Heather on her Travels posts an article on how to make travel films including some tips  from two experts in adventure documentary making.

Solo Travel

On Solo Traveler, Janice blogs about the high number of people from Ireland searching for solo vacation infomation on Google and shares some twitter thoughts on  why the Irish rank as  number one.

Travel Book Giveaway

Matadorgoods.com reviews “Travel Therapy – Where do you Need to Go?” by Karen Shaler and launches a cool photo context.  By entering the competition you will have the chance to win a copy of this guidebook full of trips suggestions to relax and decompress.

Sexy Hotels

Hoosta Magazine presents “Hôtels Galants“, a guide book by Jonathan Siksou reviewing 45 romantic hotels from lovely country houses to charming Renaissance castles to trendy boutique hotels.  45 great places for a naughty holiday in France and other fantastic spots around the world.

Disney World Vacation

Planning a family trip to Disneyland, California, or Disney World, Florida? According to Traveling Mom there are 3 questions to consider before you book your stay in a Disney resort.

“Capturing the Moment” picture by Aplomb

This article is for the university student in Turin, Italy, who wants to get out of her dorm room or other unattractive, standard study space, and/or for the wanderer who likes to take a break from his travels to update his journal or read a novel. The combination of decent lighting and low, pleasant background noise at each of these spots makes it easy to settle down with a book. Waiters don’t hover. Bathrooms are available. And there is plenty of strong Italian coffee nearby for those long assignments …

1. Museum Café at Palazzo Madama

Ambiance is everything, and this museum café has plenty of it – floor to ceiling glass windows flood the robin’s egg blue room with natural light, a crisply vested waiter serves coffee from a silver tray. I came here on a rainy day to have a coffee and read the newspaper, and stuck around undisturbed for about a lovely, luxurious hour. You have to pay the museum fare to get into the café, but if you have a museum pass it’s free, and if you don’t… it’s worth it to check out the museum, too!

Museum Café at Palazzo Madama
Piazza Castello, 10122

2. Mood Café

This bookstore/café in the city center is great for reading, note-taking, forming outlines. If you have a hard time concentrating with lots of people around you, come between the breakfast and lunch crowds. Pull up a chair at one of the small brushed steel tables, wave down the waiter for a foamy macchiato, and take scholarly encouragement from the scores of books lining the interior walls of the café. The chic ambiance implied by its name extends even into the bathroom, which is cleaner and sleeker than even those in some nice restaurants. (Its deep purple interior and spacious wash-up counter, standard toilet, and fat roll of toilet paper contribute to an unusually luxurious bathroom experience.) The last time I was there, Mood’s background music featured hits by The Police, Michael Jackson, and Sinead O’Connor—a nostalgic line up for an American 20-something.

Mood Café
Via Cesare Battisti, 3/E – 10123

3. Il Circolo Dei Lettori

Chi legge vola. He who reads, flies. This is the motto of Turin’s literary society, the headquarters of which is nestled into this beautiful old palazzo building. Pass through the doors that open onto Via Bogina and hang a left at the manicured courtyard; ring 1115 and wait for the buzzer to open the door, then follow the plush carpet up the stairs to the reading rooms. Old tapestried palace parlors have been converted into spacious studies, each room scattered with hanging basket chairs, small tables and reading lamps, bookshelves and mantelpieces stuffed with books (mostly in Italian, but some in other languages)—every romantic literature fanatic’s dream. There are plenty of outlets to plug in your laptop. You can sit here all day, enjoy a coffee or small lunch at the brightly lit bar, and read to your heart’s content.

Il Circolo Dei Lettori
Via Bogino, 9 10123 Torino – Ring 1115

Photo by Jody Art 

Planning a holiday in Rome? If you enjoyed ‘Angels & Demons‘, you might want to visit the locations of the Hollywood movie starring Tom Hanks and based on Dan Brown’s book.  Europe a la Carte recommends taking a self-guided tour and reading Angela K. Nickerson’s free e-book on Rome’s Angels and Demons.

Rome Gay Travel Guide

Looking for a gay-friendly destination for an exciting city break in June? Patroc Gay Travel Guide recommends traveling to Italy and taking part to the Rome Gay Pride 2009 on June 13. And if you’re already in Rome, do not miss tonight’s party at the Muccassassina gay club, the last one before summer break!

Fine dining in Amsterdam

If you’re planning a trip to the Netherlands and want to know what and where to eat in Amsterdam, take a look at the Velvet Escape travel blog. Keith recommends eating springroll stuffed with an exquisite duck confit, seaweed, cucumber and celery at the beautiful Odessa restaurant offering fantastic views across Amsterdam’s harbor.

Italian street food in Paris

Is eating Italian pizza by the slice in Paris, France, possible? Yes, it is! Head to Al Taglio, an Italian restaurant reviewed by Eye Prefer Paris, and enjoy a delicious slice of potato & truffle cream or ham a smoked cheese pizza.

Great Paris Travel Book

Congrats to The Naughty Paris Guide team for winning the Independent Publisher Books Award 2009 Gold Medal in the travel guidebook category.

Photo of Castel Sant’Angelo, Rome, Italy, by FotoRita

• NDTravel recommends you not to miss Scandinavia’s ultimate scenic thrill article on the breathtaking Norwegian fjords.

• April Fool’s Day tweet: SheilaS gives you some tips on Hair Care Tourism.

• Dreaming of a cheap Hawaiian vacation? Whereivebeen tells you how.

• If you’re visiting Pompeii, Italylogue recommends you the guide WhyGo Italy by Karen Landes.

An obvious one to start with but well worth a mention never the less. This book could be thanked but also accused of changing the face of the beautiful southern French region of Provence. Mayle left his job in advertising and took himself off to live in a little cottage with his wife Jenny near the Lubéron Mountains where he immersed himself in the calm and delicious Provencal life. But unlike many travel books, this captured so many different people’s hearts because it’s not really about what a place is like but more what it feels like. The markets, the tourists, the locals, the insects and the Mistral all make you want to get on the first flight out there.

2. Labyrinth by Kate Mosse

Quite unlike the calm and tranquil feel of Mayle’s book, here Mosse presents the French city of Carcassonne and the areas of south western France as being exciting and mysterious sites full of hidden archaeological treasures. It merges present day France with 13th Century France. It’s full of Counts being ruthless, torture, quests for Holy Grails of certain kinds and it feels very much in the same ballpark as The Da Vinci Code. It’s not a bad way of seeing how France has changed over the years and it’s certainly a good way of delving into it’s past too.

3. Chocolat by Joanne Harris

Chocolate and love go hand in hand and where better for such a marriage of romance and cuisine than in France. Harris’ delicate and charming 2000 novel sees Vianne and her little daughter try and make it in the business world of aphrodisiacal chocolate when all of the prim and pious village folk seem to be under the watchful eye of the local priest. Set in a fictional little village between Toulouse and Bordeaux everything that is sacred about village life in France is on display here and you’ll want to eat the innocent characters as much as the warm chocolate Vianne makes.

4. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

If you want to get stuck into some more meaty historic parts of France then look no further than this classic from the writer of The Three Musketeers. It’s the ultimate book in many ways. There’s romance, adventure, swords, dancing, laughter and revenge. In fact it’s probably one of the best books ever written about revenge. When Dantes is wrongly imprisoned, he manages to escape and then carry out revenge by posing as a Count and blending in with his enemy’s way of life. Set during the early years of the 19th Century, it shows what life was like in France for the poor and for the wealthy with the backdrop to the story being the Hundred Days of Napoleon’s reign and the reign of King Louis Philipe.

Photo of lavender fields, Provence, France by nicephore

• Wanderluster gives away free copies of Wanderlust and Lipstick.

• Visit_Rimini invites us to attend the Tiki 26 Beach Festival (April 1st – May 10th).

• ItalyTravelista recommends a visit to the Roman Houses in Rome’s Celio area.

• Madtravelmad invites us to check out its new look.

• Travelwriticus recommends a visit to the Museum of Technology in Vienna.

BM Bookshop

BM Bookshop has been around 1963 although I consider this a new treasure of a bookshop. I recently found it on a quiet street intersecting Piazza Ognissanti where the river Arno seems to jump out at you. The books available to you are like the store, rare. Every time I entered this little hole in the wall, I am the only one perusing the merchandise. The woman that works inside is very friendly and helpful. The difference between the larger bookstores and BM, you are assisted kindly with every title you are looking for. Anything you are in need of, you will be able to find it here. From art history, cooking, architecture, translations from Italian authors. You can find the books that you wouldn’t normally find in the larger stores. There are always sales as well at BM, travel along the river Arno until you see the Westin and the Grand Hotel facing each other in Piazza Ognissanti. Borgo Ognissanti will bring you to the bookshop that is authentic Florence.

BM BOOKSHOP
Borgognissanti, 4/r
50123 Florence, Italy
Tel & fax: +39 055 294575
(Mon-Sat 9.30am 7.30pm)
Info: bmbookshop@dada.it
Web: bmbookshop.com

Paperback Exchange

Paperback Exchange started back 1979 and since been a token bookstore in Florence for students. A small family business that has flourished over the years, brings a friendly feel to the city center. Sitting at the end of Via delle Oche, Paperback Exchange lures the unexpected tourists in by it’s big windows of the latest book releases and most popular art history. Students are assisted by the helpful staff who speak English, if you forget the name of the book you need to purchase there is a list of the schools who use the Paperback Exchange that sell the textbooks to their students. Although they are not divided by professor, just by school name. Just ask a kind assistant.

Paperback Exchange
Via delle Oche, 4Red
50122 Firenze, Italy
Email: papex@papex.it
Phone: +39.055.293460
Fax: +39.055.2658395

Italian bookshops in Florence

The three Italian bookstores listed below have a large section of all books both in Italian and English. They are much bigger than the little shops above and are a bit more crowded. If you know exactly what book you need and where to find it, these are the bookstores to enter. As the assistants here are a bit more busy than the ones at the smaller ones, but it never hurts to ask one of them if you need some guidance. These bookshops are great if you want to not be bothered, to sit and read an excerpt of a book. Couches are spread throughout the store and Edison has a great cafe on the second floor where you can enjoy an espresso or cappuccino with your book. Here are the addresses of each of these larger stores in guiding you to the right book selection for you, either for school or for pleasure.

Mel Bookstore
Via de’ Cerretani, 16r
Phone: +39 055.287339
Fax: +39 055.215195
Info: melfirenze@melbookstore.it

La Feltrinelli International
Via Cavour, 12 – 50129 Florence FI
La Feltrinelli Librerie
Via de’ Cerretani, 30/32r – 50123 Florence FI
web: lafeltrinelli.it

Edison Bookstore
Piazza Repubblica 27/R – 50123 Florence FI
Phone: +39 055-213-110

Photo of book store in Florence, Italy by Rosino

Following the trip, you can share your travel journal with family and friends and revisit the destination again and again. Unfortunately, not all travelers keep up their travel journal while they’re on-the-road.

Here are a few smart tips for keeping a travel journal:

1. Buy a travel-friendly journal

Think about the destination, its climate and weather and your itinerary. For example, if you’re going to a wet, humid place, then ensure you take along a travel journal with waterproof cover and tougher exterior. If weight matters, like on a long mountain trek, you’ll want a lighter, compact travel journal.

2. Gather your thoughts and take time out to write

Set regular times (daily, weekly) to gather your thoughts and update your travel journal. An excellent time to write in your travel journal is when you’re writing and sending postcards. Take excerpts from your postcards and record them in your travel journal.

3. Keep your mementos

From rail tickets to museum exhibition stubs, keep as many travel mementos as possible. Later, you can add them to your travel journal for variety, color and sentimentality.

4. Take a page from scrapbookers

Ask any scrapbooking friends how they do it and you’ll learn a lot. The art of scrapbooking can inspire you with its creativity and design sense.

5. Go online – write your own travel blog

Whether you write on a laptop or frequent cybercafés, you can create your own travel blog on-the-road. Blog platforms like Blogger are easy-to-learn, accessible and affordable. Taking and uploading quality digital photos can instantly share your latest destination with friends and family online.

Photo of travel journal cover by Chamko Rani

Here are some books I’d really recommend:

1. Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe

Other than being written years ago and more out-of-date than a Victorian road map, Bill Bryson has a reputation for writing some of the wittiest, most entertaining books out there. In Neither Here nor There, Bryson blunders around Europe on a whim, rediscovering the continent from the previous time he visited on a debauched adventure as a teenager. Bryson’s eccentricity and hilarious memories are what makes this book such a classic – some absolute gems include the time when he was nearly tricked into eating horse manure by Austrian Peasants, and his obsession with saving money and the quality and room-size of hotels. It’s odd how such an ill-informed person can write so much about what he sees and for it to be amusing, but it works. Well recommended.

2. The Catcher in the Rye

Thought provoking and almost incredibly real, this classic by recluse JD Salinger is a favourite in the hearts and minds of youth today, over 50 years later. The Catcher in the Rye is quite simply an account of the experiences of a disillusioned young teenager running away from his boarding school to go to New York, and discovering both the world and himself on the way. A great deal of the book is simply the aforementioned youthful protagonist monologuing about completely irrelevant topics, in particular times spent with his young sister. You’d think what is basically a few fictional diary entries would be impossibly dreary, but it’s both an involved and detailed look into the mind of a 16 year old facing the harsh, cruel reality of the world.

3. Fight Club

The enduring popularity the film has enjoyed has kept Chuck Palahniuk’s magnum opus alive to this day. To the uninitiated, Fight Club is a story about how two friends, one a impoverished, rebellious soap manufacturer, the other a specialist in car recalls for a seemingly giant American car corporation. The two adopt a nihilistic attitude and decide to reassert their masculinity by forming an underground fighting club where it doesn’t matter whether you win or lose.

Raises an interesting point about the real purpose of life and has a compellingly gritty, hateful feel – the first-person narration helps some too.

4. Starbucked – A double tall tale of caffeine, commerce and culture

Doesn’t really focus on either caffeine, commerce or culture – don’t expect anything other than entertainment and mild interestingness.

Like a steaming Grande Latte, you’ll probably find it almost impossible to put down. However, while containing a decent amount of information about the company and a particularly interesting section on why some of the competitors failed, wannabe entrepreneurs and business-owners may find that actually it’s not a whole lot of use, either as a business manual or as a period piece documenting a cultural milestone. However, you can’t help being swept in with how absorbing the rise (and fall?) of Starbucks really is.

“Holiday Reading” photo by tristanf

The National Geographic makes a list of hangover helpers around the world including coffee in Italy, beer in the Netherlands, sour pickle juice in Poland, pickled herring in Germany, and tripe soup in Romania.

If you’re planning a trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina, visit Go Green Travel Green and read an article on the best of Argentine cuisine.

Gadling reviews 100 Places Every Woman Should Go, an inspiring travel book by Stephanie Elizondo Griest that will be available on February 24.

Visit the 2008 Weblog Awards and vote for the best travel blog. This year’s nominees are MyKugelhopf, Folie à Deux, The Asian Traveler,  Curious Expeditions,  Notes from the Road,  The Lost Girls,  LL World Tour,  Jaunted – The Pop Culture Travel Guide,  Intelligent Traveler and The Cranky Flier.

While you could certainly leave a few books at the hotel for other travelers to peruse, why not make a couple of Euros off them at a used book store? Here are some suggestions to both buy and sell English books in Berlin.

1. St. George’s

St. George’s is close to Heaven on Earth. Seriously, if anyone were to ask me my top 10 favorite bookstores in the world, St. George’s would figure in there somewhere, matching up even with obvious classics like Powell’s in Portland, Oregon, USA. Compact yet bursting from the seams with a great selection of new and used books that are all reasonably priced, St. George’s is THE English bookstore in Berlin. They carry a wide variety of fiction and nonfiction titles, including your up to the date recommended titles from the Guardian or the New York Times as well as unknown, overlooked classics that have been culled together by Paul (owner) and Jonathan (resident grumpy book sleuth). Tell them what you’re into and they’re bound to clue you in on 50 other things you might also want to read. Another bonus is their great selection of books about Berlin with classics like Berlin Alexanderplatz and other rarities. St. George’s also buys books, so, again, bring those paperbacks you’ve been hauling around on your travels and trade them in.

Also worth noting is St. George’s Tuesday night movie program, where they show art house classics and obscure international gems (with English subtitles), all for 2 Euros and a complimentary beer or glass of wine.

Wörtherstrasse 27 (Prenzlauerberg)

M – Fr: 11 am -8 pm

Sa: 11 am -7 pm

2. Another Country

To be honest, Another Country is nowhere near Heaven on Earth. Pretentious, disorganized, stuffy and outdated, Another Country’s selection is wanting, if not despicably pathetic. It’s worth mentioning, however, not only for its location in the heart of Kreuzberg 61 but also for its wide selection of detective novels and science fiction. Seriously, if you want to pick up a copy of everything L. Ron Hubbard ever published, then this is the place for you (just don’t come looking here for any poetry/fiction/social sciences/philosophy/history from the last 50 years). Check out their web page and join their newsletter, in case you want to go to one of their events, which are quaint and amusing.

Riemannstrasse 7 (Kreuzberg)

3. Pro Qm

Pro Qm is another amazing bookstore in Berlin and probably the coolest. Though daunting in its laissez-faire organization, Pro Qm focuses on cities, city planning, art, theory, architecture, feminism, queer theory, fashion, pop and culture. They offer a great selection of magazines and books from small publishing houses, artist catalogues and monographs as well as up to the minute art books. Even if these topics don’t interest you, a visit is recommended nonetheless for their selection of books about Berliner graffiti and the Berlin of today and yesterday. While other places will give you a view of history concerning the city, Pro Qm can show you Berlin as Berliners (and new Berliners) see the city.

Almstadtstrasse 48-50 (Mitte)

M – Sa: 11 am – 8 pm

4. Dussmann’s

Dussmann’s is a must for book lovers, music fans, film freaks and those of you who can read German. Although it’s mildly reminiscent of American chains like Borders, Dussmann’s has a wonderful selection of travel books, books about Berlin, and just about everything else on five floors. They have a wonderful philosophy and sociology selection as well as all the recent hits from the English (and, to some extent, French and Spanish) market(s). Dussmann’s DVD selection is nothing to frown at and neither is their music selection, though, admittedly, their classical and jazz selection is far superior to their pop and electronica selection. If you have children, the kids corner on the second floor should prevent a rainy from turning into a disaster. Also, if you want to learn German (or any other language for that matter), this should be your first stop.

Friedrichstrasse 90 (Mitte)

M – Sa: 10 am – 12 am

5. Do You Read Me?

Sick of reading? Isn’t that why you came on vacation anyway? To get away from the stress of university or your mind numbing job? Just want something to flip through? To ogle at? Something that will make you scratch your chin but not strain your eyes? Then stop by, Do you read me? for their wonderful selection of fashion, art and cultural magazines in a beautiful, austere setting. A stop here should make any train ride or airport visit pleasant; or as pleasant as it can be.

Auguststrasse 28 (Mitte)

M – F: 10 am – 8.30 pm

Sa: 10 am – 7.30 pm

Photo of books in Berlin, Germany, originally posted by Jacob Botter

Travel photo competition: last days to enter the Times’ October travel photo contest! Send your favorite travel picture and win a trip to Marrakech, Morocco.

Salone del Gusto: held in Turin, Italy, from the 23rd to 27th October, the Salone del Gusto exhibition is one of the major international events in the food and wine sector and brings together artisan producers from all over the world. Come and taste the huge variety of foods and wines offered!

Salon du Chocolat: are you a chocoholic? The Salon du Chocolat, at Paris’ Porte de Versailles, starts October 29th and is a heaven for all chocolate lovers. With the world’s best chocolate makers, exhibitions, conferences, recipes demonstrations and chocolate fashion shows it is today one of the most popular chocolate events in the world.

Portuguese literature is also heavily influenced by the cultures of Brazil, Africa and various other regions where Portuguese explorers founded far flung colonies. This means there is a wealth of opportunity for visitors to Lisbon to explore Portuguese literature as well as finding books in other languages in the various bookshops in the city.

1. Bertrand

Bertrand is the oldest bookshop in Lisbon, founded in 1732, and is among the most well known. Behind a picturesque façade of blue and white tiles is a wide selection of Portuguese writers and also many translations into English. Situated at Rua Garrett 73-75 in the heart of the Chiado, Bertrand has an enviable location that allows visitors to soak up the best of Portuguese literature in one of the areas most associated with it. Also available are guidebooks in a selection of languages and foreign magazines. For those with a proficiency in Portuguese the shop has a website that gives a good idea of what is available and has a contact feature allowing you to order books not currently held in stock.

2. Buchholz

Buchholz is located at 4, Rua Duque de Palmela, a short distance from the top of the Avenida da Liberdade. Originally founded by a German, this shop contains books on a very wide range of topics; visitors to Lisbon who are specialists in slightly obscure subjects should be able to find something on their field here. The areas of interest include most spheres of science, classical music, gay literature and new age books. Buchholz also carries narrow selections in a wide range of languages, including French, German, Spanish, Italian and Russian, as well as English. Travellers wishing to purchase new audio books to listen to on long flights home will also find something to suit their tastes here.

3. Livraria Brittanic

At 83, Rua de Sao Marcel in the Bairro Alto, and opposite the British Institue, is Livraria Brittanic. This is the best place for English language books in Lisbon and carries a wide range of classic novels and popular fiction. If there is something you want that is not in stock the Brittanic will more than happily order it in for you and deliver it to your hotel once it has arrived. Staffed by friendly and helpful young people who are clearly enjoying their job this is a pleasant bookshop in which to simply browse and while away some time.

4. FNAC shops

For sheer breadth of choice the FNAC shops in the Armazéns do Chiado and Colombo shopping malls cannot be beaten. Travellers hoping to find a wide selection of books in their own language other than English are best advised to try these shops first. However, these are large chain stores present across Europe and so certainly lack most of the charm of other bookshops in the city. Their vast, soulless interiors stock music and technological gadgets as well as books. Locals use them for convenience and their lower prices due to economy of scale but travellers seeking a specifically Portuguese experience are advised to look elsewhere.

5. Feira doa Alfarrabistas market

Although not strictly a shop, the first Sunday of every month sees the Lisbon Feira doa Alfarrabistas market pitched at Oriente metro station, the last stop on the Linha Vermelha. Although in a slightly out of the way location, this is a great chance for visitors to explore a fascinating collection of second hand and vintage books. Serious bibliophiles might want to arrange their trip to coincide with the market to take advantage of the opportunity to discover some literary gems.

Photo of bookshop by ButterflySha

I know, you feel guilty about it. You’re in a foreign country, you’re supposed to immerse yourself in the culture. But what you really want is a day to curl up with a bad (or even a good) novel and effortlessly enjoy the sight of your mother tongue. It’s ok, we won’t judge you. Besides, if you’re just passing through, chances are you haven’t mastered the language. And sometimes, after days of struggling with the three phrases you remember from 9th grade Spanish and endless pantomiming, you just want to lay your eyes on some English.

Luckily, Madrid being the cosmopolitan place it is, and thanks to it’s growing British and Irish population, you’ve got many places to go to get something to read. Avoid new books if you’re on a budget, English lit in Spain is expensive (the average paperback running from €10-20), second-hand stores are your best budget option (usually between 4 and 8 €).

THE BIGGIES

I will be frank, these will probably not be your best options, but if you want a quick novel and money is no object, they’ll do in a pinch. And if you’re in Madrid long-term they will usually order you a title if they don’t have it in stock.

• FNAC

Located in Plaza Callao, this mega-store is Europe’s answer to Borders or Barnes & Noble. Look for “Idiomas” on the 2nd floor, amble past the grammar books and travel guides and you’ll find a decent but pricey selection of classics and some new titles, mostly fiction. And after you’re done you can load up on DVDs and music as well. They’ve also got a silent reading nook so you can browse as long as you like before you buy.

• Casa Del Libro

Another biggie, but all dedicated to books. The largest central store is only a stone’s throw from FNAC at Calle Gran Via, 29. Similar selection of classics, and some new titles, hidden in the back on the ground floor.

THE INDEPENDENT BOOKSELLERS

Not one of the mega-stores, but it is entirely dedicated to foreign language books, a big favorite of English teachers in Madrid (well, those with steady income, cuz as the books are new, they’re still pricey). But for the budget traveler, worry not! There are more and more used book stores popping up all the time! These two specialize in English books and combine reading with drinking, with a bar/café upstairs and the bookstore below!

• J&J’s Books and Coffee

This little store was opened in 2003 by Jamie, an American expat, and her Spanish husband Javi (hence the two J’s). The bar’s just been remodeled to fit a few more café-sipping expats into it’s cozy interior, the bar-staff are always bilingual and book-savvy. In addition to a good selection of fiction (and the classics, which are priced super cheap!) there are activities, like language exchange nights and a Trivia Quiz on Fridays. And free WIFI!

J&J’s Books and Coffee shop
C/ Espiritu Santo 47
Metro Noviciado

• Bacchus

Bacchus is Madrid’s newest hangout for bookish expat types. There’s slightly more room to spread out in Bachhus’ upstairs café and always good company and friendly helpful bar staff. They too have a quiz night (on Wednesdays), language exchanges, and free WIFI. It’s easy to spend quite a while sipping one of their many teas, and browsing their collection, again, mainly strong on fiction.

Bacchus bookstore
C/Melendez Valdez, 52
Metros Moncloa or Arguelles

There are also book stores that have a variety of foreign language books, some with a good English selection.

• Pasajes International Bookshop

Don’t let this store’s relatively modest facade mislead you. Venture inside, walk past the heavy-looking Spanish philosophy books, go downstairs, past the French lit and you will be pleasantly surprised by the fantastic selection of (new) English books. There’s the regular selection of classic literature, but a much better selection of contemporary fiction and non-fiction than you’ll find at FNAC or Casa del Libro. Any bookstore carrying a book about all things Big Lebowski prominently displayed next to an alternative history of Britain is at the top of my list!

Pasajes International Bookshop
C/ Génova Nº 3.
Metro Alonso Martinez

• La Libreria de Lavapiés

This little shop in the quirky multicultural neighborhood of Lavapiés has a small selection of English language fiction tucked into it’s back room along with a couple of other languages. If you just need something for that next train ride, it’ll certainly do. Also good for book-lover presents like journals.

La Libreria de Lavapiés book shop
C/Argumosa, 39
Metro Lavapiés

• Petra’s: The International Bookshop

This is one of the more well-established second-hand bookshops, dealing with various languages. It’s selection isn’t as good as some of the afore-mentioned places, and a lot of their stuff is hardback, which most other stores don’t bother buying. But again, it’s worth a browse for airplane ride literature and if you need a pick-me-up, they offer free coffee and tea while you peruse.

Petr’as book store
C/ Campoamanes Nº 13.
Metro Opera

PRESS

If you’ve been traveling for a while and really just want to catch up on current events, you can also easily find English language newspapers and magazines.

• VIPS

This massive chain of restaurants and food & gift shops have a selection of press as well. In the larger shops (such as on Gran Via or C/ Fuencarral) there will be English Language newspapers, usually British, such as the Guardian, as well as magazines like Time, Newsweek, the Economist, People, or Wired.

• Your Local Kiosk

Most of the street corner news agents won’t have international press, but there are exceptions at major central locations, such as on Plaza Puerta del Sol, or one near Metro Bilbao (outside the Cafe Comercial), another near Plaza Callao, etc… The selection varies, and you may not have many choices. They are often disappointingly full of British tabloids like the Sun, but you can usually get the International Herald Tribune.

• Local Press

And of course if you want to pick up something to read in English about Madrid, there are a couple of English language mags. In Madrid, and The Broadsheet, are both monthly publications. In Madrid is available for free in expat hangouts, like most Irish Bars and some of the bookstores listed above, and caters more to the study abroad, young expat demographic. The Broadsheet’s a glossy mag, costs a couple euros and caters more to the older somewhat British crowd.

Photo of old books in Almoneda, Madrid originally posted by zsita

She was right. Lovely cafes, restaurants, and fashionable shops line the street. I did a bit of window shopping before stopping in to Daunt Books, at number 83. What better place to spend time before a flight than a book shop? Better yet, a book store that specializes in travel.

The front room of the original, Edwardian period store, features beautifully laid out selections of new releases of all types. Further back, one will find art, design, cooking, and gardening titles. But the pièce de résistance lies in the back “gallery”, where an extensive selection of travel volumes are housed on two floors.

Organized by country, travel guides are mixed with novels and non-fiction books, new and used. Perusing the shelves, my eye wandered through the section devoted to England, where histories, and biographies of British royalty beckoned.

Before making my way to the section on Germany, where I currently live, I stopped to browse the books on America. A tinge of homesickness surfaced while flipping through a New England art book. I quickly continued down the aisle and snatched up two interesting books about Germany, one used, hardcover called Along the Wall and Watchtowers, A Journey Down Germany’s Divide, by a young German journalist called Oliver August; and an anonymous diary titled A Woman In Berlin. Needless to say, I was well satiated on my flight back home.

Photo of Daunt Books bookstore originally posted by stealthtractor