How much will we spend dining out in Paris and London... A year ago...Link to photos with step by step instructions for making a gluten free, low carb bread free sandwich...

Midday clouds create a pretty sky.

With only eight days remaining in Madeira we realized that we won't be cooking another meal until October 16th when we arrive in Maui, Hawaii for our six week stay.

From July 31st, our departure date until arriving in Maui when we'll make our way to a grocery store, it will be no less than 77 days without cooking a single meal. This is even longer than the 75 days we spent in Morocco when we either dined out or dined at home with lovely Madame Zahra making our meals.

Clouds rolling in at the end of the day.

First, we'll be arriving in Honolulu on October 5th by way of cruise ship when we'll spend 11 nights in Waikiki in a vacation rental fully equipped with cooking facilities. However, as we mentioned earlier, we've decided to mostly dine out while in Waikiki rather than purchase an the required inventory of basic cooking items in order to prepare our meals.

As a result, currently, we're making some of our favorite meals, knowing full well, it will be a long time until we can do so again. Each time we move to a new location, its at this point before departure that we take stock of all the remaining food stuffs, making our meals utilizing everything we have on hand.

Some flowers continue to bloom over the summer months.

Here's our menu for the next eight dinners: all low carb, gluten, starch and sugar free:
7/23 Taco salad (no shell), side of roasted vegetables
7/24 Pork chops with sautéed mushrooms, side of roasted vegetables, steamed green beans, small side of tuna salad on a bed of lettuce, green salad
7/25 Same as above in order to finish off pork chops in freezer
7/26 Filet mignon with sautéed mushrooms and onions, steamed green beans, side of roasted vegetables, side of coleslaw
7/27 Italian meatballs in sugar free pasta sauce, topped with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, side of green beans (only veggie Tom will eat), side of roasted vegetables, side salad
7/28 Portuguese sausage omelet (using remaining fresh eggs) with onions, mushrooms and leftover cheeses, side salad using all leftover vegetables
7/29 Dine out
7/30 Dine out
7/31 Fly from Madeira to Paris, leaving in the morning

These low clouds have wafted in over the last few days.

By following this menu, we'll use all of the remaining foods except for some basic inventory items (olive oil, butter, seasonings, etc.) which we always leave behind for the next occupants.

While in Madeira, we've dined out only a total of five times, mainly due to the cost. As we booked more and more vacation rentals far into the future, all requiring deposits (some as much as 50% of the rent) and, with our upcoming "Family Vacation" in Hawaii in December and, with the necessity of dining out over the upcoming 77 days, we decided to tighten our belts.

This is one of the kids that have grown over the summer. They're fairly far into the yard next door which with our camera, we can't get a clearer shot. The markings on her head are amazing with the white ears and black markings on her face. When I yell out "baah" to her while I'm standing at the railing, she looks up at me and "baahs" back. It's not quite as fun as talking to a warthog but, is fun none the less.

As a result of our frugality, we'll have saved over US $1200, EU $891, on the food budget for our 75 days in Madeira. This savings will offset some of the high cost of dining out in Paris for the 16 days we'll be living in a hotel. We budgeted US $1600, EU $1188 for those meals a relatively small amount for Paris.

Tom is always spotting interesting cloud formations. In this case at dusk, he spotted a seahorse in these clouds. Do you see it?

With the savings we'll have incurred in Madeira which we'll split between Paris and London (budgeted US $1500, EU $1114, for 15 days) our combined total dining budget total for Paris and London is US $3100, EU $2302.

By splitting the above budgetary savings in Madeira of US $1200, EU $891 between the two cities over 31 days we're left with a total of US $138.71, EU $103 per day.

Ominous looking cloud at dusk from our veranda.

Although this amount won't get us into the finest of restaurants every night, if we choose casual dining every other night, spending under US $50, EU $37 we'll be left with US $227.42, EU $169 to spend on the alternate night's dinner in nicer restaurants.

Gladiolas growing in a pot on our veranda.

Since I don't drink alcohol and Tom doesn't drink wine, usually ordering only a few cocktails and, we don't order desserts, we'll have enough to otherwise spend on a menu. Of course, there are restaurants in Paris where a couple can easily spend US $800, EU $594 for dinner in a fine dining restaurant. That won't be us.

A dog looking down at us as we stood on the road.

Traveling the world as we do requires careful and diligent budgeting and planning. Both of us have learned to avoid a "laissez faire" attitude when researching our options as to what appeals to us. We have learned to utilize a strong sense of self control which is necessary for us to continue on, enjoying our lives without worrying about finances.

There are plenty of other aspects of travel one can worry about, if they so choose.
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Photo from one year ago today, July 23, 2013:

One year ago to the date we shared the making of our bread-free gluten free, low carb sandwich including step-by-step instructions with photos. For the remaining details, please click here.