June 4, 2009 iKangaroo Travel Media LLC.www.ikangaroo.com+1 347 789 7149 IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Now Tourists in Rome can experience Angels & Demons like never before. iKangaroo has launched the first installment of the Guide Yourself Podcastseries with seven enhanced podcasts that accompany Dan Brown’s Angels &Demons.  Rather than paying upwards of €50 for a specialized Angels &Demons tour, tourists can download the podcasts onto an iPodTouch oriPhone to guide themselves around Rome to locations featured in the bookand movie.  The episodes cover the artwork, symbolism and drama of Angels& Demons by following the Path of Illumination, the fictional secret trailthat is marked by some of Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s masterpieces.  Even thosethat are not a fan of Angels & Demons will find the podcasts usefulbecause they explain many of Rome’s most famous sites, such as thePantheon, St. Peter’s Square, The Vatican, Piazza del Popolo, and PiazzaNavona, while providing interesting legends, history and a fewrecommendations for a cheap lunch and Rome’s world-class gelato andespresso. Each podcast utilizes images and maps to highlight what is beingexplained.  The format is rich and useful because it effectivelyillustrates how a monument, such as the Pantheon, has evolved over thelast 2000 years, shows the faces of the people being discussed, and isable zoom in on important details.  Each podcast has been written andproduced by Chris Carriero who is owner and founder of iKangaroo.  Chrislived in Rome where he had the opportunity to show 1000s of people to manyof the very sites that are explained in this series.  Because of this vastexperience in showing and explaining these sites Chris has distilled allthe information into short useful segments that inform, entertain anddirect the user.  With over 75 minutes of spoken content and hundreds ofimages that explain over fifty points of interest iKangaroo is sure thatthe Guide Yourself installment will be an interesting, fun and worthwhileway to see Rome. Besides being available on www.ikangaroo.com where you can also download aPDF cheat sheet that indexes each podcast, all seven episodes of the GuideYourself Podcasts are available for FREE at the iTunes store.  You canlocate them either by searching “ikangaroo” in the iTunes store orfollowing this link: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=318586955 About iKangaroo Travel Media LLC.  iKangaroo is focused on creating anddistributing useful travel content that can be accessed when travelers areactually at their destination.  The Guide Yourself product is the first ofmany enhanced podcasts that travelers will be able to download to morerichly experience the monuments, artwork and history of the places thatthey have worked so hard to visit.  iKangaroo was founded in 2006  andoperations are run out of Paris, France.  For more information feel freeto contact Chris Carriero at chris.carriero at ikangaroo- dot- com.                                   #   #   #

iKangaroo recommends stopping by this pretty cool and colorful little cafe
in Paris' Montmartre that was featured in the movie Amelie. The staff was
friendly and seemed to accept and indeed revel in the new found fame of
the local. Prices, I am told, are a bit higher after the movie was made,
but in general they fit right in line with other cafes in the area. A cup
of cafe will run about 3 Euro if you want to sit but only the usual 1 Euro
10 if you do the bar thing. I have been by there a few times and it is
usually busy with locals as well as fans of the movie. Sorry, there is no
Gnome but there a a few pictures about of his travels; I do not know if
they were movie props. Now working on a more comprehensive post about all
the movie scenes from the movie so stay tuned.
 
Thanks,
 
Chris

To me the beauty of Spanish eating has to do with two things: 1) all the different types of food; 2) the small portions (tapas, tapes, pinchos). I think of Spain as one of the world's snack capitals and I have not found anywhere else where it is so easy to just pop into a bar, order a beer and piece of food and then get back to your business. Plus, prices are generally very reasonable.  Anyone who has been to Spain knows that "cervecerias" ( loosely translated: "beer place") are in higher frequency than junky knick knacks at a yard sale, but with that said there are some true finds, Cerveceria El Petit Apolo is one and something you must do in Barcelona.

El Petit Apolo is perfect for a quick tapa (the menu ranges from 3.50 Euro (E) to 5 E for pretty decent size portions and a beer. The really great thing about this place is the fact that they have running beer taps on the table, so you can pour as much or as little as desired. That means, no waiting for a server and no warm beer. How do they keep track of the beer? Good question. They have a digital score board that tracks how much each table is consuming so you can pace yourself or race other tables. And the best part is that prices are still right in line with how cheap it is in Barcelona. A liter of beer runs 7E, which is .07E per or 2.10E per a 30CL beer which is consistent with what you would pay in any other local cerveceria. Plus, the food is pretty good. We had the house special Raxo which ran a cool 4.00E ( a mix of beef and chicken with french fries), which was plenty for even a meal.

Okay, now for the low down:

Name: Cerveceria El Petit Apolo

Perfect for: A quick snack, a light meal, and lots of beer

The big draw: I loved the do-it-yourself beer taps on each table

Price range: we paid 11E for a liter of beer and the house special called "Raxo"

Decor: Clean, a bit corporate (not a franchise) with plenty of space

Map: http://tinyurl.com/El-Petit-Apolo-Barcelona. ; It is located in an area crowded with budget hotels but not near the touristed La Rambla.

Phone number: +93 329 8641

Location: Not touristy, but near a bunch of budget hotels and hostels.

Don't forget to visit www.ikangaroo.com for more travel tips and recommendations that fit your budget.

Because Halloween is approaching I have been touring the Paris cemeteries for some good content when I visited Oscar Wilde's grave. I already knew that it was covered with lipstick kisses but I had no idea that the author of The Portrait Dorian Gray was so relevant with today's young women. After wandering and wandering and getting lost in the Cimetière du Père Lachaise I finally found the grave, actually I was led there by hearing a bunch of young girls giggling and as I approached they we all kissing away and contributing to the 100s maybe 1000s of lipstick smootch marks on the grave. It was a particularly ironic moment when their male companion asked, "Is this only for girls?" and laid one on the cold stone. As I was leaving the girls, obviously more educated about Oscar's preferences, were laughing and telling the boy that Mr. Wilde would probably prefer it.... I'm not sure if he understood.

Things to know:

• Cimetière du Père Lachaise is hard to navigate, take a digital pic of the map at the entrance to help you navigate. 
• Free admission and worth it, but out of the way. Plus know that they kick you out at dark so get there a couple of hours before sunset. 
• I guess that the lipstick is permanently damaging the grave...so take that into account before you literally lay one on for eternity. 
• Sorry no picture of the guy kissing the grave. I was already down the hill.

Thanks for reading!

Chris

www.ikangaroo.com

I really love those places that take a little bit of pride in the history of their location and make the effort to show it off. One such place that I found is just at the end of rue Mouffetard at 144. It is called Cave La Bourgogne and is one of those classic French brasseries complete with a detailed zinc bar, more about those later, and most interesting it is decorated with vintage pictures of the area that does not seem to have changed much in the last 50 years or so.  Cave La Bourgogne is perfect for a cup of coffee (1 Euro 20) and it also has a nice terrace with excellent people watching values. Moreover, for a quick lunch or a snack they have a great country platter (cheese, meat and vegetables served on a wooden cutting board).

Where it's located: 144 rue Muoffetard right in the round-about

What it will cost you: The country platter runs for about 10 euro, a
glass of wine for 3 Euro. No happy hour.

What it's good for: Snack, lunch or drink. As I said, it is located in a
super sweet spot for taking in the scene.

About the pictures:

1. Simple outside shot, standard I know but necessary for you to recognize it. 
2. Detail of the lovely zinc bar. 
3. Antique picture circa 1920s, from inside the bar, showing the church on the right side.  Had to take it from a distance in bad light but the inside it well decorated with them.
4. Modern picture of the same angle as #3.

For more Paris, and the rest of Europe, travel tips visit www.ikangaroo.com

Thanks,

Chris

Still researching rue Mueffetard for what has become a longer article, did you know that Hemingway lived close to here? Anyway, I found a nice simple place today located at 111 Rue Mouffetard called Cafe Brulerie des Ternes . Basically it is a coffee purveyor with a couple of tables and a bar set up for a quick cup. A strong cup of espresso will run you a single euro,
which comes with a nice rich piece of dark (and I mean dark) chocolate.

Where you can find it: Rue Mouffetard 111, Paris France

What it will cost you: One Euro for a basic and a little more for the
more complex brews.

Why you would go: Excellent people watching values; quick cup and on your
way place; friendly service.

What it is not: A sitting and enjoying the atmosphere local,
actually there are no seats outside.

I added the picture of the dog because I thought that it was fun. I should have gotten a picture of the crowd that was gathered around him. Don't worry he was perfectly fine; he was actually hamming it up for the crowd.

The Grizzli Cafe, located in the Marais, is one of a hundred or so  non-remarkable bistros in a very small area; however, not many if any can  say that they got their name from dancing bears. Yep, I said it, this place is named after bears that used to dance there decades ago.

Located off rue de Rivoli on the Right Bank, Grizzili Cafe is a decent pick with some interesting menu options including a lot of salads, making it appropriate for a lunch or a snack on a nice day; however, would not fight to get there for dinner.

Location: 7 rue St. Martin, Paris in the 4eme. On the left with your back to rue de Rivoli a few 100 meters from Hotel de Ville.

Best for: A lunch or snack. Stay away from the cheese plate or at least ask to make sure you will get more then fresh chevre and camembert which are super cheap and common in Paris and not worth ordering.  I am big fan of cheese and French country platters (a few meats, cheeses and a pate or two) and this one was weak.

Watch out: Wine was expensive, even for the house wine served in the omnipresent glass bottle which ran us 20 Euro or twice as much as the entree.

People watching vales: Medium to high. It's right at the beginning of the Marais so there is a bunch of foot traffic. Also, its location is a little better than some of the tight streets because it is located in a square.

Service: Fine and they insisted on speaking English.

Sorry no dancing bears but dogs are allowed. After all it is France!!!!!

Thanks for reading,

Chris

www.ikangaroo.com

Today I have a 100% recommendation just at the bottom of Muffetard at #2
rue Pascal. It is called Cafe Lea and it is a real find: I have done
lunch, drinks and coffee here and all are good with consistently good
service. This cafe does a smashing lunch business with the French,
actually there are a lot of businesses in the area, it is always busy
without being packed (I've walked by 30 times by now, eaten there once,
and had a few coffees). It has decent to good people watching values and
the price is reasonable.

Name: Cafe Lea

Good for: Lunch, but get there early ~1:00 as it gets busy; drinks, a
pint will run you about 5.20 Euro, unfortunately there is no Happy Hour
but at the same time this price is a good Euro less expensive than the
usual in the area.

People who hang out there: Young professionals that are dressed up but
not too buttoned up.

People watching values: Decent

Price of a coffee: 1.20 at the bar; 2.00 at a table so not bad.

Important to know: NO HOT DINNER, this is a lunch place. They do some
plates for dinner time but not as extensively as lunch.

Nice place, if you are in the area you should shoot for Cafe Lea rather
than some of the other restaurants in the area. Remember Cafe Lea at #2
rue Pascal.

Today not much of a cafe to report, just one of the 1000s in Paris. However, as the temp is dropping it is becoming more and more necessary to
seek shelter under a nice awning with a heater.

Cafe of the day: Cafe Arijan
Cafe cost: 1.20 comptoir, 2.20 salle (terrace or table)
Good prices on wine: about 2.80 salle
Heated awning
People watching value: medium to low, but it is near one of the 13 colleges of the Sorbonne so there is a student crowd for breaks and early evening.

Why you would end up at this cafe? Well chances are that you won't. It is located in the 13th and just around the corner from both Muffetard and Les Goblins so there are a lot of options. It's just a neighborhood joint with a bathroom, but they will make you buy something.