Bogota , General info:
8/10

Bogota, capital of the republic of Colombia, located in a privileged site in the center of the country at an altitude of 2640 meters above of the sea level.sitting on a large plain surrounded by fertile land, harboring friendly population where industrial, agricultural, livestock, artisan activities are developed.

Bogota , Food:
8/10

Bogotá is a cosmopolitan city referring to gastronomy. Thus, in addition to specialized typical Bogotá food restaurants, other restaurants also offer menus from other regions of the country or global cooking. Restaurants for all budgets are available.

In Bogotá people usually take three meals: breakfast served in restaurants and cafeterias up to 9:00 or 10:00 a.m.; lunch between 12:00 m. and 3:00 p.m., and dinner at night up to 11:00 p.m. for most restaurants. Some people also take light snacks “medias nueves” between breakfast and lunch “onces” around mid afternoon

Typical dishes

Ajiaco

Delightful soup from the Cundiboyacense plains. Prepared with chicken, creole potatoes, sabana potatoes, Pasto potatoes, corn and “guascas” (aromatic herb). Served with capers, thick milk cream, avocado and rice on the side each persons takes at their pleasure.

Fritanga (charcoal broiled meats)

A dish consisting of different meats: cow, pork, sausage, tripe, “longaniza” (different sausage type) black pudding, udder, heart and creole potatoes, ripe plantain and griddle cake.

Mazamorra Chiquita

A soup prepared with cow ribs, tripe, meat from the lower cow thigh, long onions, green peas, lima beans, carrots, Pasto potatoes, creole potatoes, corn flour, garlic, pepper and cumin. Accompanied of white rice.

Puchero Santafereño

Bogotá origin dish prepared with meats, Sabana potatoes, Pasto potatoes, yucca, plantain and sweet corn. Bathed with hot “hogao” and decorated with cabbage leafs.

Sancocho de Gallina

Soup eaten over all regions of the country, prepared with hen, potatoes, yucca and plantain. Served with white rice.

Sobrebarriga con papas chorriadas

Tasty meat of the fibrous type recovered with a layer of grease for delicious taste. Served accompanied of “chorriadas” potatoes bathed with “hogao” prepared with long onions, garlic tomatoes and spices.

Stafford, Staffordshire , Cheap stuff:
1/10

The local market survives - just, given the competition it faces (see above). In the markey one may buy artfully camouflaged poor-quality fruit and veg (that's produce), dodgy electrical goods, replacement hoses for old washing machines and, an exciting addition to the local retail experience, Polish foodstuffs.

Stafford, Staffordshire , Different stuff:
5/10

Stafford has in recent years become home to a large number of mostly young people from eastern Europe. They are quiet, polite, hardworking, healthy and attractive, and perform sterling service in local shops and farms. This failure to blend in with the locals has caused some comment. Mostly appreciative.

Stafford, Staffordshire , Don't miss:
6/10

Um. The open-air Shakespeare at the castle at the end of June is fun. Unless it rains. The park alongside the river has been replanted and developed and is rather pretty in the summer. Unless it's flooded.

Stafford, Staffordshire , Food:
2/10

Don't ask. There are no decent restaurants in Stafford. Although the cafe in Marks is OK.

Stafford, Staffordshire , Hotels:
3/10

The Swan, an old coaching inn, on the main street. There are others, but none that I'd consider. There's a more upmarket one in the village of Acton Trussel, a few miles out of town.

Stafford, Staffordshire , Safety:
7/10

If you're in any way vulnerable (ie. aged, young, drunk or drugged, lost), best to avoid walking around the small areas of suburban low-income housing on the outskirts of town. Gangs of amateurishly unpleasant children and youths might well give you a hard time, in between smashing the glass in bus shelters and gobbing on the few remaining public telephones. Also, the town centre after 8pm on a weekend evening is the rightful domain of the drunken British young adult. There are drunken assaults, there is vomit, there are loud and ugly voices. It's not pleasant. Other then that, no probs.