The Beach and Beyond in Costa del Sol Introduction – Things to do in Costa del Sol: With stunning sandy beaches, you may well have already considered a sea and sand holiday in the Costa del Sol. Beyond the beach though, the region itself is still very much an unexplored gem though. On the south […]
Champagne Revisited – an Introduction to the Champagne Region in France
Champagne from Grape to Glass – Exploring the Vineyards and Wineries of Champagne: Remember gentlemen, it’s not just France we are fighting for, it’s Champagne! Winston Churchill Introduction to Champagne and the Champagne Region The British love for all things bubbly is undisputed. We are still the largest export market for Champagne by volume (although we […]
Hotel New York, Rotterdam
A Hotel with History in Rotterdam – Hotel New York: Introduction and History of the Hotel New York, Rotterdam: Hotel New York sits like a grand dame overlooking the Nieuwe Maas, the waterway that links Rotterdam to the North Sea. The three-storied hotel is situated at the end of a finger of land, the Wilhelminakade, […]
Liège – a Taste of Belgium – Food and Beer
How to eat and drink your way around Liège. Visiting Liège for the first time I discovered a fascinating city, rich in history and culture. However, Belgium also provides a feast for foodies – there are some wonderful restaurants in Liège to discover along with renowned Belgian chocolate, waffles and craft beers. On my recent visit to […]
Chapel House – Boutique Hotel Penzance West Cornwall
Review of Chapel House, Penzance, West Cornwall I grew up in Cornwall and fondly remember visiting Penzance as a child, as well as taking my girls there for day trips when they were younger. But I hadn’t ventured to West Cornwall for a few years so welcomed an invitation to check out the charming Chapel […]
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 […]
Wine Tours in the Alentejo – a new wine tourism
Wine Tours in the Alentejo and more: If the start of my trip to Alentejo took me through the ancient villages to the historic palace in Estramoz where I first fell in love with Portugal, the second part of our trip was focused on the changing landscape of this rural region which accounts for a […]
Visit Arbroath – Smokies and the Declaration of Arbroath
Visiting Arbroath – A Tale of Scottish Independence and Smoked Fish Arbroath is a small Scottish fishing town on the coast just north of Dundee. It has two main claims to fame – the Arbroath Smokie and an ancient Abbey where the Declaration of Arbroath was signed – one of the first formal statements of […]
Visit Liège – Discovering Belgium’s Secret City!
A Tour of Liège: When I told people I was off to visit Liège, for the most part the retort was ‘where?’. This charming city in Wallonia, Belgium seems to be a well kept secret. I can’t imagine why as there’s plenty to explore in Liège. An Introduction to Liège: Liège is in French speaking Wallonia, Belgium, […]
The Special Story of Salisbury – A New City with History.
History and Heritage in Salisbury – the oldest ‘New Town’ in England Despite living in Wiltshire a few years ago, I haven’t visited Salisbury for a lot longer. In fact, it was half a century ago. We lived in the area when I was a kid so I remember trips to Salisbury for shopping and […]