A fairly uninspiring municipal (but privately owned) campsite. It has lots of space and shade; there are no marked pitches and the toilet/shower blocks are rather elderly.
But the little onsite bar/restaurant serves amazing, very reasonable evening meals and breakfasts.
On the N110 road south of Crespian (easily missed - look very hard for the entrance signs)
Near the gates to Golden Gate Park in the Haight Ashbury (hippy dippy) district, the Citrus Club serves wonderful noodle dishes and soups at very low prices.
Sit at the bar and watch the chef operating his magic wok over a flame-thrower of a hob.
Perfect for lunch before a long tramp around the park.
Get the bus to Haight Ashbury and walk down the main drag towards the park (lots of thrift shops to dawdle in on the way). The Citrus Club is on the right, about 200m. before the park gates.
Yes, I'm sure Islamabad and many other Asian cities are "charmimg" if viewed from a delightful hotel with wonderful food and a lovely pool.
My experience, staying at a mid-price hotel, was that it was dirty, smelly, soulless, alcohol-free and with crap food unless you were invited to the home of a seriously rich family. I found it impossible to walk anywhere without attracting a crowd of gawping men (I was a modestly-dressed 40-something at the time). I saw virtually nothing of any cultural, architectural or historical interest AND I came back with galloping dysentry!
If I had to say something positive, it would be get out of the place and up into the Murree Hills where at least it's cooler.
On the opposite bank of the Rhone, this perfect little village is stuffed with amazing Medieval buildings.
For just over €6 you can get an "Avignon Passion" pass ticket which gives you entry to a monastery, a fortified tower (with the best views of Avignon and the Pont Saint-Benezet, the latter being the correct name for "Sur la pont...") a castle, an abbey garden and three other ancient gems.
The village square has several good bar/restaurants serving reasonably priced local dishes (about €8).
From Avignon cross the Rhone on the bridge signed "Ile Piot", turn right on the far bank and follow signs for Villeneuve a few hundred metres along.Map: tinyurl.com/ys3mhj
As if the Met wasn't mind-blowing enough (we spent almost a full day just on the Egyptology section) the self-service cafeteria in the basement is just amazing. Help yourself to a massive array of antipasti, salads, cold meats and seafood and then pay by the weight of your plate. If any of London's South Kensington museums dished up this kind of food, Brits would be queuing round the block.
Metropolitan Museum of Art by Central Park at Fifth Avenue and 82nd Street (86th or 77th Street subway stations and then a walk)
The ultimate "dive bar" full of "Raging Bull" and other memorabilia and with a great jukebox. AND the drinks are cheap.
140 W 44th Street between Broadway and Sixth Avenue. Nearest subway Times Square
For the best food at knock-down prices (and for colourful, mainly gay, San Fran locals) head for Chow's in Castro where they are queuing down the street every night of the week; but never mind, the waiting staff will direct you to an adjacent bookshop from which they will call you when your table is free. The food is great, the portions are gargantuan, the service is brilliant and the bill is miniscule.
215 Church St; tel: 415-552-2469;
Directions: Take the bus from the centre of San Fran and get off at Castro - turn left and it's a couple of hundred yards down on the left. Or, Take the K,L,M or J Church Underground Muni Metro and get off at Church (Street) Station. Chow is on the south side of Market Street.
If you can get a hire car (or a New York based friend) to drive you north of NYC then you MUST visit this hippy throw-back village. If you talk to locals in the shops they will tell you stories about Dylan, the Band (and their stay at The Big Pink) and THE 1960's festival. A must for all 50-plussers who watched it all on TV in the UK. A major nostaglia trip is guaranteed!
About 50 miles north of NYC
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