We’ve just completed an extensive video project chronicling the experiences on a recent tour to Paris and Madrid. My friend, Abby Austin, lugged a camera and microphone around to capture the essence of what I do and why. I hope you enjoy the video tour.
-David
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIac_ls6858&list=PLTOexkOfI3byi48chX61iPOJo4S8tajqs&index=10
I took my final “student educational tour” in 1999. This trip was a bit different from my previous “student educational tours” in that it was designed as a performance tour for my band students and me. Leading up to the tour, I did a lot of planning and selected all the destinations. In my now famous “McGuffin tour style,” we stayed in some out-of-the-way locations, as well as visited big cities. In fact, the company handling my tour arrangements had never taken student groups to a few of our destinations. Although this tour was well planned, we still had to put up with mostly poor hotels and the usual tasteless dinners.
There were some memorable dining experiences in the small villages I had chosen. I remember the little family-run hotel in Rot-an-der-Rot with a basement bowling alley. The mom and pop chef team were happy to feed us and keep the second helpings coming until the pot was empty. The same was true with the hotel restaurant in Interlaken. However, beyond that, dining was disappointing.
I don’t have many “dining” photos from those early student tours. I did find this one of my son and his friends at a “nice” restaurant in a village on the Rhine River. Notice the plate of fries and breaded meat. On another occasion, I recall being taken to a Moroccan restaurant in Paris where we were served undercooked chicken and couscous. How can that be? We were in Paris, the gourmet capital of the world, and we were served, not escargot and steak frites, but Moroccan cuisine from another continent!
In contrast, here is a photo I snapped on one of my student tours a few years ago in Rome. The dinner consisted of three courses, the second being filet of beef, roasted potatoes, veggies, and a strawberry and chocolate garnish. Not only was the meal a dining experience, the ambiance and location was amazing. This dinner is at the Café Bernini on the very popular Piazza Navona. ROME: Dinner on the Piazza Navona
Here are some food-related comments from a recent tour. The question posed is, “In general, what did you think of the dining experiences [on your tour]?
“The food and wine were fantastic every night. The last time we went to Europe we didn’t eat nearly as good. It made the trip much more memorable being able to enjoy good food and not having to worry about trying to figure out what to order.”
– Paris to Rome Tour, June 2011
“What kind of question is this??? Haha. Almost always delicious, and I am a VERY picky eater, by American standards. Often, I wish there was some sort of choice for dinner, but perhaps that’s not the way things work over there. Also, I found the food in Switzerland to be subpar.” –Paris to Rome Tour, June 2011
If you would like to read more comments from my tour alumni, take a look at my tour comment page. Or, you can leave your own comments about “dining with David” right here!
Jason Duckett is a friend who has traveled to Europe many times with me. He is heading off on his own with a group from Jacksonville, Florida to meet up with me next week in Rome. He, wrote this email to his group members offering the following pre-departure advice:
Hey!
The Mercato de San Miguel has long served as central Madrid’s one-stop “farmer’s” market. I first visited here years ago when locals dropped in for fresh ingredients for a full meal. Here one can find fresh and smelly fish, harry legs of Iberian ham, countless bottles of wine, fresh and squeaky-clean vegetables and all the extras as well.
Arriving at the Mercato de San Miguel this year I found an enhanced market with the new additions of many vendors selling tapas to eat right away. Last night we decided to have a movable feast of tapas and drinks at the market. About forty of us descended on the market at 7:00 pm and munched and drank our way through dinner in a four hour moveable feast. What a great way to experience Madrid and get right into the heartbeat of the local culture.
Vivian found what she dubbed “the most amazing sweets ever.” A warm center of caramel surrounded by puff pastry and loaded with chocolate and cream topping.
Kayla and friends found more desserts that were pretty amazing as well.
My friend Chris and I enjoyed a plate of french fries at the hotel bar before we went to the market. Once there, he did not realize I was paying for their tapas hunting! Finally, with money in hand, Chris found somethings a little better than that plate of fries.
For 2,3,or 4 euros you can get a tasty selection of OLIVES. I enjoyed olives stuffed with calamari, cheese and ham. They also had one variety that tasted smokey and herbal. The flavor was so intense I could not get enough of them!
The Jamon Iberico is great. There are several varieties ranging in price from 5 to 16 euros per kilo. The best variety is Jamon Bellota which is thinly sliced from the leg of a black Iberian pig fed only a diet of acorns and allowed to roam freely. You have to purchase at least 500 grams (about 9 euros) which will feed 4 people.
The cheesemonger’s kiosk was a popular place. For about 6 euros I asked the vendor to assembly six selections of her favorite cheeses. I don’t know what I got, but all of them were tasty! I chose one variety on my own and boy did I make a mistake. It was a mixture of sheep and goat cheese and when I pointed to it, the vendor wrinkled her nose in disgust. I don’t know why I decided to get it anyway!
So, if you happen to find yourself in Madrid make a point to enjoy and experience the Mercato de San Miguel. It’s on Calle Major between Puerta del Sol and the Royal Palace, just around the corner from Plaza Major.
Exploring Europe’s travel philosophy is simple…inspire people to have fun traveling in Europe by providing stress-free group tours and informative publications designed to equip them for their travels. I believe you’ve got to visit the “must-see” tourist sights, but once the touring is done, slow down and experience Europe!
Every year we helped many people slow down and enjoy their travels. A picnic under the Eiffel Tower, an impromptu bus ride when the subway closed early, a moonlit walk in the Swiss Alps with waterfalls roaring in the background, a festival of 7,000 bagpipers in Scotland, a lone crooner singing his heart out in an Irish pub, a gourmet Parisian dinner with a singing waitress…..
At David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe, we are eager to get your next trip out of your mind and on to the calendar. Think about touring with me, I’d love to show you around!
I am back home after a summer of traveling in Europe. Over the past three months, I have visited and led tours in Ireland, Germany’s Mosel River Valley, Prague, lots of places in Italy, Scotland and Paris. Although many destinations felt like my second home, I did visit a few new locales that I can tuck away for future reference. Here is a pictorial review of my summer travel highlights.
IRELAND – Clonmacnoise Monastic site – County Offaly
IRELAND – Stacks of drying peat logs – County Offaly
IRELAND – The Cliffs of Mohar – County Clare
IRELAND- The Dingle Pub – County Kerry
Somebody had too much Guiness and got the wrong end up!
IRELAND – O’Flarherty’s Pub – Dingle, County Kerry
The Mosel River Valley – Germany
PRAGUE – Czech Republic
PRAGUE – Traditional Czech Restaurant
ITALY – Monterosso al Mare – Liguria (Cinque Terre)
Chef/owner Luigi Corcioli at La Lampara Ciak. The best spaghetti with shellfish I’ve ever tasted.
ITALY – Volterra, Tuscany
The only bar I go to in Volterra is “La Vene di Vino.” Owners Lucio and Bruno know how to make you feel at home and serve up some really good Tuscan vino.
Traveling by train from Milano to La Spezia.
ITALY- San Gimignano, Tuscany
Medieval Festival
ITALY – Florence, Tuscany
Cityscape view from the “Piazelle Michelangelo.”
ITALY – Volterra, Tuscany
Me and Genuino Del Duca, owner of my most favorite restaurant in all of Italy.
Ristorante Enoteca Del Duca – Volterra
SCOTLAND – Glasgow
The “Willow Tea Room” made famous by architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. We dropped by for brunch at 10:30 on a Saturday morning. I had tea (of course) and a Scottish Salmon sandwich. During the entire experience I felt like I had to hold out my little finger while sipping the tea.
SCOTLAND – Oban
SCOTLAND – Lough Earn
We had a beautiful day to drive across Scotland from west to east.
SCOTLAND – St. Andrews
My friend John striking a pose on the 18th fairway at St. Andrews Old Course.
ITALY – Amalfi
ITALY – Ravello
The second time I’ve ever brought a tuxedo to Europe. I attended a wedding at Villa Cimbrone and it was amazing!
ITALY – Rome, Lazio
I caught the sunbeams just right in St. Peter’s.
ITALY – Viaggio, Tuscany
Charlotte and I spent the first two nights of our vacation here at
Agriturismo Savernano.
ITALY – Volterra, Tuscany
We happend upon a festival on July 31, 2010. Approaching midnight , the main square was filled with people lighting hot air filled luminaries. At midnight they sent them on their way into the night.
ITALY – Riomaggiore, Luguria
It has become a tradition that Charlotte and I spend a week at the
“Cinque Terre Residences” in August.
This year we ate out once and then I cooked the rest of the nights.
Thanks for taking a look at my photo gallery. Remember, you can join me in most any of theses destinations by taking a David McGuffin tour. Check out what I’ve got to offer at https://davidmcguffin.com.
