If you are ever in Madrid on the first Wednesday of the month don’t miss the Solemn Changing of the Guard at the Royal Palace. Free admission makes the event very appealing to any travelers, budget or otherwise, and spectators can enter the grounds at around 11:30 am. Best to arrive early for a good viewing location. The ceremony is very colorful with soldiers on foot and horseback.

Of course, what would the ceremony be without a military band…

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Welcome to another week of Travel Photo Thursday. On Tuesday I decided to head out of Madrid, and visit Toledo on a day tour. Bus tours are really not my thing, but I knew that if I wanted to make the most of a day in Toledo I really had no choice. The tour was pleasant, and gave me a great feel for this historic city. I’ve put it on my list to return. At some point I want to wander the narrow streets, sit by the river, and catch the feel of the city at every time of day and night.

I’m sharing one of my favorite shots of the day.

To join in the Travel Photo Thursday fun simply post a photo on your blog. Return here and place your link in the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this post.

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A view of sunny Toledo on a cold, sunny day….

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I booked this tour through Madrid City Tours. The cost with lunch (optional) was 70 Euro, and I thought it was good value. We had a very knowledgeable guide, Anna, who provided interesting facts and stories of each site we visited. I was able to book online easily with a my credit card.

Madrid City Tours

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Just steps from Madrid’s busy Plaza Mayor, I was excited to step into Mercado San Miguel on a chilly Sunday morning to experience what was being offered at the market’s various food and drink stalls.

Outside the Mercado San Miguel…

I arrived shortly after 10am, so I was able to do a leisurely stroll through market…

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The fish vendor…

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Martini, anyone? (Maybe after lunch…)

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Yummy Spanish Baguettes…(I wanted to jump over the counter and grab one!)

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I fell in love at the olive “stand”…

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By 11:00am the crowds were thick…

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Time to eat! I wanted one of everything and finally decided on….

Clinging to those “little sticks” were some of the finest olives I have ever tasted. The flavor just popped when I bit into each one. Fresh mozzarella cheese wrapped in sun dried tomatoes and savory pickled onions all added to this tasty delight. The wine was a Spanish Rojas Reserve (nice body!) and look at those “legs”

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Fresh and so tasty! Every mouthful was a taste sensation!

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Wine chilling…..

Tapas prices ranged from 1 to 5 Euro, and wine was 3 – 4 Euro/per glass. The market opens daily at 10am. You can find out more at their website…Mercado San Miguel

The website is in Spanish, so you’ll have to use Goggle translator, and I have found that it doesn’t always load properly, so do be patient

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Welcome to another week of  Travel Photo Thursday. Yesterday was my last day in Chiang Mai, and I spent the day eating good Thai food, having a foot massage and saying so long to several friends. I am always a little sad when I leave CM, but I have just arrived in Madrid after an overnight flight from Bangkok. I am excited to be here, and have settled into my accommodation. Within the hour I will be out exploring!

Several mornings recently I managed to get myself up and out the door as the sun was still rising. I was rewarded with some great shots that could never have happened at any other time of the day. A few of my favorites are posted below.

To join in the Travel Photo Thursday fun simply post a photo on your blog. Return here and place your link in the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this post.

Please post a link to a post featuring a travel photo, not simply a link to your blog.

As a courtesy please post a link to Budget Travelers Sandbox. 

If you do tweet a shot, please use the hashtag #TPThursday.

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(To view a larger version click on the photos.)

Morning Alms, Thapae Gate Road…

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Garden Buddha…

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Wat Chedi Luang…

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Ringing the morning bell…Wat Chedi Luang…

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Welcome to another week of  Travel Photo Thursday. What a difference a couple of weeks can make when you’re traveling. I’ve gone from wiling my days away on a white sand beach to becoming snap happy at Chiang Mai’s Royal Flora. Definitely more tiring than a day at the beach, but who can get tired when you’re surrounded by all these beautiful flowers?! With such a kaleidoscope of colors my camera was on overdrive. This is just a very small sampling for you to enjoy.

To join in the Travel Photo Thursday fun simply post a photo on your blog. Return here and place your link in the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this post.

Please post a link to a post featuring a travel photo, not simply a link to your blog.

As a courtesy please post a link to Budget Travelers Sandbox. 

If you do tweet a shot, please use the hashtag #TPThursday.

The Royal Flora is a massive flower show incorporating corporate gardens, country pavilions, the biggest orchid exhibit I have ever seen, a giant floral wheel, and a royal pavilion. Deciding where to go and what to see can be a challenge. The show runs until the end of March, so if you happen to be in Chiang Mai don’t miss it!

From the Orchid Pavilion

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Bunny on Steroids…

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The Floral Wheel…

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“King Bhumibol Tulip”

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A free shuttle is available, and a ticket for the day can be purchased on site for only 200 Baht (approximately $6.00US). This is definitely an event that any budget traveler can easily enjoy without breaking the bank.

More info. about the show is available here… Royal Flora

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Yesterday I spent most of the across the Ping River in Chiang Mai, and found an absolutely lovely textile shop, Vila Cini. Textiles ranges from moderately priced silk bags to more expensive silk runners. One part of the shop was more kitchenware, with an elephant theme. The shop itself is made up of several old Thai houses, joined by courtyard containing a fountain with this stunning Buddha face.

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Welcome to another week of  Travel Photo Thursday. I’m in beautiful Chiang Mai, where the weather is perfect. Let’s have another great week of photos.

To join in the Travel Photo Thursday fun simply post a photo on your blog. Return here and place your link in the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this post.

Please post a link to a post featuring a travel photo, not simply a link to your blog.

As a courtesy please post a link to Budget Travelers Sandbox. 

If you do tweet a shot, please use the hashtag #TPThursday.

I’m a morning person, but sometimes when I’m traveling I get lazy. I made myself get up for the sunrise a couple of times in Hua Hin and I was not disappointed with the sunrise on the beach. Here are a few of the shots I captured.

The work day begins…

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Above the horizon….

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Monk receiving alms on the beach…

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Wednesday is here, and it’s time for another week of Wanderfood Wednesday kindly hosted by Wanderlust and Lipstick.

This is also the first post in a new feature here at BTS; Sandbox Reviews. I’ll be regularly featuring reviews for budget restaurants, hotels, and things to do. Guest posters will also be welcome to submit reviews.

Located in the heart of old Chiang Mai, Jerusalem Falafel Restaurant is not new to the dining scene in Chiang Mai, but last night was my first time to have the pleasure of dining here.

Featuring an extensive Middle Easter Menu, choosing an appetizer and a main course was no easy feat. I finally decided on an appetizer of stuffed dolma leaves. I was not disappointed. What a burst of flavor! I would say these were the best stuffed dolma leaves I have ever eaten! The onions added an extra special touch to the dish.

I love falafel and for my main course I chose the Falafel Hummus Plate. A side salad, french fries, and pita bread completed the main course. The hummus was delicious, and the falafel was cooked just right, moist without being wet. The salad was fresh and crunchy and the french fries were perfect.

The restaurant has a warm, homey feel, and you can eat inside or out.

My entire meal with a glass of wine was well under $10.00US.

If you are in Chiang Mai, and have a hankering for Middle Eastern Cuisine, don’t miss the Jerusalem Falafel Restaurant. Your taste buds and your pocketbook will thank you!

Check out the first photo in this post for opening hours, etc.

You can also find them on Facebook, where they have posted a location map…Jerusalem Falafel Restaurant 

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Yesterday day I went to the Chin Haw Market in Chiang Mai…and I loved every second. Set-up next to the local mosque, the market starts in the wee hours (6am) and packs up at around noon hour. You can probably buy just about anything here. Locals seem to come for the fresh produce, and local “fast food”. Two of my finds (with the help of a friend) were the opium milk (gasp) and red rice wine. I had to buy a bag of each for research purposes

This morning (I know, can’t understand why I didn’t rip open the bag the minute I got back to my room) I cautiously opened the opium milk. Snff, sniff…smells like milk; not as white as regular milk. Almost holding my breath, I took a swallow…welllll…………not too bad; a little sour. Not something I could drink daily, but I think one could acquire a taste. I’m sure you’re all wondering if I got HIGH………..I only sipped a little so NO, and I was assured by my friend that the stuff would not put me into LALA Land. Apparently this is the milk produced after the water buffalos eat the poppy stalks after harvest. I’m not sure what it is used for, and hopefully Ms. Goggle can come up with an answer someday soon.

The Milk…..

Now for the red rice wine, and you’re probably thinking red wine in a bottle made from rice…NOT EXACTLY. You buy this in a plastic bag (sound familiar). The rice is red and sitting in liquid. Cautiously opening the bag, I immediately was hit with the pungent odor of, what else?…WINE. A sample proved that indeed the rice does taste like wine. Again, not sure what this is used for. Ms. Goggle will be working overtime later today or tomorrow!

The Wine…

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This is just a touch of what the Haw market offers. I will be back with a more in depth post just as soon as I stop gallivanting all over Chiang Mai!

Now, what should I do with my research samples??

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Happy New Year! and welcome to the first Travel Photo Thursday of 2012! I’m looking forward to another fantastic year of weekly travel photography.

To join in the Travel Photo Thursday fun simply post a photo on your blog. Return here and place your link in the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this post.

Please post a link to a post featuring a travel photo, not simply a link to your blog.

As a courtesy please post a link to Budget Travelers Sandbox. 

If you do tweet a shot, please use the hashtag #TPThursday.

This week I’m featuring a roundup of shots from my 11 days in Hua Hin Thailand…enjoy!

Sunrise on Hua Hin Beach…

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Kite Surfers…

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Getting ready to cast the net…

The locals were netting very tiny shrimp called Kaey, used to make shrimp paste. In the 10 days we were on the beach this was the only day they did this. I have to assume that they know the best time to cast their nets. There were at least ten groups fishing on the beach and all of them brought in lots of kaey.

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Cleaning the kaey…

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The Happy Helper

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Countdown to 2012…

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New Year’s Lantern over Hua Hin Beach…

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Happy New Year! Hua Hin, Thailand is the perfect spot for anyone looking for a relaxing and affordable beach holiday.

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