Affordable meals can be had in Europe

I’d have to agree with [Jim] Gavin’s comments in “A Fish Tale: Food Costs in Ireland,” [Letters, Aug. 31]. I have never paid $25 for a meal while backpacking across Europe several times or across Korea and Japan at last year’s World Cup. And I’m not talking about saltines and a cup of rainwater.

Although pubs may not be to everybody’s liking, you don’t have to go there when it’s drinking time, and you certainly don’t have to have fish and chips. The menus are expanding to satisfy many tastes, especially those of visitors. For under $7 you can have steak, fish, pasta, soups, salads, sandwiches, with all plates coming with veggies, bread and or a dessert.

If not that, try a restaurant down the road. In Dublin’s Temple Bar area, you can’t go more than two feet without stumbling over a restaurant: Indian, Indonesian, Chinese, Italian, traditional local stuff. Sure, some are pricey, [but] menus are outside for you to decide if you want to venture in. You’re on holiday; you know how much you want to spend, so stick to it.

Or do as I did: Take in a mom-and-pop establishment. Great traditional Irish breakfast -- fatty and filling, yes, but it only cost me $3 and it got me going for a long day of touring.

If that still doesn’t suit you, hit a McDonald’s or a Burger King or a Pizza Hut or a KFC every once in while.

Jim Marquez

Los Angeles