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About Elisa

Elisa Batista is reporter at Wired News. She writes about wireless technology and telecom issues. She also teaches a wireless technology course at San Francisco State University.

Before joining Wired in May 2000, Batista worked at the now defunct Latino portal Picosito.com as a reporter. Prior to her online stints, she wrote for the Boston Herald and other Boston-area newspapers including the Bay State Banner, Somerville Journal and Cambridge Chronicle.

Batista holds a Bachelor's degree in journalism from Boston University. She is a native of Miami, but has also lived in New Jersey, New Hampshire, Boston, Madrid and now resides in Berkeley, California.

Insider Travel tips from Elisa Batista

Elisa's Tips for Boston, Massachusetts

Eat at Big Burrito -- 160 Brighton Ave. Allston, MA. I was a poor college student and lived off of their delicious barbeque tofu burritos. I'd get it with hot sauce and lots of guacamole. Very veggie friendly, inexpensive and hip. It's a big college hangout.
Take the "T" public transit to Park Street. (In my humble opinion, Boston's got the cleanest and best public transit compared to any other city in the US.) Right off the Park Street exit you'll see all the historical sites: the freedom trail, courthouse, city hall, senate building, and the Somerset Club.
Being a baseball fanatic, I never leave the city without seeing a game at Fenway Park. If you can get tickets to the Red Sox-Yankees game, I'd strongly recommend going.

Elisa's Tips for Madrid, Spain

Eat at La Granja -- Calle San Andrés, 11, Madrid -- this is a hidden jewel. It's a vegetarian restaurant in a hip section of Madrid. Generally, there are a lot of teenagers outside, drinking, playing the guitar and socializing. My favorite dish there is the vegetarian paella. Their spinach balls make great appetizers.
My favorite street in the city is Gran Via in downtown. All the theatres are there, el Corte Ingles -- this massive multi-level department store-- great restaurants, and it is bustling at all hours of the night. What's so amazing about Madrid's "marcha" -- literally the word for people hanging out all night long -- is that you see everyone from kids to grandparents.

Elisa's Tips for Miami, Florida

Eat at Latin American Grill -- 15342 NW 79th Court Miami Lakes. It's in a traditional Latino setting and you can get good, inexpensive Cuban food. I am now a vegetarian and go for rice, beans and plantains. But meat eaters should sink their teeth into a Cuban sandwich.
What makes this city unique is its rich Latin American culture. Take a stroll on Miami's calle ocho (eighth street), check out the tobacco stores -- they actually make them by hand like in Cuba -- and eat at the Versailles Cuban restaurant there. It's literally known as the "Cuban Denny's" but with the staples of Cuban cuisine. It's very inexpensive.

Elisa's Tips for San Francisco, California

Eat at Herbivore -- 983 Valencia Street (between 20th and 21st). This is a great dinner place, although you have to get there early because it fills up quickly! It's medium-priced and completely vegan. Their fruit smoothies and marinated seitan sandwiches are delicious.
While the Golden Gate Bridge is overrated, the view once you're off the bridge is mesmerizing. Whenever I take visitors to see it, I get off the exit after I cross the bridge, climb up the redwoods and park the car. Now, that's an amazing view.