Wallonia, Belgium – Beer, Waterloo and More: Have you ever wondered where to go for a break and escape the heat of London? Wanting to escape the crowded heat of London, I got the chance to spend a few days in Wallonia, known as “the land of water”. Wallonia is the French-speaking region of southern […]
Conti di San Bonifacio hotel – Review
A luxury boutique Tuscan wine resort and hotel – Conti di San Bonifacio. Ever since reading Lampedusa’s The Leopard in my twenties I have wanted to be an Italian aristocrat of noble lineage. However, the Count of San Bonifacio got there first and his family line can be traced back for over 1000 years whereas […]
Hotel Antica Torre di Via Tornabuoni n.1 in Florence
A Room With A View – Florence. E.M. Forster’s A Room With A View opens with a very proper English young lady, Miss Lucy Honeychurch, and her priggish cousin and chaperone, Miss Charlotte Bartlett making a trip to Florence. On arrival at their pensione they discover that their room doesn’t have a view of the […]
Mayflower Pilgrims in Southampton – Gateway To The World
Why your Mayflower tour must include Southampton. Southampton, where four hundred years ago, two ships, the Mayflower and the Speedwell, first came together and were fitted out with supplies for the voyage. Where the pilgrims actually boarded the ships for the first time. Where all the planning for the trip to the New World came […]
My Fair Lady Pink Gin Cocktail with Palmers
Gin Cocktails with Palmers Strawberry and Rose: Sometimes it seems that London is going back to the days of the Gin Craze with artisan gin producers appearing everywhere. It’s refreshing then to find a family business with a genuine heritage in alcohol production. Palmers was founded in 1805 in Old Street, London, originally varnish makers […]
Alba White Truffle Fair
Hunting the white truffle in Alba: The International Alba White Truffle Fair is one of the main events showcasing Italian luxury gastronomy of the Langhe-Roero region. Listed as a UNESCO cultural landscape since 2014, the region is known not just for the rare white truffle but for fields of hazelnut trees and for vineyards cultivating […]
The White Horse Hotel, Dorking
The White Horse Hotel Dorking – Boutique Hotel near Gatwick. Dating back to the 13th century, The White Horse Hotel is a historic inn in the charming Surrey market town of Dorking. The delightful traditional timbered building is centrally located on the High Street with the Denbies Wine Estate and Box Hill as near neighbours […]
Authentic Lebanese Veganuary at Comptoir Libanais Reading
A smiling Veganuary at Comptoir Libanais Reading: If you’ve been to Comptoir Libanais, you may already have noticed this wall-sized face, inspired by a vintage movie poster of the beautiful Arabic actress Sirine Jamal al-Dine. Her smile can be found adorning the walls, menus and takeaway packaging across all of the restaurants but for me, hers […]
Top Things to do in Costa del Sol
Beyond the Beach in Costa del Sol Introduction – Things you must do in Costa del Sol: With stunning sandy beaches, you may well have already considered a sea and sand holiday in Costa del Sol. If like me, though, you are the sort of person who likes having things to do, Costa del Sol […]
Barge Holiday and River Cruise – Burgundy, France with Great Rail Journeys
Diary of a French Barge Holiday: Looking for a relaxing way to explore the waterways of France? A barge holiday is the perfect slow-travel solution. Unlike larger river cruises, a typical Great Rail Journeys barge cruise will have no more than 20 passengers, offering you an intimate and personal experience at a comfortable pace. Join me […]