Barcelona Spain is a city with a past...all the way back to the Roman Empire, actually.
But, in the "old" days, it was nothing like what it was to become in the Middle Ages. That era was again eclipsed by another spurt in the middle of the 19th century.
With so many ages in its past, it is easy for the visitor to Barcelona to take a peek at old Roman architecture, marvel at medieval churches, such as Le Seu, and blow a wad of modern money on some pretty neat shopping!
Of course, no visit to Barcelona would be complete without the appropriate gawking at the architectural achievements of its favorite son, Antonio Gaudi. Do not miss visiting Park Guell, Sagrada Familia, and Casa Mila, but be prepared to stand there and wonder, to yourself, of course, what WAS he thinking?
However, Gaudi is not responsible for ALL the imposing sights in the Capital of Catalonia. You cannot go to Paris without seeing the Arc de Triomphe nor can you go to Barcelona without seeing the Arc de Triomf. Same thing, but with a Spanish flair.
MNAC, aka: Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, houses some excellent art, and the rather eclectic market, La Boqueria. Be advised that at La Boqueria, the art is not just on the walls, but in the diverse crowds examining, and buying, the even more diverse, foods available there.
If you begin to lag and sag, you can always perk yourself back up at one of the city's many tapas bars...or just plain bars...if that's your style.
For the family (i.e. kids and kids-at-heart), there are the zoo and the aquarium. If that doesn't wear 'em out, climb up to the top of Montjuic for a view of the city which will awe even young children.
At one time a sleepy little town of little interest to the traveler, today's Barcelona is a place of history, mystery, and fun for all.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
Hub Stacey's on Seville Square in Pensacola, Florida
I have to admit that the original reason my wife and I went to Hub Stacey's, at the corner of Government and Alcaniz streets in Pensacola, Florida, had nothing to do with food...at least not restaurant.
We were in town for my 50th high school reunion (Pensacola Catholic High Class of 1963), and one of our favorite restaurants on Seville Square had closed. We had been in town many other times and I had always wanted to eat "in the restaurant over there on the corner" because of personal history.
In the 1950's or 60's, it was a grocery, specializing in Greek food and other delicacies and was run by a family who had once had a small grocery closer to our home in Warrington, Florida. My father often went into the grocery at the corner of Government and Alcaniz streets to pick up some cheese or meat which he liked, and to touch base with the family which ran it.
Actually, I think it was this grocery where my father bought the infamous Limberger Cheese which he stuck in the glove compartment...and forgot about for several days until the smell became overwhelming.
Anyway, it was purely for personal pleasure that my wife and I decided to actually eat at Hub Stacey's. We did not know what it served or whether the food was any good.
Simple report is that the food is mainly sandwiches, named after various streets and places in Pensacola, although they do have a wide selection of salads, wings, and appetizers (called 'Munchies').
I had the 12th Ave (a favorite drive of mine in Pensacola), which was tuna salad and melted cheddar on toasted sourdough bread. You can get a whole or a half of many of the sandwiches and I chose to get a half.
Good choice! It was actually about the size of a sandwich I might make at home, and was delicious and just right.
My wife got one half of the LaRua (a street in Pensacola with many historic homes). The LaRua is a toasted Muffuletta loaf stuffed with salami, ham, bologna and melted Provolone cheese. It's served with Hub's own olive salad...and my wife says it was delicious and wayyyy more than she could eat!
Hub Stacey's Downtown Menu.
I got my history fix by going into the grocery store my father used to shop in, and I got a good meal at a reasonable price, and a new favorite restaurant on Seville Square in Pensacola, Florida.
We were in town for my 50th high school reunion (Pensacola Catholic High Class of 1963), and one of our favorite restaurants on Seville Square had closed. We had been in town many other times and I had always wanted to eat "in the restaurant over there on the corner" because of personal history.
In the 1950's or 60's, it was a grocery, specializing in Greek food and other delicacies and was run by a family who had once had a small grocery closer to our home in Warrington, Florida. My father often went into the grocery at the corner of Government and Alcaniz streets to pick up some cheese or meat which he liked, and to touch base with the family which ran it.
Actually, I think it was this grocery where my father bought the infamous Limberger Cheese which he stuck in the glove compartment...and forgot about for several days until the smell became overwhelming.
Anyway, it was purely for personal pleasure that my wife and I decided to actually eat at Hub Stacey's. We did not know what it served or whether the food was any good.
Simple report is that the food is mainly sandwiches, named after various streets and places in Pensacola, although they do have a wide selection of salads, wings, and appetizers (called 'Munchies').
I had the 12th Ave (a favorite drive of mine in Pensacola), which was tuna salad and melted cheddar on toasted sourdough bread. You can get a whole or a half of many of the sandwiches and I chose to get a half.
Good choice! It was actually about the size of a sandwich I might make at home, and was delicious and just right.
My wife got one half of the LaRua (a street in Pensacola with many historic homes). The LaRua is a toasted Muffuletta loaf stuffed with salami, ham, bologna and melted Provolone cheese. It's served with Hub's own olive salad...and my wife says it was delicious and wayyyy more than she could eat!
Hub Stacey's Downtown Menu.
I got my history fix by going into the grocery store my father used to shop in, and I got a good meal at a reasonable price, and a new favorite restaurant on Seville Square in Pensacola, Florida.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Goldfield Arizona: A Family Ghost Town
I have not been to many "ghost towns", but I have seen a couple. Still, this does not make me an expert, but almost every time my wife and I visit family in Mesa, we like to ride out and take a stroll through Goldfield.
Established in 1892 when a fairly large amount of gold was discovered in the area, Goldfield has had its ups and downs. The first find petered out in about five years, and although another set of investors used newer equipment a few years later to get more gold, that also ran out, and in 1926, the town died a second death.
It was, in it's day, a fairly desolate and isolated area, and without the gold, there was not much to attract the visitor. However, in 1966, Robert F. “Bob” Schoose, a long time ghost town, mining, and treasure-hunting enthusiast made a trip to the Superstition Mountains. He instantly fell in love with the area and established a home in nearby Mesa, Arizona.
Eventually, Bob Schoose decided that he wanted to own a ghost town. However, after inspecting the site of the actual town, he was only able to find a few remnants of the original Goldfield. He did not let this deter him and finally purchased a five acre site which was the location of the old Goldfield Mill.
Not having a "real" ghost town, Bob set out to create his own.
Over the years, businesses have been added which give at least the sensation of being in an old town. Even the most casual observer, however, can easily recognize that the "town" is actually not much more than a set, and not even a very realistic one. It is actually a setting dotted with ancient appearing artifacts which gives the illusion of a ghost town of the old west.
Even so, for the city slicker wanting a glimpse of the Old West, the child, or the adult who still remembers old Saturday morning westerns with Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, or Rex Allen, can still stir up some of the old feelings just by wandering down (or up) the dusty street.
There is a reconstructed mine tunnel, a narrow gauge railroad, and several sellers of modern, though often old-appearing, souvenirs. There are places to eat, and, as I did recently at my wife's request, the visitor can get a sepia-toned photograph in semi-authentic western garb.
All in all, I would not put the Goldfield Ghost Town at the head of a list of "must visit" places, but, if you are in the area and have nothing to compare it to, or if you just want to get a feel for the past, it's worth a visit. After all, it's free to walk the streets and watch the weekend gunfights. Don't forget to pick up a bag of the Golden Carmel Corn Nuggets or the Churro Nuggets (my personal favorite) at "Mother Lode Mercantile".
If you DO choose to visit Goldfield, one thing you really should do is visit the museum and take your time looking over the exhibits. They are about as real as it gets. Hey! If nothing more, you will at least be able to say you saw Doc Holliday's coat!
You can learn more by visiting the Goldfield Ghost Town website.
Established in 1892 when a fairly large amount of gold was discovered in the area, Goldfield has had its ups and downs. The first find petered out in about five years, and although another set of investors used newer equipment a few years later to get more gold, that also ran out, and in 1926, the town died a second death.
It was, in it's day, a fairly desolate and isolated area, and without the gold, there was not much to attract the visitor. However, in 1966, Robert F. “Bob” Schoose, a long time ghost town, mining, and treasure-hunting enthusiast made a trip to the Superstition Mountains. He instantly fell in love with the area and established a home in nearby Mesa, Arizona.
Eventually, Bob Schoose decided that he wanted to own a ghost town. However, after inspecting the site of the actual town, he was only able to find a few remnants of the original Goldfield. He did not let this deter him and finally purchased a five acre site which was the location of the old Goldfield Mill.
Not having a "real" ghost town, Bob set out to create his own.
Over the years, businesses have been added which give at least the sensation of being in an old town. Even the most casual observer, however, can easily recognize that the "town" is actually not much more than a set, and not even a very realistic one. It is actually a setting dotted with ancient appearing artifacts which gives the illusion of a ghost town of the old west.
Even so, for the city slicker wanting a glimpse of the Old West, the child, or the adult who still remembers old Saturday morning westerns with Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, or Rex Allen, can still stir up some of the old feelings just by wandering down (or up) the dusty street.
There is a reconstructed mine tunnel, a narrow gauge railroad, and several sellers of modern, though often old-appearing, souvenirs. There are places to eat, and, as I did recently at my wife's request, the visitor can get a sepia-toned photograph in semi-authentic western garb.
All in all, I would not put the Goldfield Ghost Town at the head of a list of "must visit" places, but, if you are in the area and have nothing to compare it to, or if you just want to get a feel for the past, it's worth a visit. After all, it's free to walk the streets and watch the weekend gunfights. Don't forget to pick up a bag of the Golden Carmel Corn Nuggets or the Churro Nuggets (my personal favorite) at "Mother Lode Mercantile".
If you DO choose to visit Goldfield, one thing you really should do is visit the museum and take your time looking over the exhibits. They are about as real as it gets. Hey! If nothing more, you will at least be able to say you saw Doc Holliday's coat!
You can learn more by visiting the Goldfield Ghost Town website.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Finding Cheap Theme Park Tickets
By Cyndi Mason
Granted, theme parks of all kinds can get pricey. That includes amusement as well as water parks. It's expensive enough to try to take only yourself to one of these places for the day let alone an entire family of four or more. This is particularly true when you pay the regular in season prices. These can be expensive. However, on the other hand, if you know how to look for and locate some deals, there are many ways to find cheap theme park tickets. Not only that, but you can also find ways to save money on souvenirs, food, and many other things.
Something you can do to find cheap theme park tickets is to go to your computer and look on the Internet. There are several major amusement parks like Six Flags that will offer discounted tickets and more special deals when you visit their websites. They must be the official websites, though, if you want to find exclusive deals. You can also look for package deals through travel sites as well as websites for accommodations that are near the theme park that you want to visit. Sometimes they'll throw in discounted tickets if you book a room through their establishment.
You can also find ticket outlet companies that offer tickets for discounted prices. In fact, once you order them, you can print them out right from your computer. This keeps you from having to wait for them to get to your home through the mail. Instead, you can buy them, print them out and use them instantly.
Amusement parks will usually offer special promotions through popular soda companies. Check cans of your favorite soda drink. You just may find some information printed on them or on bottle labels that will tell you how to take advantage of these promotions.
Watch out for fliers and brochures that may be available at your local grocery stores, malls and restaurants. Many of these will have free coupons that you can use at various parks. These can help you save money when you plan your next trip to an amusement park.
Subscribe to newsletters that offer special promotions and other bargains for theme parks. In this way, you'll be informed each time discount tickets for theme parks become accessible through any website on the Internet. This is one of the best ways to know as soon as the tickets are released to the public for purchasing.
As you can see, there are various ways to find cheap theme park tickets. This is true no matter where you live or where you plan to travel.
To make your trip planning even simpler, you'll be able to find many of these promotional offers and discounts for theme park tickets at Theme Park World. That's right! The work and research will all be done for you so there won't be a need for you to traipse all over the Internet to find the best deals for you and your family. So check back often if your family loves visiting theme parks.
Article Source: Finding Cheap Theme Park Tickets
Granted, theme parks of all kinds can get pricey. That includes amusement as well as water parks. It's expensive enough to try to take only yourself to one of these places for the day let alone an entire family of four or more. This is particularly true when you pay the regular in season prices. These can be expensive. However, on the other hand, if you know how to look for and locate some deals, there are many ways to find cheap theme park tickets. Not only that, but you can also find ways to save money on souvenirs, food, and many other things.
Something you can do to find cheap theme park tickets is to go to your computer and look on the Internet. There are several major amusement parks like Six Flags that will offer discounted tickets and more special deals when you visit their websites. They must be the official websites, though, if you want to find exclusive deals. You can also look for package deals through travel sites as well as websites for accommodations that are near the theme park that you want to visit. Sometimes they'll throw in discounted tickets if you book a room through their establishment.
You can also find ticket outlet companies that offer tickets for discounted prices. In fact, once you order them, you can print them out right from your computer. This keeps you from having to wait for them to get to your home through the mail. Instead, you can buy them, print them out and use them instantly.
Amusement parks will usually offer special promotions through popular soda companies. Check cans of your favorite soda drink. You just may find some information printed on them or on bottle labels that will tell you how to take advantage of these promotions.
Watch out for fliers and brochures that may be available at your local grocery stores, malls and restaurants. Many of these will have free coupons that you can use at various parks. These can help you save money when you plan your next trip to an amusement park.
Subscribe to newsletters that offer special promotions and other bargains for theme parks. In this way, you'll be informed each time discount tickets for theme parks become accessible through any website on the Internet. This is one of the best ways to know as soon as the tickets are released to the public for purchasing.
As you can see, there are various ways to find cheap theme park tickets. This is true no matter where you live or where you plan to travel.
To make your trip planning even simpler, you'll be able to find many of these promotional offers and discounts for theme park tickets at Theme Park World. That's right! The work and research will all be done for you so there won't be a need for you to traipse all over the Internet to find the best deals for you and your family. So check back often if your family loves visiting theme parks.
Article Source: Finding Cheap Theme Park Tickets
Monday, April 2, 2012
I Want to Write About My Travel Experiences and Write Restaurant Reviews
Yep! That's me.
As I say in the description of this blog, I love to travel. However, I love to write too, and, if you are reading this, it's possible that you do as well!
Some like to write about travel just for the personal satisfaction. Some enjoy the feeling of helping others find their way in strange places. Some do it to make money. Some like the little bit of "fame", no matter how small, which finds the travel writer or restaurant reviewer.
For most, like myself, it's probably a little bit of all four reasons.
Like many such activities, before you can be considered an "expert" you have to pay your dues.
In the old days, this meant traveling around, writing articles, and submitting them to various print publications. For better or for worse, the Internet has made it possible for people to begin by publishing their own articles at many places online and to take advantage of many options available to the budding travel writer and/or restaurant reviewer.
What I am doing right now is one thing that almost anyone can do....blogging.
Again, the blogger has many goals. A blog may be for expressing opinion, getting things off your chest, for sharing knowledge. Many, driven by those, and other desires, find that blogging for fun or some other reason may eventually turn into blogging for cash.
If you love to travel, dine in restaurants, or pursue some other hobby, you can enhance the experience by blogging about it. You can also create a travel website or submit articles and reviews to article directories such as EzineArticles.com.
A great place to begin creating some of your first restaurant reviews is at UrbanSpoon.com. However, if you want to get serious about writing restaurant reviews, you might want to look at www.beafoodcritic.com.
With the Internet, you can be a travel writer or restaurant reviewer without waiting for editors of other people's writing venues.
As I say in the description of this blog, I love to travel. However, I love to write too, and, if you are reading this, it's possible that you do as well!
Some like to write about travel just for the personal satisfaction. Some enjoy the feeling of helping others find their way in strange places. Some do it to make money. Some like the little bit of "fame", no matter how small, which finds the travel writer or restaurant reviewer.
For most, like myself, it's probably a little bit of all four reasons.
Like many such activities, before you can be considered an "expert" you have to pay your dues.
In the old days, this meant traveling around, writing articles, and submitting them to various print publications. For better or for worse, the Internet has made it possible for people to begin by publishing their own articles at many places online and to take advantage of many options available to the budding travel writer and/or restaurant reviewer.
What I am doing right now is one thing that almost anyone can do....blogging.
Again, the blogger has many goals. A blog may be for expressing opinion, getting things off your chest, for sharing knowledge. Many, driven by those, and other desires, find that blogging for fun or some other reason may eventually turn into blogging for cash.
If you love to travel, dine in restaurants, or pursue some other hobby, you can enhance the experience by blogging about it. You can also create a travel website or submit articles and reviews to article directories such as EzineArticles.com.
A great place to begin creating some of your first restaurant reviews is at UrbanSpoon.com. However, if you want to get serious about writing restaurant reviews, you might want to look at www.beafoodcritic.com.
With the Internet, you can be a travel writer or restaurant reviewer without waiting for editors of other people's writing venues.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Thinking of Visiting Barcelona? An Overview ot the History of Tourism There.
Site of the 1992 Summer Olympic Games, the city of Barcelona is a lesser known but excellent destination for the tourist than some of the more famous Cities of the World. In addition to being a stop for the visitor to Europe or Spain, its location on the Mediterranean coast also makes it a popular destination and departure point for many cruises.
One of the most individual aspects of Barcelona is its homage to hometown architect, Antonio Gaudi (1852-1926). In fact, an appreciation of Gaudi architecture is what brings many visitors to the city.
In the following article, the author, who has business in Barcelona, offers his unique point of view.
============
History of Tourism in Barcelona
By Gaizka Pujana
Because its people attract tourists, it is frequently written about in books, and its locality often described and romanticized.
The founding of the city began with the occupation of the Romans in the First Century B.C, who imposed walls and as a result, for a long period of time, separated villages from the walled area which is actually a part of the city. As of late, the different Catalonian countries united and pushed forward the rise of Barcelona as a tourist capital.
The Olympic Games in 1992 has had a remarkable effect on the city, and it is because of this sports extravaganza that the city has built its heritage around sports. Because of the successful staging of the Olympic Games as the destination city and host, the government was able to promote Barcelona and made it one of the top destinations for travel whether for business or personal time. Together with this rise in tourist visits, Barcelona decided to have a Hotel Plan, where numerous hotels were built to house tourists from all over the world.
Up to this day, Barcelona has a count of 534 hotels with different hotel star ratings. The hotels are categorized under: bread and breakfast, best value, family, luxury, trendy and vacation rentals (tripadvisor.com). This outstanding boost in hotel availability and performance is a direct signifier that the demands of accommodations have steadily increased over the years.
Because booking and travelling has been made easier through online marketing, more and more tourists find it hassle free to confirm reservations over the internet. This has played a big role towards attaining the Record Year for 2011. Since 2005, visitor counts to Barcelona continued to rise (ehotelier.com) and 2010 saw the double digit increase, leading to outstanding performance in 2011.
Together with the contemporary architecture and a unique immersive experience being offered by the city itself, these factors create an overall package for the tourist to remember Barcelona. And because the result of returns depends on the good experiences of a tourist, so does the marketing spread also through shared experiences and word-of-mouth. The combined efforts of tourism authorities, smart campaigning and the local people and their hospitality in bringing more tourists in Barcelona has strengthened the industry in many ways, long since the biggest sports event took place.
Because there is strength in numbers, so do memorable experiences of the city and its activities have when it comes to a unified effort in accommodating tourists well. Barcelona has proven its abilities as the City of Marvels. And she just might bring in more curious visitors over the years to come.
Do not forget that you can save money on your accommodation by renting apartments in Barcelona cheap or cheap apartments Barcelona.
Article Source: History of Tourism in Barcelona
One of the most individual aspects of Barcelona is its homage to hometown architect, Antonio Gaudi (1852-1926). In fact, an appreciation of Gaudi architecture is what brings many visitors to the city.
In the following article, the author, who has business in Barcelona, offers his unique point of view.
============
History of Tourism in Barcelona
By Gaizka Pujana
Because its people attract tourists, it is frequently written about in books, and its locality often described and romanticized.
The founding of the city began with the occupation of the Romans in the First Century B.C, who imposed walls and as a result, for a long period of time, separated villages from the walled area which is actually a part of the city. As of late, the different Catalonian countries united and pushed forward the rise of Barcelona as a tourist capital.
The Olympic Games in 1992 has had a remarkable effect on the city, and it is because of this sports extravaganza that the city has built its heritage around sports. Because of the successful staging of the Olympic Games as the destination city and host, the government was able to promote Barcelona and made it one of the top destinations for travel whether for business or personal time. Together with this rise in tourist visits, Barcelona decided to have a Hotel Plan, where numerous hotels were built to house tourists from all over the world.
Up to this day, Barcelona has a count of 534 hotels with different hotel star ratings. The hotels are categorized under: bread and breakfast, best value, family, luxury, trendy and vacation rentals (tripadvisor.com). This outstanding boost in hotel availability and performance is a direct signifier that the demands of accommodations have steadily increased over the years.
Because booking and travelling has been made easier through online marketing, more and more tourists find it hassle free to confirm reservations over the internet. This has played a big role towards attaining the Record Year for 2011. Since 2005, visitor counts to Barcelona continued to rise (ehotelier.com) and 2010 saw the double digit increase, leading to outstanding performance in 2011.
Together with the contemporary architecture and a unique immersive experience being offered by the city itself, these factors create an overall package for the tourist to remember Barcelona. And because the result of returns depends on the good experiences of a tourist, so does the marketing spread also through shared experiences and word-of-mouth. The combined efforts of tourism authorities, smart campaigning and the local people and their hospitality in bringing more tourists in Barcelona has strengthened the industry in many ways, long since the biggest sports event took place.
Because there is strength in numbers, so do memorable experiences of the city and its activities have when it comes to a unified effort in accommodating tourists well. Barcelona has proven its abilities as the City of Marvels. And she just might bring in more curious visitors over the years to come.
Do not forget that you can save money on your accommodation by renting apartments in Barcelona cheap or cheap apartments Barcelona.
Article Source: History of Tourism in Barcelona
Friday, March 30, 2012
Restaurant Review: El Paisa - Bedford, Texas
I don't normally eat breakfast at a restaurant, but, as it happens, after having a great breakfast at the Buttermilk Cafe in Arlington, Texas earlier this week, it happened again. My daughter wanted to try out El Paisa, and, since she had an early morning appointment and needed me to drive her, I agreed to try it out with her and my grandson...age 3. His comments will not be included in this report.
I had driven past El Paisa, a dine-in mexican fast-food restaurant, on Harwood Road in Bedford, many times and usually made a mental note to eat there sometime. No real reason, just had an air about it.
The first thing I noticed was how clean and neat the outside was.
Once inside, the lady at the register was very friendly, helpful, and, as my daughter put it on UrbanSpoon, "sweet". She was also very patient as my daughter is visually impaired, my grandson is...ahem...active, and I had no clue what I wanted...and have been without my ADHD meds for several days!
Eventually, my daughter decided to get one of the breakfast plates. She got a breakfast "torta" for her son, and I got a breakfast burrito with egg and bacon, and a cup of coffee.
Seated and looking around, the inside was not new, but still very clean and attractive in a simple, mexican motif manner. The bathroom was good sized and also clean, by the way. There was fairly quiet Hispanic music playing in the background of the restaurant, lighting was good but not intense, and the overall ambiance was comfortable.
El Paisa Dining Area
The food was prepared in what appeared to be a clean kitchen. I have been a restaurant manager and try to look at such things.
One word for servings at El Paisa is "big". The breakfast plate was big, my grandson's breakfast torta was big, as was my burrito. I could have played football with it! They put three eggs in almost everything, by the way.
El Paisa Breakfast Torta
Even the coffee, which was good, by the way, was in a big cup, and the lady offered me a refill for free.
The food was delicious, and my daughter, who knows these things, informed me it was "Mexican" not "Tex-Mex". Having had most of my Mexican food experiences in Texas, I noticed that the food at El Pais in Bedford, TX, reminded me of what I got in Mexican restaurants in California. A bit lighter but still flavorful. Sometimes the food in "Mexican" restaurants, even the ones I really like, overwhelms me. This was good, simple fare and I completely enjoyed the experience.
I will be taking my wife there for a meal in the near future. If you like Mexican food, you might want to visit El Pais in Bedford, Texas.
=====================
CITIES OF THE WORLD
I had driven past El Paisa, a dine-in mexican fast-food restaurant, on Harwood Road in Bedford, many times and usually made a mental note to eat there sometime. No real reason, just had an air about it.
The first thing I noticed was how clean and neat the outside was.
Once inside, the lady at the register was very friendly, helpful, and, as my daughter put it on UrbanSpoon, "sweet". She was also very patient as my daughter is visually impaired, my grandson is...ahem...active, and I had no clue what I wanted...and have been without my ADHD meds for several days!
Eventually, my daughter decided to get one of the breakfast plates. She got a breakfast "torta" for her son, and I got a breakfast burrito with egg and bacon, and a cup of coffee.
Seated and looking around, the inside was not new, but still very clean and attractive in a simple, mexican motif manner. The bathroom was good sized and also clean, by the way. There was fairly quiet Hispanic music playing in the background of the restaurant, lighting was good but not intense, and the overall ambiance was comfortable.
El Paisa Dining Area
The food was prepared in what appeared to be a clean kitchen. I have been a restaurant manager and try to look at such things.
One word for servings at El Paisa is "big". The breakfast plate was big, my grandson's breakfast torta was big, as was my burrito. I could have played football with it! They put three eggs in almost everything, by the way.
El Paisa Breakfast Torta
Even the coffee, which was good, by the way, was in a big cup, and the lady offered me a refill for free.
The food was delicious, and my daughter, who knows these things, informed me it was "Mexican" not "Tex-Mex". Having had most of my Mexican food experiences in Texas, I noticed that the food at El Pais in Bedford, TX, reminded me of what I got in Mexican restaurants in California. A bit lighter but still flavorful. Sometimes the food in "Mexican" restaurants, even the ones I really like, overwhelms me. This was good, simple fare and I completely enjoyed the experience.
I will be taking my wife there for a meal in the near future. If you like Mexican food, you might want to visit El Pais in Bedford, Texas.
=====================
CITIES OF THE WORLD
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