Sicily travelogue

Here is a detailed travelogue of our recent trip to Sicily:
http://www.molon.de/travelogues/Italy/2012-13/

Two weeks spent looping around the island, covering some of the major
highlights
--

Alfred Molon
http://www.molon.de - Photos of Asia, Africa and Europe

"Alfred Molon" wrote in message
...
Here is a detailed travelogue of our recent trip to Sicily:
http://www.molon.de/travelogues/Italy/2012-13/

Two weeks spent looping around the island, covering some of the major
highlights

First off - great report Alfred, but then we get to the bit that I disagree
with

I didn't notice those restaurant food prices as out of line with other
Western European locations from my recent trips.

For those that haven't looks at Alfred's report his sample prices a

Pasta Starter: 7-10 Euro
Main Course: meat 10-20 plus vegetable at 3 E per portion
plus coperto at 2 E plus unspecified amounts for salads and deserts

making a total of 25E pp 100 E per family, twice! a day.

Well firstly, after you have had breakfast in the hotel (which the report
says that he did) does anybody really have a three course meal for both
lunch and dinner. I certainly don't. Lunch will just be the pasta (or a
sandwich).

And are those prices really higher than elsewhere in W Europe for full
meals?

On my most recent trip to France/Spain I was presented with menus in France
at:
Starter 10-15 E
Main Course 15-25E (vegetables included!)
Dessert 8-12E.

And I looked around and found that these was normal and difficult to beat in
a "sit down" restaurant. And yes, I did think that it was more expensive
than I had expected and wondered at the time what had happened to the idea
that eating out in France was cheap! But is it really expensive for what it
is?

In Spain/Portugal prices were cheaper, but you still didn't see much change
from 25E pp for a three course meal.

There were cheap snack bar type places where you could spend less, and a
valid criticism of Sicily might be that these don't exist (I' can't remember
it was too long ago).

But I don't think that, as restaurants, these prices are out of line with
elsewhere.

What experiences do other have?

Tim

tim..... wrote:

"Alfred Molon" wrote in message
...
Here is a detailed travelogue of our recent trip to Sicily:
http://www.molon.de/travelogues/Italy/2012-13/

Two weeks spent looping around the island, covering some of the major
highlights

First off - great report Alfred, but then we get to the bit that I disagree
with

I didn't notice those restaurant food prices as out of line with other
Western European locations from my recent trips.
[]
What experiences do other have?

Similar to yours, although 'menu' deals can often present good value if
you want to eat several courses. I've had some exquisite meals on menu
deals in parts of Spain, for example.

David

--
(*) of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
www.davidhorne.net (email address on website)
"[Do you think the world learned anything from the first
world war?] No. They never learn." -Harry Patch (1898-2009)

"David Horne" wrote in message
...
tim..... wrote:

"Alfred Molon" wrote in message
...
Here is a detailed travelogue of our recent trip to Sicily:
http://www.molon.de/travelogues/Italy/2012-13/

Two weeks spent looping around the island, covering some of the major
highlights

First off - great report Alfred, but then we get to the bit that I
disagree
with

I didn't notice those restaurant food prices as out of line with other
Western European locations from my recent trips.
[]
What experiences do other have?

Similar to yours, although 'menu' deals can often present good value if
you want to eat several courses. I've had some exquisite meals on menu
deals in parts of Spain, for example.

In France the tourist "menu de Jour" was only available at lunchtime

In Spain/Portugal it looked like it was meant to be only available at
lunchtime but that the general economic situation has forced restaurants to
offer it all day

tim

tim..... wrote:

"David Horne" wrote in message
...
tim..... wrote:

"Alfred Molon" wrote in message
...
Here is a detailed travelogue of our recent trip to Sicily:
http://www.molon.de/travelogues/Italy/2012-13/

Two weeks spent looping around the island, covering some of the major
highlights

First off - great report Alfred, but then we get to the bit that I
disagree
with

I didn't notice those restaurant food prices as out of line with other
Western European locations from my recent trips.
[]
What experiences do other have?

Similar to yours, although 'menu' deals can often present good value if
you want to eat several courses. I've had some exquisite meals on menu
deals in parts of Spain, for example.

In France the tourist "menu de Jour" was only available at lunchtime

In Spain/Portugal it looked like it was meant to be only available at
lunchtime but that the general economic situation has forced restaurants to
offer it all day

Hm. Definitely had menus/formules in French restaurants in the evenings,
maybe rarer but not uncommon, particularly in tourist areas.

David

--
(*) of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
www.davidhorne.net (email address on website)
"[Do you think the world learned anything from the first
world war?] No. They never learn." -Harry Patch (1898-2009)

Am Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:24:55 -0000 schrieb tim.....:

In France the tourist "menu de Jour" was only available at lunchtime

Thats strange. When we went around Bourgogne, it was available in the
evenig at every restaurant we tried. It was in summer, so the high season,
and most tourists (lots of them French) rather have a 4 course menu in the
evening than for lunch.

Regards,

Frank

"Frank Hucklenbroich" wrote in message
.. .
Am Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:24:55 -0000 schrieb tim.....:

In France the tourist "menu de Jour" was only available at lunchtime

Thats strange.

I just assumed that it was because they wanted to charge full price in the
evening

When we went around Bourgogne, it was available in the
evenig at every restaurant we tried. It was in summer, so the high season,
and most tourists (lots of them French) rather have a 4 course menu in the
evening than for lunch.

Yep, so why discount it when it is most popular?

tim

Am Fri, 22 Feb 2013 11:09:55 -0000 schrieb tim.....:

First off - great report Alfred, but then we get to the bit that I disagree
with

I didn't notice those restaurant food prices as out of line with other
Western European locations from my recent trips.

For those that haven't looks at Alfred's report his sample prices a

Pasta Starter: 7-10 Euro
Main Course: meat 10-20 plus vegetable at 3 E per portion
plus coperto at 2 E plus unspecified amounts for salads and deserts

making a total of 25E pp 100 E per family, twice! a day.

Seems like what you would pay in a city in Germany. Then again, even in a
country like Germany prices can vary regionally. I live in Cologne, and
restaurants here are rather expensive. When I once went to Kiel (northern
coastal town), I was surprisend that food in Restaurants was about 25%
cheaper than in Cologne.

And are those prices really higher than elsewhere in W Europe for full
meals?

On my most recent trip to France/Spain I was presented with menus in France
at:
Starter 10-15 E
Main Course 15-25E (vegetables included!)
Dessert 8-12E.

It really depends. In Paris you will pay about what you quote (or more). In
the countryside you can have great food for much less. I once went with a
house-boat down the River Saone. There the typical "menu du jour" was about
35 EUR, but that included starters (often seafood), main meal (good stuff
such as duck or steak), dessert and cheese. Add the wine to it, which was
quite cheap compared to other countries.

In Spain/Portugal prices were cheaper, but you still didn't see much change
from 25E pp for a three course meal.

Also in Spain it greatly depends on where you go. I was on Lanzarote last
October and found food there very cheap. Main dishes around 8-10 EUR, for
12 EUR you would get s steak you could hardly eat. Fresh fish around the
same, between 10 and 12 EUR, normally including a salad.

What experiences do other have?

On Italy: It's a very mixed bag. In Pisa and Genua I found food
ridicolously cheap, as long as you stay away from the main tourist
attractions. So for Pisa, stay away from the leaning tower and go to one of
the many little restaurants near the University. In Genua, anywhere near
the harbour will do. In both places, we paid about 25 - 30 EUR for a meal
for 3 persons, including 3 Pizza, half a liter of wine and one or two soft
drinks. So about 10 EUR per person, including wine.

On the other hand in Rome I paid about 25 EUR for one tiny slice(!) of
Pizza Margarita and a small beer. Venice should be even worse. A collegue
of mine, who is Italian himself, once went to Venice and make the mistake
of going in one of the "tourist"-restaurants. They charged him 25 EUR for
two cappuchino and a glass of water. Yes, that is rip-off.

Regards,

Frank

In article , Frank
Hucklenbroich says...
Seems like what you would pay in a city in Germany. Then again, even in a
country like Germany prices can vary regionally. I live in Cologne, and
restaurants here are rather expensive. When I once went to Kiel (northern
coastal town), I was surprisend that food in Restaurants was about 25%
cheaper than in Cologne.

To make an example, here in Munich you can go to the PEP (Perlacher
Einkaufszentrum) and eat for 4-7 Euro. You will get a dish with rice or
noodles with meat and vegetables.
--

Alfred Molon
http://www.molon.de - Photos of Asia, Africa and Europe

Alfred Molon wrote:

In article , Frank
Hucklenbroich says...
Seems like what you would pay in a city in Germany. Then again, even in a
country like Germany prices can vary regionally. I live in Cologne, and
restaurants here are rather expensive. When I once went to Kiel (northern
coastal town), I was surprisend that food in Restaurants was about 25%
cheaper than in Cologne.

To make an example, here in Munich you can go to the PEP (Perlacher
Einkaufszentrum) and eat for 4-7 Euro. You will get a dish with rice or
noodles with meat and vegetables.

That's a shopping mall. You will get similar prices in malls in the UK
and US, but 'proper' restaurants are generally more expensive, as they
are in Germany too.

David

--
(*) of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
www.davidhorne.net (email address on website)
"[Do you think the world learned anything from the first
world war?] No. They never learn." -Harry Patch (1898-2009)