperature. In the room of mammals, there are some that have a horrible expression and the insects are especially dirty, with insects without wings. There is an Egyptian room and mineralogy rooms full of stones. Nearby was a model of the Tower of Silence, a very interesting funerary system.

For the Parsis, it is a kind of cemetery, where they left the dead exposed to the elements, being the food for vultures and crows. There is a room where they have a copy of the Bharhut gate, a landmark that is close to Satna. We left the museum and we continue to take a walk. For lunch we eat, not without hunger, some fried rice with eggs and potatoes.

We look for the ticket to Darjeeling, but the agencies charge high and also have some demands that we do not end up liking. In all the entrances they have, at the entrance, the lemons and chilli hanging as a talisman. We keep going around the street market near Chandni. They sell from American to Bollywood movie DVDs.

A taxi, leaves us at the Reservations Office near the GPO building at Fairlie Place where we get the ticket after only half an hour of waiting. I remember the scenes of effusive affection seen on the waterfront in Millennium Park. We went to the Howrah bridge, the busiest in the world, where it is forbidden to take photos. We also visit the nearby colorful Mullickbazar flower market, which is under the bridge.

After a tired, but interesting walk of almost two hours, we arrived at the Marble Palace in less than 10 minutes in the taxi. It really looks like an old building in marbles and everything in the dark. With another taxi, we reach the Girish Park Metro Station. After two more stops we left at Central Metro Station. There we ask a little man and he accompanies us to the same street we are looking for. There are many shacks made of plastics and wood.

We bought a flute that sounds like a saxophone, and on the way to the hotel we took chicken biryani and a singara. We walk through the Park Street, which at night is very lively, and there was even one of those giant LED screens, typical of New York. The street is full of super expensive restaurants, bars and nightclubs like Trincas, Mocambo, Moulin Rouge, Flurys, Shiraz and Peter Cat. There are also some new ones like Barbeque Nation, Hakuna Matata and Marco Polo. I return to the hotel somewhat intoxicated with beer.

I start to have a chat with the receptionist, a guy of about thirty years and a clever face. We talked about the Bengali weddings because in my hall are the noisy guests of one. He informs me that the celebration lasts at least twelve hours. In the National Geographic channel we see a documentary and rest.

2 Days in Kolkata

At dawn I can see the entire city just by walking out the door of the hotel. I pass by the citizens park or the Mohor Kunja and the monument to the queen Victoria in the maidan area, the green lungs within this polluted chaos. The white palace is reflected in the waters of the pond and the impression is of virtual decoration of as perfect as it turns out.

I pass by Sambhunath Pandit street to see a perfect portrait of Calcutta. In two hundred meters I have everything that this city can offer. There are beautiful colonial buildings, shops, restaurants, a fruit market, pastry shops, temples and traffic.

After breakfast we left for the Kali temple in Kalighat. According to the Kolkata travel guide, it is the most sacred place in Calcutta. The taxi leaves us very close to the temple. Of course there is a queue to see the idol and the priests ask for a donation (admission is free).

We went out and bought a photo of Kali. We get to the metro and go to the Kolkata tourist information centre (which is hidden on the other side of the city) near Victoria Memorial. There we get and some brochures with information about Sikkim and Darjeeling.

We passed by the Aurobindo house, which is very close to Birla Planetarium. We enter the Victoria Memorial. It is a white monument in English style with a huge dome and rooms devoted to painters and explorers. Other rooms exhibit modern art from a local school. We bought a map of Calcutta. Then we walk to the New Market area. We enter a restaurant where the food is again extraordinary. We have tandoori chicken, naan and rice.

From there we went to the Botanical Garden in a car, crossing the Vidyasagar Setu or the second hooghly bridge. This garden in Howrah serves as an urban park. It is a large expanse of trees from different countries (almost all tropical in the northern hemisphere). It extends over many hundreds of meters and is a haven of peace.

The sun plummets and there are few shadows that can be taken advantage of. So, after trying to see some curiosity, we go straight to enjoy the jewel of the garden, to the Great Banyan Tree. It is a variety of Bengal fig tree, which has the distinction of not having a central trunk. The whole living being is sustained by its great roots.

Up to 600 branches fall to the ground giving it the subjection of true natural pillars. It is beautiful and very interesting to see since we try to discover the trunk, but there is not. The oldest part is believed to be more than two hundred years old, although ancient writings give a thousand years to this botanical curiosity.

We return to Sudder Street by taxi. We eat a pizza and some spring rolls, and non-alcoholic beers. We meet a nice lady who comes from Kathmandu. We took a taxi to the MP Birla planetarium. Because we did not wait for the session in English, we got into the session in Bengali. The planetarium is very austere, but I liked it a lot. The audiovisual does not kill but I liked the representation of the stars in its huge dome. The photo exhibition was very old. In short, it was great.

We take a taxi to the hotel. We dined at the place where many of the workers gather in this area of ​​Calcutta. We have mughlai paratha, aloo dam and beer. The entire meal was very rich. Before going to the hotel, we bought a beer in a store that is on the corner. It is an odyssey to get a beer, since there is a huge queue on the stairs waiting for the turn or sneaking between the people.

After taking the backpack from the hotel we took a taxi to the Sealdah station. At the station I buy samosas and something to drink. We wait a bit and get on the train. We left on time. Calcutta has been quite a discovery (and we did not want to leave). Its streets are not as bad as at first we thought. The people tell us stories that are very different from one another, but all full of emotion.

We left with the image of a Calcutta that is alive and full of hope with lots of people wanting to make it a better city for everyone.