03 February 2023

We planned a last minute whistle-stop tour to Belgium in January. Yes, it was cold, windy and wet (probably picked the worst weekend for weather!) but we still enjoyed our little jaunt around three of Belgium’s famous cities. Bruges is only 1 hr and 20 minutes from the euro-tunnel, so we arrived just after lunch – our hotel was a small B&B in a handy location just a stone’s throw from this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Despite the weather, we ventured out and walked around the canals and Market Square before escaping the driving rain in a Belgian café and enjoyed a hot chocolate and waffles! Thankfully, it had stopped raining by early evening, so we were able to re-visit the main sites at night – all lit up and very pretty. We found a very atmospheric cocktail bar – I enjoyed my ‘I am Groot’ cocktail – and then went to a wine bar for a glass of wine and cheese and meat platter. The following day we took another quick walk around the canals before driving to Ghent – under an hour – parked up near the Station and took the tram into the delightful historic centre. What a surprise that was. Steeped in medieval architecture and monuments we walked around the old streets and took a canal cruise learning all about the trade for which it is famous. Onwards to Brussels for a 2-night stay with friends. The Atomium was fascinating, the Grand-Place and the covered galleries all beautiful and the Manneken-Pis - still smaller than expected! And, of course, when in Belgium, we went to 2 bars to sample some local beers – both down little alleyways somewhere near the Grand Place – if you need the names, I can find out!! A two-hour drive back to the Eurotunnel from Brussels completed our Belgian weekend and we plan to go back in the Spring or Summer to enjoy and explore the Cities some more!

03 February 2023

For Geoff and me, Neilson’s Cosmos Beach Club is perfect - Geoff can’t sit still and to be really honest, I find it hard to get off my sunbed! If you are a keen windsurfer, Vassiliki, on the beautiful island of Lefkas is one of the best places to stay. With reliable wind and flat water we can be fairly sure that Geoff will get on the water for a few hours or longer every day. And when there is no wind – you can grab a stand-up paddle board or a kayak and if that doesn’t float your boat there are fitness classes, mountain and road bikes for your own use or on guided rides and of course there are some very comfortable sunbeds between the bar and the beach which is usually where you will find me with a good book! With only 32 rooms it is a small, friendly, family run hotel. The coffee is excellent (and coming from me, that is praise indeed!), and the Greek salads and tzatziki are a daily occurrence! The Cosmos just includes breakfast (different to the other beach clubs) but this means we can choose to eat in the hotel restaurant or walk into the lovely local fishing village (15 mins along the promenade) for lunch and/or dinner where there is a large choice of bars and restaurants. I will tell you where my favourite is once you have booked ?? It is unusual for us to go back to a resort so soon, but we are going back again this year and I can’t wait. I am already loading up my kindle. PS: I do actually partake in the fitness classes, paddle boarding, kayaking and cycling and there are some lovely walks into the olive groves too….honestly! PPS: If you fancy trying this sort of holiday yourself then don’t hang around – give me a call! Vass is extremely popular and many people go back year after year – some of them even re-book from their sunbeds :)

06 November 2020

In October, we took some visitors to Lake Como for an overnight stay. We booked into a simple yet charming and elegant hotel with breath-taking views of the Lake. We managed to catch the last of the afternoon sunshine from the hotel’s private sun deck before enjoying Aperitivo in the busy bar and then dinner in the hotel’s fantastic restaurant over-looking the water. The Impepata di Cozze – steamed mussels in hot pepper sauce - were the best I have ever had. We couldn’t resist hiring a boat for an hour on Sunday morning – just enough time to head across to Comacino island & Lenno, cruise past one of Branson’s pads, Villa del Balbianello (famed for scenes from Star Wars and Casino Royale), Villa Carlotta and then across to beautiful Bellagio …..such a fantastic experience.

28 October 2020

‘Franciacorta’ is my new favourite sparkling wine – and sipping a glass in the Autumn sunshine on the shores of Lake Iseo was very special. Lake Iseo is a well-kept secret - less well known than its neighbours (Como and Garda), it is northern Italy’s fourth largest lake and Monte Isola (traffic free and accessible by ferry & boat) is the largest lake island in Europe. We stayed overnight at the Hotel Ulivi on the southern shores of the Lake – a small & friendly 4* hotel in a fabulous location with views of the good-sized swimming pool, the pretty gardens with olive trees (of course!) and the Lake from both our bedroom (with terrace) and the breakfast room. The hotel provides free parking and secure bike storage. Early evening, we strolled along the lake and river front in Sarnico (just across the river) stopping for Aperitivo in two very welcoming bars. We then enjoyed dinner at Pata Negro – a superb restaurant serving innovative and delicious Sicilian influenced cuisine in the almost private dining room. In the Bistro – Spanish tapas (shame we weren’t there for 2 nights) is served! We took our own e-bikes (the hotel provides free parking and secure bike storage) and on Sunday morning we cycled around the Lake (64 kms) passing through some delightful lake front villages, sharing the lake road with pelotons and motorbikes, travelling through numerous tunnels and enjoying many kms of bike tracks shared with walkers. It was a truly delightful way of enjoying the Lake. If staying longer, there is so much more to do at Lake Iseo – visiting vineyards & mountain villages, taking a ferry to walk or cycle around Monte Isola, taking in frescoes and galleries and shopping at Iseo’ s historical centre. Unfortunately for us, the Treno dei Sapori (Taste train) was not operating – we will just have to return next Summer!

12 October 2020

A few weekends ago, I was invited to experience the fabulous 'Forestis' in the Dolomiti. It was a truly amazing weekend – we were totally spoilt! Forestis is a breath-taking 5* adult only sanctuary @ 1800m in the South Tyrolean mountains – a perfect place to get away from it all and completely relax and re-charge your batteries. From the Suites to the Spa & the beautifully designed restaurant, the floor to ceiling windows provide the most stunning views of the majestic and iconic UNESCO Dolomites. Savouring the ‘Forestis menu’ (or the Detox menu if you feel so inclined) and the extensive breakfast buffet from our individual curved dining booth whilst watching the sun setting over the mountains and surprisingly (for the time of year) watching the snowflakes falling outside was very special. Chatting with ease to the wonderful serving team who switched from speaking Austrian to Italian to English added to the experience - they clearly love their job and are passionate about the food, wine and the Tyrol. You really feel at home here. Hiking and biking and skiing (ski in and out in the Winter) are all available from the hotel - if you can tear yourself away from the tranquil terrace or the indoor, outdoor infinity pool or from your individual balcony! We simply loved everything about the hotel – the service was personal and first-class, food was imaginative and mouth-watering, the cocktails innovative and delicious and the Spa relaxing and restoring. However, nothing beats the uninterrupted views and the stunning location. Can't wait to return!

03 September 2020

Turin, Italy’s first capital, is a very walkable city with miles of covered arcades, beautiful piazzas and grand avenues, sophisticated museums, shops, historic cafes and restaurants and all with a magnificent backdrop of the Alps. It is the home of Italy’s car industry, its first cinema, and arguably chocolate; it’s the place in which vermouth and Nutella were invented, and it gave birth to the Slow Food movement. We just stayed one night in Turin so just had time to walk around the City and visit the National Museum of Cinema before sampling some fabulous cocktails with vegan Aperitivo and a delicious pasta supper. If you are interested in Italian cinema then a visit to the Mole Antonelliana is a must - and the bonus is a ride up in the panoramic glass lift, for some sublime views over the city, the River Po and the Alps. The following morning, we were up early to hit the slopes of stylish resort of Courmayeur (2 hours from Turin) – a traditional, cobbled, traffic free village sitting at the foot of Mont Blanc with excellent cafes, bistros (French influence) and Après ski. Plenty of snow cannons make the snow virtually guaranteed and perfect for intermediate skiers. We are looking forward to skiing there again this season - if Covid allows!

02 September 2020

Set on one of Italy’s most dramatic coasts, there are five fishing villages known as Cinque Terre. Pastel coloured settlements, which date from the early medieval period, seem to cling to the steeply terraced cliffs connected by an ancient system of footpaths, a 19th-century railway line cutting through a series of coastal tunnels or a fantastic boat service. Over centuries, grapes and olives have been cultivated on carefully built terraces overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. We chose to stay in Levanto which is a busy and bustling seaside resort with a long sandy beach, bars, shop, restaurants and bike hire. It provided a perfect starting-point for visiting the Cinque Terre. Short on time (3 night stay) we bought a day pass to visit four of the villages by boat. Our first stop was for coffee in Vernazza which is quite likely the most photographed village of the Cinque Terre. The tiny port is surrounded by colourful typical Ligurian houses and the charming piazza is lined with good restaurants and bars. Next stop was, Riomaggiore which is one of the most peaceful and quiet villages and is basically a cascade of multi-coloured houses, all tightly clustered around a tiny natural harbour carved out in between the rocks. We had lunch in Manarola which has a tiny harbour and boat ramp, picturesque multicoloured houses facing the sea and a tiny piazza with a choice of seafood restaurants. After lunch we walked around the coastal path (partially closed due to a land slide) to take a much-needed dip in the sea from some rocks. Very refreshing! Our final stop was in Monterosso which is the largest of the five coastal villages and located on hills covered with lemon trees, vines and olives. It also has amazing beaches and crystal-clear waters make this small village one of the most popular with locals and tourists. Corniglia (which I think is my favourite!) is situated in the middle of the five towns but is the only village which cannot be reached by sea or boat. It does have a station, so we took the train from Levanto the following day. It is a very pretty little town with fantastic views of the coastline and a cute little piazza with lots of little bars, restaurants and gelateria’s (the basil flavour was particularly good!) On our last morning we hired bikes and cycled through the 4km disused railway tunnels to Framura where we had a quick coffee and brioche at a quirky little café in the old railway arches. On the way back we stopped for a refreshing swim in one of the many little coves. A visit to Cinque Terre is a must and we plan to go back for a second visit when it is a bit cooler to walk and backpack between the villages. Can’t wait!

26 August 2020

Sardinia exceeded my expectations. It is the second largest island in the Med with stunning white sandy beaches, turquoise water and of course delicious Italian cuisine. We flew into the South and stayed overnight in the Capital – Cagliari. It is well worth a visit if you have time. We stayed in the Castello district and ate in a fabulous fish restaurant in the old town sampling the local seafood. From there we drove into the mountainous heart of the island. A stunning drive through valleys, gorges and canyons - stopping for a swim at one of the region’s wild and remote beaches. We spent 3 nights at the unique and peaceful surroundings of Su Gologone, one of Sardinia’s most famous hotels tucked beneath the spikey mountaintops. Our favourite spots were relaxing by the gorgeous pool and sipping the local sparkling rose and Aperol spritz at the Magico Tablao Bar whilst enjoying its prime mountain views (especially as the sun is setting!) and star gazing - we saw 3 shooting stars one evening. The food in the hotel restaurant was simply delicious and very reasonably priced. After a scenic drive along the coast road north, we arrived at the picturesque port of Alghero and stayed two nights. Greeted by mosaic roofs and white-washed buildings, thanks to the Catalans, we wandered around the fortified walls, cobbled lanes and bustling waterfront and drove to one of the beaches for a spot of swimming and snorkelling. And of I couldn’t leave without sampling the famous Catalan Paella of course! The next 5 nights were spent in Porto Pollo – a mecca for water sports – Geoff and Archie spent a few days windsurfing and we all did a bit of kayaking however Gracie and I spent most of our time reading, swimming and watching all the action from our hired sunbeds! Our last 2 nights were spent at Rocce Sarde – a peaceful and quiet location with stunning views of Cala di Volpe Bay, only 5 minutes from San Panteleo (one of the islands prettiest villages with a picturesque piazza and some lively cafes and artisan shops) and close to the Costa Smeralda. After a quick gelato in Olbia’s Old Town it was time to fly home with some fond memories and a desire to return!

17 July 2020

An hour from Venice and only 30 minutes from Verona Airport lies the under-valued wine region of Soave. We stayed over-night in the pretty little town of Soave itself - a small wine town enclosed by medieval walls, overlooked by il Castello and surrounded by vineyards producing the famous Soave wine. Via Roma is lined with small and cosy inexpensive bars and trattorias – we grazed from one bar to another sampling the local white wines, meats, cheeses and olive oil and dinner was pasta with grilled scampi and tuna. Of course, there is always room for gelato before heading back to our B&B. A fabulous visit – we shall return!

24 June 2020

On our drive down to Florence a few weeks ago, I worked out that it was around 20 years ago that I had visited the City and not surprisingly I didn’t remember much about the detail. I did remember what a stunningly beautiful City it is. And visiting just after lockdown was lifted here in Italy it was more like visiting a provincial town. We were blessed to be sharing this gem of a City with only Italians and locals. Before parking the car and checking into our hotel for 2 nights, we stopped at Piazza Michelangelo and not only savoured our picnic but also the fabulous and iconic view of the City, the Arno and the many bridges that cross it. It was a hot few days therefore we welcomed the shade of the cool cobbled streets and alleyways. Numbers were limited in the Accademia Gallery and the Duomo (which had just opened on the day we visited) so we were able to walk at our leisure around the Statue of David and view the beautiful terracotta roof tops and Giotto’s Bell Tower from the terraces of the Cathedral. The best way to enjoy any Italian City is to walk and Florence is small enough to explore on foot. We were blown away by the Piazza del Duomo and Piazza Della Signoria and crossing the Ponte Vecchio at night sitting for a while to listen to the buskers is a must. The markets always provide an insight into local life and you can’t beat sipping an Aperol spritz and savouring artisanal gelato on the banks of the Arno. A highlight for us was crossing the river to the Oltrarno (literally – the other side of the Arno) and enjoying ‘Bistecca Fiorentina’ in a family run restaurant off the beaten track and joining the local crowd in the genuine heart of the City – Piazza Santo Spirito. I think we will pop back soon! Before heading off home we called into lovely laid-back Lucca – a beautiful Italian town surrounded by an imposing Renaissance wall (walk or bike around the walls for views of the City) and stuffed with cobbled streets and wonderful piazzas. We were lucky enough to be there on a market day – many of the piazzas and streets were packed with antique market stalls – a wonderful way to walk off our lunch.

10 September 2019

We took a fabulous road trip down to Southern Italy this summer – this has been on my bucket list for a long time and although the weather was very hot (reached 40!), it was definitely worth the effort. Off the tourist trail, the Tremiti Islands are situated off the coast of Puglia - once used to intern political prisoners they are now a magnet for divers and snorkellers. Although close enough to the mainland for a day trip we decided to stay over-night on San Domino. Covered in shrubs, broom and trees and surrounded by crystal clear waters, the tiny beaches are accessed by steep cliff paths or by boat. The following night we stayed on the Gargano Peninsula in an agritourismo and drove along the coast road exploring the windsurfing spots and stopping for lunch in Peschici! We paid a quick visit to Polignana a Mare for a gelato on the way to our Villa – such a delightful spot on the coast and a must-see destination when in Puglia. Then we spent a blissful week in a villa surrounded by olive groves and countryside dotted with 'trulli'. It was well placed to explore the region’s wild and rugged beaches and coastline and stunningly beautiful towns - we mixed relaxation with exploration. Just a short drive from the ‘White City’ - Ostuni is a stunningly beautiful city with pretty cafes, excellent restaurants and stylish bars tucked around white-walled alleyways with uneven floors and steep steps. The climb is worth it - fabulous views of the Itria Valley and fantastic sunsets over the Adriatic. We were also just an hour drive from Lecce – nicknamed the ‘Florence of the south’ – nestled in the heel, it is a charming city with its baroque architecture, beautiful sand coloured stone buildings, Piazza del Duomo, Roman amphitheatre and Basilica de Santa Croce not to mention the Salento cuisine and small boutiques, it is worth spending a few days here. A perfect short break! We took an interesting tour of an Olive Farm situated in the gorgeous town of Martina Franca before exploring the extremely pretty town itself and stopping for some delicious pastries and gelato of course! After our week at the Villa we headed off to Matera for a night which is currently European capital of culture. And it really was quite fascinating and quite different to anywhere we have visited so far! Sassi (UNESCO) is filled with caves and stone houses, believed to have been the home of Italy’s first settlers, now housing cafes, restaurants (excellent food at affordable prices), hotels and galleries – it is totally enchanting and has retained its traditional character, offering a very different experience. I would love to go back and explore the area further with more time and at a cooler time of year! Our last stop was in Perugia – a welcome break on our journey back up North. From rambling streets to spacious piazzas, Umbria’s capital (a university city) offers a blend of history & culture with a buzzing student life. The city is an oasis of Perugian life and at the heart is Piazza IV Novembre with bustling outdoor restaurants offering local cuisine and regional wines. All in all, a fabulous trip providing us with some amazing memories.

09 September 2019

This was my first visit to the northern shores of Lake Garda (the largest of the Italian lakes) and I was blown away by how dramatic the fjord-like cliffs are and how stunning the scenery is! Due to its clear waters and favourable wind conditions, being a keen windsurfer, it is now a firm favourite of my husband’s. However, not only is it fantastic for swimmers, sailors, wind, kite and foil surfers there is something for everyone on Lake Garda – mountain biking, walking and hiking, Via Ferrata are all very popular here and of course with many picturesque towns and villages, scenic drives, regular ferry services and lakeside strolls you will find it hard to avoid relaxing and unwinding in this fantastic destination. Of course, being in Italy, there are wonderful places to dine and plenty of options for enjoying a cocktail or a coffee in a lakeside bar or café. Not to mention the locally produced lemons, wines, olive oil, fish fresh from the lake and of course the gelato! We are already planning to go back.....

02 July 2019

Since moving to Northern Italy, I have ventured into Milan on several occasions and at different times of the year and really enjoyed exploring the city in all 4 seasons. In Spring I had the opportunity to join a tour of the Galleria Campari. What a fascinating history about the iconic Milanese drink. And it would have been rude not to have sampled a Campari Spritz and Aperitivo at the neighbouring Villa Campari! In Summer, a couple of weeks ago, I joined a wonderful walking tour of a most (and I think my favourite) interesting area of the city. We met at the Santa Maria Dela Passione which is the second largest church in Milan (the largest being the Duomo of course!) It’s 50m cupola was stunning and reminded me of the Pantheon in Rome. It is situated in a peaceful area of Milan opposite the Conservatorio di Milano. You can often here the students singing as you walk down Via Verdi. From here we wandered into the Quadrangle of Silence near Piazza Eleonora Duse and stumbled across the secret garden of Palazzo Invernizzi, which has been the home to a colony of pink flamingos for more than 30 years. Not something you see every day! We peeked into the gorgeous gardens of the Villa Necchi Capiglio however as we didn’t have time to visit the Villa itself, I will be returning to explore the beautiful Case Museo. We ended the tour outside the Modern Art Gallery housed in the Villa Reale, once inhabited by Napoleon. In Winter, on a chilly day in December, we walked around the Castello Sforzesco, visited the magnificent Duomo and walked through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (Italy's oldest active shopping mall). It was quite magical with the Christmas lights and the huge Christmas tree decorated with thousands of Swarovski crystals. We had also managed to find some tickets for the Last Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie and afterwards had dinner on the Naviglio Grande in the Navigli (we have since returned in the Summer and it was just buzzing!) In Autumn we wandered through the Brera District and window shopped in the Golden triangle (3 streets in central Milan which combined have become the world’s fashion Mecca), before having lunch at the top of Milan’s famous department store – La Rinascente - overlooking the Duomo. I have enjoyed exploring Milan in all 4 seasons and would recommend the city as a short break or as part of a longer Italian itinerary.

28 June 2019

Just a quick visit and therefore short blog about beautiful Bellagio on Lake Como. What a spot! Picture perfect and referred to as the Pearl of Lake Como it is located on a promontory boasting magnificent views of the Lake, tree lined promenades and beautiful villas and gardens. Numerous boutiques and shops selling clothes and jewellery, antiques and pottery are scattered along the cobbled (some with steep steps) streets. Food from this region can be sampled in many of the waterfront bars and restaurants and if you grab a table on the terrace at the Hotel du Lac you can dine whilst enjoying panoramic views of the Lake and the Alps. The sunset was amazing! Bellagio is a great overnight stopover, a short break option or of course can be a base from which to explore the Lake and the region – however long you have, this stunning town would certainly be a fabulous addition to any Italian adventure!

09 May 2019

You won’t enjoy Rome if you try to tick off all the sights in one visit. We spent 4 nights in this historical City in early April and had we been travelling with young children we would have taken advantage of the ‘hop on and off bus’ to get around however with two, fairly fit (!), teenagers and four pairs of comfortable trainers we walked everywhere. In that time, we managed to visit the Vatican, St Peter’s, the Colosseum, the Forum, Palatine, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, Trevi fountain (with the rest of the World!) and the Spanish Steps! With skip the line tickets to the Vatican, a guided tour of the Colosseum with special access to the arena floor, which was simply fantastic, and an early morning ascent to the Coppola (dome) of St Peter’s Basilica, we managed to avoid some of the long queues and crowds. Stopping to re-fuel each day we enjoyed some wonderful food – the carbonara was sensational not to mention the roman artichokes and of course the gelato! Wandering around the charming Trastevere neighbourhood in an evening felt like we were walking around a small traditional Italian town with bars and cafes packed full of locals. We travelled home with sore feet but with some wonderful memories of this fantastic City and will return for a second round I am sure.

06 May 2019

Approximately 50 miles from Milan and even closer to our current home is the enchanting Lake Orta with deep blue waters and intriguing Isola San Giulio. The medieval town of Orta San Giulio lies on a peninsula and is packed with charm and character with pastel washed buildings, cobbled streets and a charming lake front promenade where sunbathers lie on wooden jetties and families eat their picnics. Winding up the wooded hillside from Orta is Sacro Monte di San Francesco, a route still followed by pilgrims but also offering breath-taking views for many visitors. From the water bus jetty at Piazza Motta you can take a ferry across to the island and across the Lake to Pella or Omegna. The ride itself is a relaxing way to spend the day or you can get off and walk back or simply sit and watch the boats come and go from one of the many cafes, restaurants or gelaterias. Truly Italian and quieter and less ritzier than Como and Maggiore this little lake is now firmly on our radar.

24 February 2019

More laid back than France and Switzerland, the emphasis in the Italian ski resorts is on relaxation and fun. With amazing coffee, good food, great value and a friendly ambience, we love skiing in Italy! Living in northern Italy gives us the opportunity to ski at weekends and even for the day. We are within two and a half hours of the Aosta Valley and have therefore skied in Pila, La Thuile and Valtournenche & Cervinia. With views of the mighty Matterhorn and surrounded by stunning scenery, Valtournenche’s ski area is served by a good lift system which connects the town with Cervinia as well as Zermatt in Switzerland. Just make sure you have the right pass and ID for crossing the border! La Thuile is an unspoilt resort with links to La Rosiere in France, although it does involve a long but do-able drag lift back into Italy. Even at half term, we enjoyed quiet slopes, a modern lift system and hardly any queues. There are great runs for beginners with lots of impressive intermediate slopes. The views are stunning and there is a big bowl where there is kite skiing available. There is a good choice of restaurants on the slopes (we found one with the most incredible views!) and a nice little town for aperitivi and regional food. We have skied in Pila many times. The drive to Pila from the Aosta Valley is spectacular – especially when Mont Blanc comes into sight. The ski area offers mainly red runs, some very wide and manageable for progressing skiers with a few black runs and some good off-piste. The resort offers beautiful views of Mont Blanc, an excellent snow record, superb snowmaking with a good selection of authentic Italian restaurants for those long lunches and bombardinos. I love the runs through the trees! If we do stay overnight, we stay in the Roman town of Aosta with its authentic atmosphere and good choice of bars and restaurants (many in wine cellars). At New Year (2017/18), we skied in Passo Tonale with plenty of quiet, easy runs accessed by chairlifts but with plenty of red and black runs through the trees. There is a gondola that takes you from the bottom all the way to the glacier too. Great value for money and some great restaurants on the slopes! At Easter (2018), we skied in Bardonecchia - home to the Turin 2006 Winter Olympics - which was sunny and gentle slopes for beginners and intermediates with very few queues and linked to Montgenevre – part of the Milky Way. I can point you to a fab cocktail bar in town too! Other ski resorts we have tried: close to Lake Maggiore is the small resort of San Domenico and a short drive from Milan is Piani de Bobbio. We have yet to explore the Dolomites as a family so that is on the ‘ski’ bucket list for next season!

21 February 2019

Having visited the Nieuw Koningsdam in port in Amsterdam, I was very excited to be invited to sail on Holland America Line’s latest ship - the Nieuw Statendam - in December 2018. We sailed from Venice to Rome and took the opportunity of staying overnight in Venice before boarding the ship. What I loved about the ship was her size. While many other cruise lines think bigger is better, I prefer the classic lines and although Statendam takes 2,600 passengers, it never felt over-crowded. Our veranda stateroom had a very comfortable bed and sitting area with good storage and nice balcony. The spacious shower room was a plus. This fabulous new ship focuses on music, art, food and destinations. The art is fresh, varied and fun and appeals to all ages – I particularly liked the reproduction of Michelangelo’s ‘David’ statue holding a smartphone! Another major focus is the cuisine. The Lido Market provides the freshest ingredients and endless choice – delicious and low-fat options are also available which means you can eat sensibly without feeling left out. We were lucky to experience melt-in-your-mouth steaks in the ‘Pinnacle Grill’, beautifully prepared lobster in ‘Sel de Mer’ and the best sushi at sea in ‘Tamarind’ as well as dining in the Dining Room and having quick lunches in the New York diner and the Dive In. For lovers of music, the Music Walk is a combination of on-board venues including BB Kings Blues Club, Lincoln Centre Stage, Billboard on-board and the Rolling Stones Rock Room. There is something for everyone and you can dance ‘til you drop! Not to mention other fantastic experiences for those days at sea - such as live cooking shows and workshops in America’s Test Kitchen, blending your own wine, delving deeper into your destinations at Exploration Central and seeing BBC Earth on the big screen. The fabulous Greenhouse Spa is a must too, oh – and not forgetting the gym! The highlight for me was the jaw-dropping, innovative dance performance ‘Humanity’ incorporating state-of-the-art lighting and special effects (best show at sea!). We were only on the ship for five days and had one port day in Messina in Sicily but it was long enough to know we would definitely sail on this fabulous ship again!

10 February 2019

We are very lucky to be living close to Lake Maggiore and therefore have plenty of opportunity to explore the area. Here are a few highlights! Lago Maggiore Express combines a boat ride with an unforgettable train journey. We embarked at Arona (Italy) and disembarked at Locarno (Switzerland) zig zagging across the lake, past the Borromean islands and calling in at some very pretty ports along the way including Stresa, Baveno and Luino. The lunch on board was at an extra cost but good value. After a quick walk round Locarno we then boarded the Vigezzina railway which took us through the Centovalli Valley (one hundred valleys) – over bridges, through vineyards and forests and past villages clinging to mountain slopes before reaching Domodossolo. A regular train service took us back to Arona. Fabulous day out! Not something you come across every day and a bit off the beaten track however the quirky ‘painters’ village of Arcumeggia is an open-air fresco gallery and worth the hair pin bend journey to get there! Not for the faint hearted - a walk up to the three waterfalls at Cittiglio – a refreshing swim in the Summer is worth the climb. Relaxed and laid back, Cerro is a popular ‘beach’ resort for many locals with a pebbly beach access to the lake for swimming, sailing and stand up paddle boarding. Both the pizzeria and the fish restaurant offer a choice of lunch options as well as Aperitivo or dinner in the evenings. The local gelateria is pretty good too! Just up the coast from Cerro and picturesquely perched on a sheer cliff above the water is the Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso. Stunning views of Maggiore and delightful little chapel. The ‘bucket lift’ (see photo) takes you high above Laveno-Mombello and provides fabulous views of Lake Maggiore and the Alps from the top, particularly on a clear day. The Borromean Islands are well worth a visit and accessible via small boats leaving from Stresa, they are jaw-droppingly beautiful. This unusual Archipelago is made up of Isola Bella, with its 17th-Century Palazzo Borromeo, Isola dei Pescatori (or Fishermen’s Island), very picturesque and perfect for a long leisurely lunch and Isola Madre, noted for its botanical gardens and rare plants. Last September we visited Isola Bella and Isola Pescatori. Lake Maggiore really does tick many boxes and provides a wonderful location for an unforgettable holiday. You can consider combining it with a city break in Milan or with Lake Como perhaps?

08 January 2019

Yet another beautiful Italian City, Verona oozes style and sophistication from its cobbled lanes and pretty piazzas. Beyond the kitsch and romance associated with Romeo and Juliet, it has a bustling centre with boutique shops and quirky little bars and restaurants providing regional food and wine. The centre is dominated of course by the well-preserved Amphitheatre (famous venue for the summer opera festival) however around every corner there is a photo opportunity. Verona’s duomo is very pretty and crossing the River and taking in the views of the city from San Pietro is a must. And, of course with a 16-year-old daughter, we had to battle the crowds and visit ‘the’ balcony! On our way home, we took a late lunch on Lake Garda, just a short hop from Verona. We came across a lovely family run restaurant in the charming lake front resort of Desenzano del Garda, serving homemade bread, pasta and risotto. Note to self – must go back to Verona in the summer to experience the Opera!

27 November 2018

I was lucky to have the opportunity of spending a few days in Venice (whilst my husband was working) a few weeks ago (mid-Nov 2018). This was my third visit to the city, but the other two visits were so long ago it was like being there for the first time. We were very lucky with the weather and although the city had suffered a recent and particularly bad ‘acqua alta’ – we had blue skies and sunshine most days and there wasn’t a puddle in sight! After having a cappuccino and the most delicious (buonissimo!) almond brioche, in a wonderfully local cafe just around the corner from our accommodation, we set off with a one-day travel card and comfortable walking shoes to explore some of the lesser known areas of Venice’s 6 sestieri’s. During our day we: Enjoyed a bird’s eye view of this unique city and surrounding islands from the bell tower on San Giorgio; Drank coffee in Dorsoduro (home to the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, Gallerie dell'Accademia and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection); Had an Aperol spritz (with green olive of course!) and a plate of Chicchetti (Venetian tapas) for lunch in a very quiet piazza in the sunshine in Cannaregio before getting lost in the Jewish ghetto; Wandered around the glass shops in Murano (the travelcard includes the islands). It was time to catch the water bus back to Castello, however, we decided to take the long way ‘home’, ending with a fabulous journey (at dusk) down the twinkling Grand Canale, under the famous Rialto and Accademia bridges and past Piazza San Marco and the Doge’s Palace before arriving back at our vaporetto stop on the lagoon front. One of the beautiful pink buildings I picked out just happened to be the Ca' Sagredo award winning boutique hotel with just 43 rooms and the acclaimed L’Alcova Restaurant - which I was visiting the next day! A fifteenth century palace, to stay at Ca’Sagredo you would feel like Renaissance royalty, surrounded by luxurious trappings like ornate frescoes, marble statues, rich fabrics and gilt mirrors. Venice is all about the food and we enjoyed four wonderful evening meals in the Castello district (homemade pasta, pizza and of course some delicious fresh fish dishes). Castello and the Arsenale, both quieter and more residential areas away from the crowded tourist areas (and tourist menus), provide a wonderful maze of tiny canals and bridges - but don’t worry about getting lost - there will always be a fabulous osteria, trattoria or corner bar around every corner and you will eventually find your way back! I wrote this diary whilst sitting outside a fabulous little cafe on Campo S. Maria Nova, watching the world go by - some by gondola, others with confused expressions looking at up-side down maps – but mostly surrounded by locals who all seem to know each other. As we didn’t step foot inside a museum, church or art gallery during our stay, I fear another visit (this time with a museum pass) is required and if in the warmer months I shall stop by the Ca' Sagredo and sip a cocktail from their rooftop bar (overlooking the Grande Canal)!

22 October 2018

We love Italian cities and we love Italian food therefore we couldn’t resist sneaking in a quick short break to Bologna over the summer holidays. And, of course, with a car it is so easy to visit Modena and Parma too! Modena, the birthplace of Pavarotti, home to the Ferrari museum and of course the culinary force behind real balsamic vinegar. Giuseppe Giusti is the oldest and most prestigious balsamic producer and just outside Modena - the free tour was very interesting and the tasting, well let’s just say we spent rather a lot before leaving! Bologna is one of Italy’s best kept secrets and is known as the ‘gastronomic heart’ of the country. Full of character with two gravity-defying towers, over 20 miles of colonnaded arcades, Europe’s oldest university, and rich in art and wonderful food. We were staying right in the heart of the city and although it was very hot, it was wonderful to wander through Piazza Maggiore, past the fountain of Neptune, the seven churches and through the city’s famous porticoes. And finding the secret window! The climb up the tower was tough in the heat (and on the legs!) but well worth the effort for the panoramic views. Evenings were fun too. The Mercato delle Erbe was buzzing at night and of course we had to sample the famous ragu alla bolognese and tortellini in broth. Parma is also a university city and famed for Parmesan cheese and Parma ham. It is a beautiful city to wander around and lunch consisted of a cutting board with a selection of Prosciutto, Parma hams, prosecco jam and Parmesans at a degusteria. A gentle end to a busy few days. A feast for all the senses we really enjoyed our three days exploring Emilia Romagna and I would recommend a visit to this region.

19 October 2018

After an overnight stay just outside San Jose, we began our much awaited 15-day Costa Rican adventure on the country's Caribbean coast. En route we stopped for a Costa Rican style buffet breakfast and shortly afterwards we saw our first family of sloths on the road-side! Time seems to have stood still in this part of the north Caribbean coast. The final approach into Tortuguera National Park, and the only access to our lodge was by motor boat. A truly wonderful way to arrive! Our lodge was nestled between the canals and the wild Caribbean ocean and it felt like we were in the Amazon. Highlights of our stay: a tour of the butterfly and frog farms; walking tour to the small village of Tortuguera; morning boat tour on one of the Park’s many canals; the wildlife including sloths, caimans, many species of birds (toucans in particular), monkeys (one resident by the pool!) not to mention the lush flora, colourful flowers, lizards and insects. After a truly refreshing, relaxing and peaceful stay it was time to leave the Coast and head for La Fortuna (by a scheduled shuttle transfer in a very comfortable mini-bus). La Fortuna is a charming and quiet town offering panoramic views of the spectacular Arenal Volcano and is the gateway to the National Park. Highlights of our stay: The Sky Tram and walking tour across the hanging bridges providing fantastic views of the Volcano, the Lake and some beautiful scenery; Finding a fabulous little family run restaurant in La Fortuna serving delicious local food; Volunteering at ‘Proyecto Asis’ - a wildlife animal rescue centre offering an educational experience and the chance to feed and meet Costa Rican wildlife up-close; Shaking hands with a monkey; watching a sloth slowly travelling across a wire (see photo); Eating sushi at the hotel’s pool bar with Gracie. After a Lake (Arenal) crossing and a very bone rattling minibus ride, we arrived at our next destination – the Cloud Forest of Monteverde. Despite the rain, highlights of our stay: A fascinating visit to a co-operative coffee plantation (even helped pick the beans!); a visit from a very cheeky monkey to the Lodge restaurant; a truly exhilarating wet and windy adventure on the Sky Trek Zipline (still can’t believe I did it!). Next stop and well-needed chill time – Tamarindo on the Pacific coast. Once a quiet fishing village, Tamarindo has grown into a popular surfing resort and despite its popularity with the American market (and the tipping culture that they bring). We didn’t find it overcrowded or commercialised. Just really good fun! The beach at Tamarindo is long and sweeping and provides great surf – surf or body boards can be hired by the hour, day or week. We had breakfast included at our beachfront hotel and the plethora of excellent restaurants, bars and market stalls provided us with almost too much choice! Highlights of our stay: The Sunsets; Walks on the beach; The seared tuna at the Green Papaya Taco Bar; The live music on Christmas Eve at the Dragonfly Bar & Grill. We spent our last night of this amazing journey in the urban capital - San Jose. Busier, noisier (and scruffier) than the rest of the places we visited (which were incredibly clean and cared for), the city did grow on us after taking a self-guided walking tour of the downtown area on our last morning. A fabulous holiday in a truly wonderful country. Pura Vida!

17 September 2018

Starigrad Paklenica is a bustling little town surrounded by rocky shoreline, pebble beaches, old villages, mountain canyons and peaks and green forests. With stunning views of Paklenica National Park and the Adriatic from the roof top ‘Sky Bar’ Neilson’s Alana Beachclub is in a beautiful spot and perfect for keen climbers, hikers, bikers and sailors of course. Not to mention families with kids of all ages (including teenagers!) The local village of Starigrad is relaxed and easy going, with a handful of restaurants, overlooking the water. It's popular with the locals too, so you get a real taste of their way of life. The gateway to the Paklenica National Park is just two kilometres from the beach club and the park is an absolute must-see either on foot or by mountain bike. There are several challenging hiking trails, and climbing is also very popular here. For those who like things a little more laid-back, there are more gentle walks available too, with just as much to explore. Located in the north western part of Dalmatia, the beautiful, walled port of Zadar is a thirty-minute drive away and well worth a visit. We took a walk around the historic centre, where Roman ruins stand alongside Venetian style churches and we ate calamari out of bread baskets whilst strolling along the waterfront to watch the sun set whilst listening to the famous sea organ. There was the usual choice of sailing and windsurfing clinics and along with water skiing, kayaking and paddle boarding there was plenty to do on the water. On dry land there were fitness classes, tennis and cycling to keep you busy and The Spa provided a calm and relaxing retreat from the hustle and bustle of the resort or simply a chill out from all the daily activities. Great food, lovely staff and good fun. Another fabulous stay at this contemporary Neilson resort!

17 September 2018

We made a whistle-stop visit to Istria in August. The heart-shaped peninsula on Croatia’s North Western coast boasts crystal clear Adriatic waters with delightful beaches (pebble – beach shoes recommended!), coves and picturesque coastal towns. It has become a popular, trendy region (especially with the Italians due to its proximity to the Italian boarder) known for fantastic restaurants and award-winning wines (not to mention truffles – if you have a taste for them – I don’t!) We crossed the border at, and drove briefly through, Slovenia which was very pretty, and we plan to go back and explore this country another time. First stop, Rovinj which, I am certain, must be one of the most romantic towns on the Croatian coast. It features a hilltop church with panoramic views, a charming old town with narrow, cobbled streets, elegant piazzas, bathing rocks, a plethora of seafront restaurants and bars and numerous galleries. We did a quick drive through Pula and stopped for a late and delicious fish lunch (freshly cooked calamari) on the outskirts before driving onto bustling Opatija. Popular for its grand spa hotels and spectacular location the town sprawls along the coast with the waterfront connected by a promenade. There aren’t any beaches (Croatia is not renowned for them of course) but there are still lots of little sheltered bays along the coast for swimming. The town provides some excellent restaurants and in neighbouring Volosko (where we spent a night), there is a very relaxed atmosphere (popular with locals) in the busy little bars and restaurants down at the waterfront. From Opatija, we drove down the wiggly coast road to Starigrad Paklenika (north Dalmatian coast) – this route provided magnificent views of the large and barren islands which looked more like the mainland than islands and with some steep drops and views down to the clear blue Adriatic it was well worth keeping off the toll roads and motorway to reach our destination.

17 September 2018

Trieste is an Italian port on the boarder with Slovenia. Bustling with life and clearly a fascinating history it is a jumble of architecture and ethic influences having been occupied by the Romans, Austrians – notably the Habsburgs (buildings and Viennese coffee houses) and the Germans as well as the Italians of course! It was a brief overnight stop for us on the drive to Croatia but worthy of a mention in my blogs. The Canal Grande and the vast Piazza Unità d’Italia were just two of the stops on our early evening walk of the city. Fabulous sunset before heading to the trendy Cavana neighbourhood for dinner and then gelato for pudding!

22 May 2018

A weekend on the Ligurian coast – who knew it was so pretty? Living close to Milan we were able to drive there in two hours; however, Genoa is the closest airport and is just under an hour’s drive or even a ferry ride from this wonderful part of the Italian coastline. We parked in Santa Margherita Ligure and wandered along the esplanade watching the yachts and ferries come and go and soaking up the spring sunshine. After a leisurely stroll, relaxing lunch in one of the many cafes and of course a gelato we headed back to the car and drove along the ridiculously scenic coast road (the only way in by car) to Portofino. Portofino is very small and picturesque, and its iconic harbour Piazza is lined with colourful houses, bustling restaurants and cafes and of course some rather large yachts! We walked out to the tip of the promontory, passing ‘Castello Brown’ and Church of St George before reaching the delightful Al Faro Bar located on the end of the cliff, 30m above sea level and under the lighthouse. Mid-afternoon and time to check-in to our B&B – accessible only via 180 steps! The panoramic views from our balcony and the garden terrace were worth the climb! Back at the Piazza for the evening which is the perfect spot for Aperitivo, watching the many tourists and day trippers leaving by boat and of course the sun going down! We enjoyed a truly wonderful meal in Trattoria Tripoli – the pesto lasagne is not to be missed! The following morning, after breakfast on the terrace, we took the ferry to San Fruttuoso. Only accessible on foot or by boat, it is a unique spot and home to a Benedictine monastery, a scattering of cafes and the Christ of the Abyss (a bronze statue sunk offshore 15m under the sea and popular with divers). From the pebble beach, it is a steep climb on zig zag paths onto an old mule path and then a wonderful coastal walk offering amazing views of the coastline and turquoise waters way down below – with spring wildflowers along the route and shade from the trees it was a delightful walk and we arrived back in Portofino around 2 hours later. If you don’t fancy the walk back, then of course you can head back by ferry - the boat trip itself is an excursion in itself and you can spend the day hopping on and off at the various resorts along the coast. It really is a lovely part of the country and one worth returning to – if you like coastal walks and fabulous food you are in the right place! We hope to spend a few days exploring the Cinque Terre (further down the coast) in the very near future!

20 July 2017

To give my daughter some Spanish practice we spent a sneaky few days in Madrid at the beginning of the Easter holidays and were pleasantly caught out by the most amazing weather – clear blue skies and warm sunshine every day. Our hotel was located at Puerta de Toledo just a 15-20 minute walk from Plaza Mayor and 25 minute walk to Atocha Station. Not only do we like to explore a City on foot but we also love to graze and Madrid is all about the food! Late afternoon, day 1 – we didn’t make it into Plaza Mayor without stopping for a quick calamari butty! The most famous square in the City, Plaza Mayor, once the home to bullfights and markets, it is now buzzing with tourists (and some slightly odd street performers!) and although prices are high in the surrounding cafes and restaurants it is a good starting point to sample some tapas and a good glass of Spanish red and of course to people watch! After our impromptu ‘butty’ we were not hungry enough for a full on meal so instead Geoff found a fabulous little tapas tavern (Casa Gerardo) in ‘La Latina’ - off the tourist trail, the charming owner and his mother had very little English and we had very little Spanish (Grace had clearly not got into the swing of things!). However we managed to get by and she brought us some delicious cheese and meat slates paired with a crisp white wine and local beer. Just perfect and very reasonably priced! Our second evening was spent in the Santa Ana area – bustling with vibrant and atmospheric tapas bars and restaurants. Friends had recommended the Inclan Brutal Bar and we tucked into some creative Tapas and a carafe of Sangria (the pesto injected mozzarella balls were to die for!) A trip to Madrid would not be complete without a visit to the mouth-watering Mercado de San Miguel. Once a large central market it is now a hip spot for grabbing a mojito, a gin & tonic or a fresh fruit smoothie and picking up some delicious bites from the many food stalls. I can highly recommend the fresh mozzarella! If you are a foodie (like us) Madrid will not disappoint and for a capital European City it offers very good value and tremendous choice. Of course, there are other things to see and do in Madrid - we didn’t spend all our time eating! Retiro Park is a perfect place to spend a sunny afternoon relaxing on the lawns, wandering through the gardens or hiring a boat on the lake. If you are into Art and Museums you could spend weeks exploring the Prado and the Reina Sofia Museums. And of course, if you like your football stadiums, like my 17 year old son, a trip to Madrid would not be complete without a visit to Real Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium. I have to say, even I was impressed! The shopping was pretty good too – all the famous names plus lots of local shops and boutiques. We chose to spend one of our days in Toledo – catching the high speed train (from the magnificent Atocha station – itself an attraction) which took just 30 mins and spent the day taking the little tourist train around the walls and walking round this magnificent medieval city which once the home to the Spanish Royal family and has been the home to a melting pot of cultures including Romans, Jews, Arabs and Christians ever since. I would highly recommend Madrid and Toledo as a short break destination even if it doesn't improve your Spanish that much!

10 February 2017

It is hard to beat a self-catering holiday in Tuscany! Wonderful weather, stunning scenery, fabulous food and wine, and a plethora of beautiful towns and cities to visit. We stayed in a farmhouse on the outskirts of the walled hilltop city of Volterra – a one and a half hour drive from Pisa. Volterra occupies a breathtaking position overlooking the famous Tuscan landscape and although it is not as well-known as some of its neighbours (and therefore bustling with locals and Florentines rather than coach parties) still offers a wealth of historical treasures and wonderful architecture. These include two beautiful castles, a well-preserved Roman amphitheatre and boasts a beautiful domed cathedral built in a Romanesque style. The vineyards of the Chianti region are also not far away, and we drove through some picturesque vineyards en route to San Gimignano. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, ‘San Gimi’ is a fortified marvel with 14 high ancient towers affording unrivalled panoramas of the surrounding countryside. We could not resist a day in Siena - another stunning medieval town famous for its magnificent Piazza del Campo in the heart of the city where the famous Palio takes place – a crazy, bareback horse race. The city’s main sights, including the extraordinary black and white striped cathedral, plus shops, ice cream parlours (to die for!) and restaurants, are housed in a maze of narrow medieval streets. We spent a morning on the coast at Baratti beach followed by another leisurely lunch at Populania - all a bit demanding as you can imagine! Sadly, we weren’t in Tuscany long enough to visit other places such as Lucca or Florence – after all, the pool beckoned and those long leisurely lunches at the farmhouse sampling the local bread, olives, meats and local cheeses not to mention those aromatic Italian cafes and gelato cafes.....are all part of the Tuscan experience! We shall return!

08 November 2016

I have recently returned from a long weekend on a river cruise hosted by Scenic River Cruises. We flew to Budapest to join Scenic Jewel moored opposite the stunning Houses of Parliament. The Scenic ‘space ships’ are beautifully well-appointed ships, accommodating up to 170 passengers on three decks. Facilities include two restaurants and a very comfortable spacious lounge (with bar) and an open air sun deck plus a small spa & gym. The cabins and suites have a butler to look after you and always at the end of the phone. We were lucky to have a balcony suite which was very spacious and had a large wardrobe as well as a safe, mini bar and a luxurious bathroom (with bath and separate shower) along with a small balcony with 2 chairs and small table. Fluffy robes and L'Occitane toiletries make your stay very special. The staff on board were absolutely fabulous and worked so hard to make our trip so wonderful. We were able to enjoy some of Budapest's sights even though the weather was not at all good. Despite the rain we could see what an interesting and pretty city it is (both the Buda and Pest!). We chose to visit the Thermal Baths which was fun as well as strangely tiring! Other choices were a city tour, a visit to see the Hospital in the Rock or exploring independently on the (30) e-bikes provided by Scenic. We cruised the Danube for around 24 hours (passing Bratislava while we slept!) arriving in wonderful Vienna at lunchtime under bright blue skies and sunshine. We chose a trip to Schonbrunn Palace – other options included shopping with the chef, a visit to the Riding School or explore in your own time with or without an e-bike! In some ports Scenic offer Scenic Enrich - these are extra special exclusive events held ashore such as concerts, opera or ballet performances. We enjoyed a fabulous concert at Palais Lichtenstein in Vienna. Food is of a very high standard on-board in the main Crystal dining room or in the more informal River Café and when there is good weather you can also dine on deck. Portobellos is the Italian specialty restaurant where everyone has the chance to dine at least once during their cruise at no surcharge. Those on Deck 3 have the exclusive opportunity to enjoy a six-course degustation menu with a different wine with each course at Table La Rive. Scenic are an all-inclusive product so drinks, food, mini-bar, gratuities, Wi-Fi, laundry and excursions are all included. You will also have the services of a cruise director to help and assist, local expert guides and on-board entertainers. They offer a range of destinations throughout Europe including France and Portugal, Russia and the Far East. The beauty of a river cruise is the slow pace of travel, the perfect way to see and enjoy the scenery and quick and easy access to towns and Cities along the route - I can highly recommend it! If you would like to know more - please just get in touch.

17 June 2016

I have just come back from a fabulous weekend in Amsterdam. It has been a long time since I visited this popular city and I wasn’t disappointed. It is still a vibrant, compact and interesting City and a fabulous place to people watch! We flew into Schipol Airport with KLM and very easily caught a train into Centraal Station. We were staying at the Doubletree Suites for our first night and this was a very short walk from the Station so very handy for a short break or a pre-post Cruise. After a nice evening in the popular Sky Lounge, the hotel’s roof top bar with fabulous views over the City, we had a good night sleep and delicious buffet breakfast and were ready for our walking tour of the City. The tour took us over bridges, along Canals and past unique Dutch gabled buildings and museums and of course through the famous Dam Square, Rembrandt Square and the Leidseplan before having lunch in a typical Dutch restaurant. In the evening we were treated to a dinner Cruise on one of the hundreds of canal boats flitting up and down the canals which gave us a different perspective of the City and took us past the Skinny Bridge, the Opera house and Anne Frank’s House and museum. It was a really warm evening and the City was buzzing with people spilling out of bars and sitting along the Canals. It was busy with hen and stag parties and groups of football (the Euro’s) fans but it was all very friendly and relaxed. We stayed at the Moevenpick Amsterdam on our second night (only a 15 minute walk from the Station) and I was delighted to enjoy a junior suite which overlooked the Cruise port – which leads me nicely onto the main reason we were there! The next morning I woke up to find Holland America Line’s (HAL) newest Ship – the fabulous MS Koningsdam moored right outside my window! HAL has always been known as a traditional Cruise line however this newest addition to the fleet blends classic elegance with a modern & fresh contemporary style. In addition to a fresh new look it has introduced new dining experiences at Sel de Mer (seafood brasserie), the Dutch Café and a New York Deli and Pizza bar overlooking the main pool. With their innovative Culinary Arts Center and Blend, where you have hands on experience in blending wines and cooking, alongside their favourites – the Pinnacle Grill, Canaletto and Tamarind - you are spoilt for choice. And the Lido Market blew me away – food stations serving fresh sushi, salads & grills providing a massive choice of themed food from around the World – it really does feel more like a food market experience rather than the main buffet restaurant. We had a delicious lunch served by the friendly staff in the main dining room – spacious and beautifully decorated with the HAL signature fresh flowers and beautiful coloured glass decoration. I was blown away by the size of the staterooms – from the inside staterooms to the luxurious Suites there is accommodation to suit all budgets.....even family cabins which sleep 5 and have 2 bathrooms! Families are welcomed on-board and supervised entertainment is provided for ages 3-17 – teens have their own place to hang out in the Loft! Entertainment on-board is equally impressive – partnerships with Billboard and Lincoln Arts Centre and with BB Kings (Blues band) in the Queen’s lounge and live musicians in the Music Walk area they offer something a little bit different to standard cruise ship entertainment and I really loved the artwork displayed throughout the Ship. The highlights for me were the central pool (a two level magrodome), the Greenhouse Spa (even has a horizontal shower – how good is that?) and the World Stage (270 degree LED projection) showroom. not to mention the Cabanas that can be pre-booked. I was so pleased to be able to see the Koningsdam for myself and hope to sail on her in the future! And I would recommend a short break to Amsterdam flying direct from your local airport or in the future on the planned direct Eurostar service!

17 June 2016

Having checked into Disney's Grand Floridian & Spa Resort for our 7 night stay we knew we were going to be spoilt. A fabulous hotel and resort offering large rooms with balconies and connected to Magic Kingdom by monorail & boat. With VIP tour guides taking us around Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios we were able to see and experience the Parks, shows, restaurants and the rides efficiently and effectively! A visit to Blizzard Beach water-park and a game of miniature golf added to the list of endless fun you can have at Disneyworld Florida! We were also lucky enough to attend 2 character breakfasts – one at Animal Kingdom and the other at the Beach & Yacht Club (at Disney’s boardwalk) so we were joined by Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy & Goofy! I was blown away by the incredible Lion King show at Animal Kingdom and loved the Star Wars ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (and meeting Chewbacca was a bonus – it was really him!) The Snow White Mine Train ride is just delightful....and the Frozen show is a must for any little princesses! A night out at Jellyrolls with duelling pianos and popcorn is a must for adult guests. Watching the fireworks from the California Grill (after a wonderful meal) at Disney’s Contemporary resort was a fabulous end to our trip. So many photo opportunities and so many memories are made at Disney – they do it so well! If you like shopping, Orlando also has many retail opportunities including Disney Springs, the fabulous Florida Mall and of course the famous Orlando premium outlets.....bargains to be had! I almost forgot to mention Cirque du Soleil (at Disney Springs) .....totally awesome! There is a Disney resort hotel for everyone – families, couples, even honeymooners! If you would like more information about the different hotels, passes, memory maker and choice of dining plans (I was very impressed by the choices in the parks - not all burgers and fries anymore!) or would like to chat about the benefits of staying at a Disney Property please give me a call! And of course I can tailor a holiday or you combining a stay at Disney with some time on the Gulf coast or down at the Keys after a few nights in Miami? There is something really special about walking through the gates of Magic Kingdom – if you haven’t done so already let’s plan your trip soon!

19 April 2016

As they say in South Africa - Sawubona! I am so lucky to have just been on one of the most amazing educational trips. We visited the Cape region of South Africa and it was everything I expected and so much more….an area of contrasting and stunning scenery and countryside which was a patchwork of prettiness, fabulous people, food and wine and to top it all mind blowing ‘Attenborough-esque’ game drives! There is something for everyone in South Africa – foodies, wine lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, families, honeymooners, single travellers and couples. It is a fascinating country with so much variety and a place where the 'WOW factor' is there every day and a place where you will collect 'precious memories' around every corner. I would encourage everyone to experience South Africa at least once. After landing in Cape Town we were given a short orientation tour of the City and we grabbed some lunch at the Waterfront. We stayed at The Vineyard Hotel for our first 2 nights which had a perfect setting at the back and base of Table Mountain. A charming hotel blending old and new with a fabulous atmosphere and beautiful botanical style gardens. The hotel offered the best buffet breakfast I think I have ever come across! Day two and we started with a short cruise to see a fur seal colony at Haut Bay, followed by a visit to a penguin colony at Boulder Bay, lunch at the Black Marlin restaurant overlooking the ocean, and finally we braved the wind and rain at Cape Point, otherwise known as the Cape of Good Hope. Sadly we had to leave Cape Town without seeing Table Mountain due to bad weather – but an excellent reason to return! Day three and the weather cleared and we moved on to Stellenbosh and the Winelands region. En-route we enjoyed a few interesting hours at Babylonstoren, a historic Cape Dutch farm which offers stunning boutique accommodation as well as the most amazing edible garden, restaurant and Spa! After tasting a selection of wines at one of the 500 wine farms we checked into the Oude Werf hotel – a famous Inn since 1802 beautifully designed to combine 21st century comfort with period inspired chic. The staff were welcoming, beds sooooo comfortable and the food excellent. Our next day took us along the Garden Route. This drive is so easy and enjoyable with spectacular sea and mountain views. After around 6 hours we arrived at Knysna staying at the Waterfront. We set sail on the 'John Benn' for a sunset cruise where some lovely food and refreshments were served. Dinner was at the Cruise Café, a short walk from the hotel. The following morning we set off for one of the most famous private safari parks in the world. Shamwari Game Reserve (a malaria free zone and child friendly) was our base for 2 nights, 2 days and 3 game drives. We stayed at one of the 6 safari lodges called Riverdene Lodge and I was very impressed with the welcome, friendliness & enthusiasm of all of the staff. Our game driver was ‘Tops’ who managed to find all of the 'big 5' as well as giraffe, zebras, hippos, monkeys, and many more species of wildlife & bird life. If you have the time, I would highly recommend combining Cape Town, the wine lands, the 'Garden Route' and a safari experience. South Africa offers great value and will give you some very precious memories to last for ever! Note to self – take family next time!

19 April 2016

Another fabulous fortnight with Neilson holidays. This year we chose Club Phokaia near Foca, Turkey, a very smart beach-club with a wow factor Olympic size swimming pool surrounded by day beds and sun-loungers. A walk down the garden path and you are at the (sand and shingle) beach, the water-sports activities, ski pier and the much used beachfront bar! The food in the buffet restaurant was of a high standard with a good choice of hot and cold dishes daily at breakfast, lunch time and in the evening and a superb BBQ at the Beach bar once a week, along with excellent salads, breads and sweets and a good coffee machine, we did not go hungry! The Bistro menu (available 2 nights a week at the beach bar) offered a good choice and value for money. However, what we really enjoyed was taking a taxi (approx. 10 mins) into Foca on 2 of the evenings when evening meals were not included. Neilson are the only UK tour operator in the area and Foca remains very ‘Turkish’ – the locals are extremely friendly and we thoroughly enjoyed wandering around the town and having seafood suppers overlooking the water and the pretty harbour. We enjoyed all the activities included on a Neilson holiday – the children gained qualifications in sailing and wind surfing and both managed to water ski too. Geoff spent most of his time on the water – windsurfing and taking part in the laser racing. We all really enjoyed the flotilla sail-a-way around the island too. I really enjoyed taking out a pico from time to time and also took advantage of the tennis clinics & coaching (Leah sorted out my forehand within an hour!), the social tennis and ‘boozy balls’! With a spot of mountain biking and some Pilates, Zumba and aqua-robics and plenty of relaxation around the magnificent pool with our books and crosswords – not to mention the ‘always a laugh’ pub quiz and Phokaia’s got talent - we really felt we had ‘relaxed as hard as we liked’! If there is a downside to a Neilson holiday it is the fact that we don’t see enough of the children! A highlight at Phokaia is watching the boats and boards come in and the sun going down at the end of the day with a cold beer or cocktail at the Beachfront Bar. All in all a fantastic family holiday and worth the drive to Manchester Airport – no seats left from Gatwick or Birmingham - note to self – follow my own advice and book earlier next year!

24 June 2015

Not just a destination for romance and honeymoons this tropical island deep in the Indian Ocean and surrounded by coral reefs and beautifully warm turquoise waters, is a fabulous place to spend a family holiday at Easter. It is also the perfect twin centre for Dubai. We took the Emirates 7 hour overnight flight from Dubai to Mauritius having spent a fun few days in the Emirate. The transfer took just over an hour to our resort passing through the country’s capital, Port Louis – great for market shopping and close the Pamplemousse Botanical Gardens. On arrival at Zilwa Attitude we were greeted by the hotel manager, a coconut juice and cold towels and were checked in on an iPad whilst enjoying the most fabulous view from the open air reception area. Perfect for families we had two rooms, connected by a private entrance hall, each with its own walk in shower room and balcony. All inclusive is such a great idea when holidaying with teenagers – particularly a hungry 14 year old boy – and it starts from the minute you arrive and ends the minute you leave at Zilwa. The buffet breakfasts were good and plentiful served in the Karay restaurant and we enjoyed the local buffet cuisine there in the evenings too - particularly the curry night. We tended to have the buffet lunches at Lor Disab – which in creole means ‘right on the beach’ or grab a sandwich at Taba-J – of course we returned there each afternoon for afternoon tea and pancakes (crepes)…..who could resist! The entertainment was low key and just enough – the children dipped in and out of spending time either on the beach, windsurfing, kayaking and paddle boarding out to the lagoon and or with the teen club taking part in the odd game of boules or the mini Olympics. Each evening there was live music from a few local bands and Sega and Indian dancing for the Mauritian and Indian evenings. Two nights a week they showed a movie on the beach and we all enjoyed snorkelling from the complimentary glass bottom boat on the complimentary trip. Geoff topped up his diving log and went out three times with the dive centre at the hotel. The windsurfing equipment was a little lacking as with most hotels but had the winds been stronger he could have taken advantage of the facilities at Club Mistral – a short boat ride away (they pick up!). Apart from taking a lovely private boat trip, out to the mangroves and to one of the islands off the coast for a BBQ for a day, we didn’t venture outside the hotel. We were so relaxed and had enough to keep us entertained and busy that we just didn’t feel the need! The only disappointments were the man-made beach (although who wants a bed full of sand?) and the fact that my favourite cocktail, a mojito, was not included in our all-inclusive package (although we knew they wouldn’t have been as good as Geoff’s anyway)! A fabulous destination to grab some winter sun, re-charge your batteries and spend time with the family…..perfect!

15 June 2015

As they say in South Africa - Sawubona! I am so lucky to have just been on one of the most amazing educational trips. We visited the Cape region of South Africa and it was everything I expected and so much more….there was ’wow factor’ around every corner with contrasting and stunning scenery, countryside which was a patchwork of prettiness, fabulous people, food and wine and to top it all mind blowing ‘Attenborough-esque’ game drives! There is something for everyone in South Africa – foodies, wine lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, families, honeymooners, single travellers and couples. It is a fascinating country with so much variety and a place where the 'WOW factor' can be there every day and a place where you will collect 'precious memories' around every corner. I would encourage everyone to experience South Africa at least once. After landing in Cape Town we were given a short orientation tour of the City and we grabbed some lunch at the Waterfront. We stayed at The Vineyard Hotel for our first two nights which had a perfect setting at the back and base of Table Mountain. A charming hotel blending old and new with a fabulous atmosphere and beautiful botanical style gardens. The hotel offered the best buffet breakfast I think I have ever come across! Day two and we started with a short cruise to see a fur seal colony at Haut Bay, followed by a visit to a penguin colony at Boulder Bay, lunch at the Black Marlin restaurant overlooking the ocean, and finally we braved the wind and rain at Cape Point, otherwise known as the Cape of Good Hope. Sadly we had to leave Cape Town without seeing Table Mountain due to bad weather – but an excellent reason to return! Day three and the weather cleared and we moved on to Stellenbosh and the Winelands region. Before arriving at the winery we stopped off and had a fascinating tour of the edible gardens at Babylon! After tasting a selection of wines at one of the 500 wine farms in the Stellenbosch wine region we checked into the Oude Werf hotel – a famous Inn since 1802 beautifully designed to combine 21st century comfort with period inspired chic. The staff were welcoming, beds sooo comfortable and the food excellent. The next day took us along the Garden Route. This drive is so easy and enjoyable with spectacular sea and mountain views. After around six hours we arrived at Knysna staying at the Waterfront. We set sail on the 'John Benn' for a sunset cruise where some lovely food and nibbles were served. Dinner was at the Cruise Café, a short walk from the hotel. The following morning we headed off to one of the most famous private safari parks in the world. Shamwari Game Reserve was going to be our base for our last two nights. We stayed at one of the six safari lodges - Riverdene Lodge - suited to families in particular. I was very impressed by the warm welcome and the friendliness and enthusiasm of all of the staff. With just nine rooms it was home from home from the start. The food was equally as impressive - from the choice of freshly prepared hot breakfasts to the BBQ and evening meal at the Lodge to the 'Bush' lunch offering amazing views - you really are spoilt. Our game driver was ‘Tops’ and he managed to find all the 'Big 5' (in just two days!) as well as giraffe, zebra, hippo, monkeys, and many many more species of wildlife and bird life. Too many highlights to list! If you have the time, I would highly recommend combining Cape Town with the winelands, the 'Garden Route' and a safari experience. South Africa offers great value and will leave you with some very precious memories to last for ever...as it did me! Note to self – take family next time!

21 May 2015

I was lucky enough to join a group of colleagues on Celebrity Infinity in September 2014 sailing from Harwich. Modern Luxury is what Celebrity is all about and is what they deliver. The service and staff on board the ship was outstanding and the size and quality of the cabins (including the inside cabins) and suites were impressive too. Pre-dinner drinks in the Martini Bar was a delightful experience and post-dinner drinks at Crush was totally cool with its ice-topped bar! The quality of food in the buffet and main restaurants was superb and the choice of meals varied and diverse. I also enjoyed a delicious French crepe lunch at the quieter ‘Bistro on Five’ and when I just felt like a light healthy snack the ‘AquaSpa Café’ offered a varied selection of snacks and salads to choose from. The highlight for me was dinner at ‘Qsine’ where we were taken on a culinary journey of textures and tastes all ordered from an iPad – although the waiters did offer much needed advice! The gym, spa and thalassotherapy pool provided wellbeing and relaxation so even a rainy day in Le Havre was put to good use! We were only on-board for 4 nights and decided not to get off in Le Havre – the weather was fabulous so we relaxed by the pool, soaked up the rays and made use of the fantastic gym and Canyon Ranch SpaClub. We were invited onto the Bridge for cocktails with the Captain and crew and watched the sunset over Ile de Re and enjoyed a fascinating tour of the kitchens with the head chef. We even sampled afternoon tea at Michael's Club....totally spoilt! My favourite port of call (and a place I had always been interested in visiting) was La Rochelle which is a pretty French harbour town with great fish restaurants, shops and cafes. It's possible to hire bicycles for the day to explore and there are also boat trips to can take you to the off shore island of Ile de Re where you can laze on the beautiful beaches. Celebrity Cruises are stylish, contemporary and would appeal to many age groups (families can make use of Toddler time, the Fun factory and X club for kids and teens), couples (Aquaclass in particular), honeymooners and those celebrating a special occasion or wedding anniversary. Celebrity offer a fabulous experience all round! Cruising is no longer just for the retired!

21 May 2015

Having been to Morocco at Easter we wanted to get away for a week or so in August and I had always wanted to go back to Majorca so we managed to find a 2 roomed apartment at the Inturotel Azul Park in Cala D’or. It was functional – small kitchen area where we had lunch most days and the children slept on sofa beds in the living room. We had a nice balcony overlooking the pool and side sea view. The Marina at Cala D’or was a 20 minute walk from our hotel and it had some very nice bars and restaurants overlooking the Marina as well as some rather large boats! And it was a bit quieter than the main town and had we been staying on bed and breakfast at the hotel I am sure we would have enjoyed some lovely evening meals…at surprisingly reasonable prices too! The pool area at our hotel was very very busy (well it was high season of course) but we managed to scoop some sunbeds in the quieter area overlooking the cove most days and jumped off rocks into the sea, swam and snorkelled and did a bit of paddle boarding. Just across the road was Esmeralda Beach (this was handy for smaller children needing shallow waters and soft sand). We had a real treat when, on one day, a couple of dolphins swam into the Cove and stayed for an hour or so….it was very unusual according to the life guard and Geoff and the children enjoyed swimming and snorkelling, fairly close at times, with them! We had hired a car from the airport so spent a day exploring the North – we drove to Cala San Vicente - a pretty little resort and then onto Pollenca Old Town where we had a coffee and watched a rather scary but exciting downhill bike competition (racing through the cobbled streets and flying off walls and steps!). It is a very pretty town and well worth a visit with some very nice boutique shops and restaurants. From there we drove out onto the Formentor peninsula and out to the light house. To be honest it was so busy and car parking was so difficult that we turned around and came straight off again, parking up in Puerto Pollenca for a calamari lunch and ice cream overlooking the bay! After our relaxing week in Cala D’or we headed to Palma to spend our last 2 nights at the Saratoga hotel – a smart boutique style property in a fabulous location within walking distance of the park, Avenida Jaime III, the promenade and the old town. It had 2 pools – one on the ground floor and a smaller one on the roof with fantastic views of the Port, the Old town roof tops and the magnificent Cathedral. The hotel has a very nice jazz bar and restaurants where you can enjoy live jazz music on selected nights. We explored Palma on foot wandering around the pretty boulevards and small cobbled streets – many pedestrianised. Plenty of shopping opportunities in both the main shopping streets and the markets….and a wide choice of taps bars and some very smart restaurants and cafes. We found a quirky little place called Cortezar on the way back to our hotel and had a late lunch – we liked it so much we went back for cocktails that evening – it was off the beaten track and very reasonably priced – recommend the Mojitos and cucumber G&T’s! We ate tapas in the Old Town in the evening and had a delicious paella at C’an Eduardo down at the harbour on our last night. All in all Majorca lived up to our expectations….but there is so much more to see and do. We would like to return out of season and spend some time in the Mountains….one day! ?

18 May 2015

We flew from Heathrow with Emirates on their spacious A380 aircraft – food was good and in-flight entertainment to die for! After a 30 minute transfer out to the Palm we arrived at the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray and were greeted by a truly wow factor hotel lobby and with it’s private beach, fabulously huge infinity pool, sumptuous spa and 10 restaurants this amazing hotel was hard to leave each day! Our bedroom was huge with 2 double beds (plus an extra bed), sitting area, large balcony and still with space to spare….we were overlooking the roof of the palatial Talise Ottoman Spa and had a view of the sea but also with the port and mainland in the distance. Our 5 days in Dubai were all about the food and waterparks! We were on a complimentary half board offer which meant we could choose to eat in over 40 restaurants in the Jumeirah group and with the hotel providing a complimentary shuttle bus getting on and off the Palm was not an issue. After much discussion and advice from colleagues, we actually decided to eat in 5 of the Zabeels’ restaurants and were not disappointed with either the food or the service: The buffet breakfast at Imperium (a French style brasserie complete with chandeliers and gilded columns) was spectacular and possibly one of the best I have ever experienced. Exotic fruits freshly cut and served to your plate, freshly squeezed fruit and veg juices and the most delicious muesli….I could go on; ‘The Rib Room’ – Steaks the size of the dinner plates and delicious sides, starters and suites; Abid and his team at ‘Amala’ helped us choose the tastiest selection of North Indian cuisine and at ‘Al Nafoorah’ (rightly earning its reputation as one of the best Lebanese restaurants in Dubai) we were treated to an amazing meze of salads, dips and kebabs chosen by the knowledgeable waiters. We had calamari for lunch at the Plaj restaurant overlooking the beach and sandwiches round the pool….we positively rolled back to the airport! On our last night we ventured out of the hotel and spent a while wandering around the Madinet Jumeirah Souk (bit disappointing having been to the real thing in Marrakech the previous year to be honest but a nice evening!) before taking the water bus (complimentary to Jumeirah guests) to ‘Tortuga’ a Mexican kitchen in a delightful position overlooking the canal. The Osmond family love a waterpark….and Dubai gave us the opportunity to try two! We enjoyed both Wild Wadi (at the Jumeirah beach hotel) Water Park and Aquaventure at Atlantis the Palm. Again the shuttle bus dropped us at Wild Wadi and it was a quick 5 minute taxi ride to Aquaventure from the Zabeel Saray. Both parks offered a variety of rides from thrilling record breaking rides to children’s play areas for younger visitors but we felt that Aquaventure perhaps offered more choice for teenagers and adults. Having said that the unique Master Blaster at Wild Wadi, a gravity-defying ride that sends you up-hill, made a refreshing change! Of course our visit would not be complete without a wander around the awesome Mall of the Emirates and Dubai Mall and being whisked up 124 floors to the Observation deck of the Burj Khalifa. The daily fountain display at the foot of the Burj is well worth hanging around for too. We did find some time to relax and read by the fabulous infinity pool but did not have time to visit the gym, cinema or the Musichall. Geoff and I did manage to squeeze in a few hours at the Talise Ottoman Spa, which boasts 42 individual spa rooms and suites, an indoor swimming pool and 3 authentic Turkish Hammams. After a fantastic few days in Dubai we were ready to move onto Mauritius……

10 June 2014

After four nights in Marrakech and three nights in the Atlas Mountains (see my journal entitled Marrakech & the High Atlas Mountains) our Moroccan adventure continued with a scenic three hour drive down to the Atlantic coast where we spent five nights in the small village of Sidi Kaouki. The journey was made all the more interesting by our driver who gave us an interesting lesson in Moroccan history and politics and the way of life. Very laid back and low key, with its long stretch of sandy beach, Sidi Kaouki is popular with water sports enthusiasts and is a great spot for getting away from the hustle and bustle. Just a short walk from the beach and the village square are the wonderful Rebali Riads. We had our own two bedroomed Riad sharing a communal pool with two other Riads (a further three larger riads have their own private pools) along with a hammam, tennis court and table tennis table. Muhammad and his charming team of staff took very good care of us. Breakfast was included and was served in our Riad or outside on the terrace each morning. We also booked dinner on two of our evenings which again is served in our Riad. Another evening we ate at Le Kaouki and had a grilled fish supper and on another, had burgers at the Surf Club watching the sunset over the Ocean. There are a few little ‘tavernas’ in the village square serving tagines, fish, burgers & salads and all reasonably priced. Chez Momo served an excellent chicken ‘Pastilla’. Although it really is no more than a village, there was still plenty to do. From camel trekking and horse rides on the beach, to walks to Berber villages and visits to Ergan farms. Playing tennis and table tennis at the Riads and even star gazing from your private rooftop terrace! We highly recommend the 25 minute walk along the beach to Abdul’s café – where we sat on cushioned stone benches and enjoyed the most amazing calamari and fries freshly prepared in the simplest of kitchens (you can take a camel there if you prefer!) Sadly there wasn’t enough wind (very unusual) for Geoff to wind surf or kite surf however he and the children did hire surf boards and spent a full afternoon on the beach and riding the surf! We spent an enjoyable afternoon in Essaouira (despite the sea fog), just a 20 minute taxi ride from the Riads, with fortified walls, crashing waves, fishing port, white-washed crumbling walls and small vibrant Medina. Before heading back to our Riad we braved the fish market for an early fish supper. Choose your own fish and the chips arrive by bicycle! It was so relaxing staying at Rebali and in Sidi Kaouki – just watching the funny little goats in the pens next door, listening to the donkeys braying to each other and seeing camels wandering by whilst listening to the surf rolling in from our rooftop terrace. It all provided quite a different experience and one that I would thoroughly recommend after a busy few days in Marrakech or for anyone wanting to get away from it all!

10 June 2014

Memories of our Moroccan adventure linger as we remember the sights, sounds and smells of our fascinating 12 night holiday. I have written my journal in two parts - 'Marrakech & the Mountains' and 'Morocco – the Atlantic Coast'. We arrived in Marrakech on a late flight and were welcomed to Riad Dar Azure by Samira with the most delicious three course traditional Moroccan meal for our arrival. We spent four nights staying in a quiet street within the Kasbah walls, close to the Royal Palace and a short walk from the square and souks. Dar Azure is a charming house built around an attractive courtyard where we ate breakfast, traditionally decorated with colourful mosaics, a fountain and wall hangings. With the added bonus of a private rooftop terrace with cushions and sun loungers it was a perfect retreat for relaxing in the sun or chilling out after a busy day in the souks. We were left to come and go as we pleased - it was home from home for those few days! The myriad of tiny alleyways and busy streets of the Medina are best explored on foot. It is easy to get lost but there is always someone willing to guide you back to the main square for a dirham or two! We booked a walking tour on our first morning to get our bearings and learn a little about the city and its interesting history. The locals are very easy going and friendly. We learnt a few Arabic words and phrases (which they loved) and got by with our school book French. We felt safe and were only spooked at times by the number of mopeds and horse and carts whizzing past! Visiting Djemaa el Fna square at night was like going back in time – here we found a maze of food stalls selling local street food, fortune tellers, fire eaters, dancers, snake charmers - it really felt like we were in an Indiana Jones movie! Easting out was fun too. One evening we ate just off the main Square at Chez Chegrouni. Excellent value for money and delicious tagine, with a view! Close to our Riad was Café Clock, recently opened and serving food on the terrace overlooking the rooftops. We had the most delicious mint lemonade and camel burgers, and the cappuccinos were pretty good too. While my husband spent a day on a mountain bike tour in the Anougal Valley, the children and I took the complimentary mini-bus out to the Oasiria Water Park, just 10 minutes from the Medina. It had only just opened for the season and was strangely quiet and the water extremely cold (I didn’t go in) however, it was a lovely place to chill out away from the hustle and bustle! The following day we took a horse drawn carriage out to Marjorelle gardens and spent the afternoon exploring the Souks, finding some interesting gifts and souvenirs to bring home. We left Marrakech on a very rainy day and in just 50 minutes found ourselves in the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains. It was cold and wet when we arrived at Kasbah Bab Ourika however we received a very warm welcome with homemade mint tea and cakes and log fires burning in every room – including our bedrooms! The Kasbah is a small boutique hotel perched on a hillside and we were completely blown away by the most incredible views of the Ourika Valley - particularly from the children’s bedroom window! Snow-capped mountain peaks, lush valleys and a red earth landscape provide the setting along with beautifully designed terraces and gardens including their own vegetable garden. The children managed to swim in the outdoor pool however it was very cold – not surprising at this time of year! Trekking is popular from the Kasbah and guides and picnics can be provided. Gracie and I took a camel ride through the local villages whilst the boys hired a guide and mountain bikes and enjoyed a fantastic downhill ride back to the hotel. We ate in the Kasbah each evening after pre-dinner drinks in one of the bars or snugs. The three course set menus were freshly cooked, varied and delicious. There was a ‘cinema’ room where we could watch a movie with the children or play cards or chess. Lunch could be taken on the terrace and was freshly prepared offering a different menu daily. After three wonderful nights said goodbye to Bab Ourika and headed to the coast.

23 January 2014

Having spent a week in the gorgeous La Roque-Gageac (see ‘A week in Dordogne’) we then drove across to the Vendee to spend a week on the Atlantic coast! We booked a week in a villa in Saint Jeans-de-Monts… a French seaside resort renowned for its 8km sandy beach! The seafront has recently been restored and now boasts a network of footpaths and cycle tracks along the front and through the pine forest. A real bonus is the free parking on the sea front…did you hear that Poole?! We hired bikes for a day and cycled past the dunes and through the pine forest. We spent afternoons on the beach building sandcastles but sadly only spent one afternoon body boarding (the surf had dropped for the rest of the week). Another day was spent at Atlantic Toboggan Water-Park just a 15 minute drive from the villa. We took a picnic and spent a good 4 hours at the small but fun park! We bought fish, fruit and other fresh produce from the farmers’ market in the town and of course the children enjoyed wandering around the shops and arcades where they could eat ice cream and play on the slot machines! One day we drove up the coast and onto the island of Noirmoutier-en-l’ile, an interesting island of sandy inlets, white washed houses, salt marshes and pine forests – loved by the impressionist painter Renoir. You almost feel you have gone back in time. We stopped for coffee and crepes in the delightful fishing village & port of L’Herbaudiere and then drove on to Noirmoutier itself, home to an historic Chateau, an interesting working port and a pretty little pedestrianised centre with cobbled streets and alleyways. We also came across the famous beach, Plages des Dames with its painted bathing huts…really lovely and wish we could have stayed longer! Although we weren’t within walking distance to the beach, it was always nice to come back to our extremely spacious villa with pool in a gated community approximately a 10 minute drive from the centre of St Jean-de-Monts & the sea front. The drive back to Calais took around 7 hours (with some annoying roadworks around Rouen) and we were on a late afternoon train after a wonderful 2 week holiday in Dordogne and the Vendee.

23 January 2014

We spent the first week of our self-drive holiday to France in a delightful house in the beautiful and picturesque village of La Roque-Gageac perched right up on the banks of the River Dordogne. We arrived early afternoon having taken a late afternoon Eurotunnel the night before and stayed at a little motel close to Orleans on the way down. We chose not to use the toll roads all the way down to the Dordogne, instead taking the A road through some very pretty little towns and villages which passed the time away nicely! We were blown away by, and never tired of, the view of the River, the Chateau and the village from our wonderful house. The photos really hadn’t done the property justice. We had views from the double bedroom on the top floor, the living room on the ground floor, the children’s room on lower ground floor and from our private swimming pool and breakfast patio! Most mornings and evenings we watched the hot air balloons travelling up the River and over the hills and chateaux in the distance. It was truly spectacular! Of course we spent a lot of time chilling by the pool, reading books and marvelling at the view. However, we were active on some days….we spent a full day canoeing on the Dordogne…hiring 2 kayaks from ‘Canoe Dordogne’ we paddled 16km from Vitrac to Les Milandes passing through La Roque-Gageac en-route which gave us a different perspective of our town and house and stopping for a picnic lunch on the river bank. Although this is a very popular ‘excursion’ and the river packed with fellow travellers it was still good fun. Having enjoyed the kayaking so much we decided to spend another day on the water, this time in the River Vezere. This was a much quieter and very picturesque river and we found it much more relaxing with very few other people on the river. The Gardens of Marqueyssac were absolutely stunning and well worth a visit. The 150,000 boxwoods are quite amazing and the views from the Belvedere balcony, 192 meters high and 130 meters above the river, unveiled an exceptional panoramic view of the Dordogne River. We spent a few hours waking around the gardens and admiring the spectacular views of the valley and beyond. We spent a late afternoon in the fortified village of Domme which stands 150 metres above the Dordogne River. We stayed for an early supper at a lovely little bistro called ‘La Poivriere’. The plat du jour was excellent value. Another drive took us to Beynac, Chateau de Castelnau, Chateau des Milandes, Saint Cyprien ….all very attractive towns and vistas….and we had a wonderful few hours wandering the medieval town or Sarlat with its fine examples of architecture, interesting buildings and alleyways. Not to mention the most amazing market….farmers’ cheeses, olives, fresh produce, olive oil, nuts and wines….the sights and smells were far too tempting! And of course we were quite happy wandering down the steep steps into La Roque each morning to buy our croissant and pain chocolate and our baguettes each morning from the local boulangerie and then again in the afternoons for an ice cream and watch the canoes go by! A truly wonderful week in the Dordogne.

21 February 2013

We started our 16 day journey in San Francisco and spent two days exploring the fun and vibrant city. Our host took us on a sightseeing tour of the city stopping to eat burritos over-looking the iconic Golden Gate Bridge before taking off over the many steep and pot-holed roads! The following day brought fog and the heaviest rain on record in the Bay area! However, we still managed to have fun travelling on the old fashioned cable cars, lunch overlooking Union Square and of course went on the not to be missed Night Tour of Alcatraz…. and what a fantastic city for shopping too! The following day we were up early to pick up our hire car and drive across the Golden Gate Bridge and north onto Eureka, stopping off in the beautiful Sonoma Valley for a spot of wine tasting and a drive through the Avenue of the Giants (Redwoods). After an amazing walk through the Redwoods National Park and then crossing the border into Oregon, we spent the night in Medford before heading to Crater Lake National Park - a place of immeasurable beauty. Unable to drive around the whole perimeter (due to the snow) or take the boat trip on the lake, we were still able to marvel at its splendour from two or three vantage points before spending the night in Fort Klamath. A long drive the following day to Portland via Mt Hood and then through the Colombia River Gorge….another amazing geological wonder… We stopped to watch the wind and kite surfers doing their tricks! We were pleasantly surprised by Portland, with a variety of restaurants and nightlife, river side festivals, cafes and parks it is a city big in entertainment yet with a small town feel. We were glad we made the time to visit. Across the border into Washington State and after coffee at the farmers’ market in Olympia, the State capital, we drove on to Forks – with lush rain forests, magnificent coast line and vampires (home to the Twilight books & movies!) We spent a day walking through ancient forests and paddling in the freezing cold Pacific on La Push beach. And on into Canada….we made an early start to catch the ferry across to Vancouver Island and enjoy lunch and a walk around Victoria. We caught another ferry to Tsawwassen, the gateway to the wonderful Vancouver, BC. Not forgetting the pod of Orcas off the starboard bow, it was an excursion in itself sailing through the many islands. Vancouver is home to the sea plane (we watched them take off and land from our hotel room), Stanley Park (we hired bikes and cycled around it) a stunning waterfront (we wandered along and ate ice creams!) and coffee in the Gas Lamp District. After a stunningly beautiful drive into the mountains we arrived at the fun and buzzing resort of Whistler. Renowned as a ski resort, Whistler has made its name as a top summer destination too especially for mountain bikers. There is a wide variety of cross country bike trails, world class Bike Park, golf, rafting, zip lining and kids adventure park. It really does offer something for everyone…including glacier skiing! Offering stunning views, the new world record-breaking PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola is a breath-taking, 4.4 km journey between the two peaks. It was quite an experience looking down on bears grazing from the chair lift on the way down…between us we saw more than 15 bears during our stay! And finally - to Seattle….home to Frasier, the Space Needle affording magnificent views of the city and waterfront, Pikes Market and the first ever Starbucks! A fabulous end to a fabulous journey. What were the Osmond family highlights? The Redwoods and the Whistler bears!

18 June 2012

The Eurostar train from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord takes just two and a quarter hours and provides a stress free way of getting from one great city to another. We stayed in a small apartment in Le Marais district (traditionally the City’s old Jewish quarter) and were delighted with this bustling neighbourhood. Round the corner from the apartment were streets full of bars and cafes, restaurants, bakeries, patisseries, deli’s, green grocers and small supermarkets making it very easy to cater for ourselves as well as eat out locally in an evening. We were only a couple streets away from the Pompidou Centre and it took only 10-15 minutes to walk from the nearest metro. That evening we walked around the Marais and found a cheap (for Paris anyway!) little restaurant with a set menu and had Pepper steak and French fries! Day 1: Fresh croissants and bread from the boulangerie for breakfast! We walked to Ile de la Cite past Hotel De Ville and across the Pont Neuf. After a walk around Notre Dame we caught the hop on hop off bus and stayed on for the whole tour to get a feel for the City and it’s iconic sites: the 9 stops on the bus were at Notre Dame, Musee D’Orsay, Opera, Champs Elysees and Arc du Triomphe, Grand Palais, Trocadero, Tour Eiffel, Hotel des Invalides & Musee du Louvre. We got off at Trocadero for the fabulous views of the Tour Eiffel, had our picnic and then joined the queue to climb the iconic tower….the queues are somewhat smaller (and it is good fitness of course!) if you choose to walk to the second stage and then catch the lift to the top. It was a great experience (although I was a little stiff the next day!) and we were glad we made the effort! Back on the bus for a rest and we completed the bus ride which ended at the Louvre. From there we walked back to the apartment via Les Halles stopping only for a crepe! After a wonderful mojito at a local bar we bought supper from the supermarket and ate in the apartment that evening. Day 2: We caught the metro and walked around Montmartre, Place du Tertre and the Sacre Coeur before catching the metro from the Pigalle (home to the famous Moulin Rouge) to the Champs Elysees and after a picnic in Jardin Tuileries we braved the Louvre! Thankfully we had bought our tickets for the Louvre in advance and therefore avoided the massive queues….in the pouring rain. It is a massive museum with so many different things to see but we made sure we saw the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo first! Day 3: We walked across the Seine and Ile St Louis this time and into the Latin Quarter – passing the Pantheon, La Sorbonne and into the very busy and touristy ‘St Germain des Pres’ we stopped at ‘Paul’s for a chocolate éclair! After a picnic lunch in the Jardins Luxembourg we then headed up the Montparnasse Tower for a spectacular view of Paris and particularly of the Tour Eiffel….well worth a visit particularly at night when Paris is lit up. We ate out in the Marais that evening in a small rustic restaurant sampling the escargot (the children loved them!) and more crepes! Day 4: Our last morning and we decided to explore the Marais a little more and took a really lovely walk to the Place de la Bastille, through the very pretty ‘Place des Vosges’ (oldest square in Paris and once home to Victor Hugo) and back to our apartment before picking up our luggage and taking the Metro back to Gare du Nord. A fabulous family City break in a beautiful City……mmmm which City shall we take them to next……?

18 June 2012

We spent Easter 2012 in Dartmoor and were very lucky with the weather. What a fabulous place to visit in the Spring – lambs frolicking, daffodils and spring flowers in abundance, wild ponies wandering across the road, panoramic views across the Moors and Tors - Dartmoor really does offer great British countryside at its best! Staying in a little cottage in the village of Buckland Monachorum, meant we were able to leave the car parked at the cottage and enjoy some lovely walks and mountain bike rides from the house and also walk to the village pub and playground! The public footpath took us past the church, piglets, horses and lambs and out of the village a short distance before passing through part of the wonderful gardens of the ‘Garden House’ – a walled garden surrounding the romantic ruins of a medieval vicarage. We took this walk several times during the week. Geoff also planned a fabulous walk for us up Sheep’s Tor and we enjoyed fantastic views of the Burrator Reservoir and the surrounding moors and villages as well as a picnic in the sunshine. We took our mountain bikes with us to Devon and enjoyed two very different rides during the week. One afternoon we rode from the cottage into a stunning valley, cycling alongside babbling brooks, the river and sheep grazing in the woods. Another day we drove to a car park close to the Burrator Reservoir and cycled across the moors…it was a slow, tough ride up to the top of the moor but well worth the effort (aided by warm breezes and sunshine) and then a, well deserved, exciting and bumpy ride back down. We sat by the river eating ice creams whilst wild ponies drank from the river! We are members of the National Trust and we were not disappointed by the number of properties (all very different and interesting in their own way) that were within easy reach of our cottage: • Buckland Abbey – the 700-year-old home of Elizabethan seafarers Francis Drake and Sir Richard Grenville. Beautiful buildings and gardens and interesting exhibits make it an enjoyable visit. • Coathele - a Tudor house. The walk down through the valley garden (very lush and pretty) to the quayside on the River Tamar was quite different and we enjoyed some delicious Cornish pasties in the café for lunch. • Lydford Gorge is a lush oak-wooded steep-sided river gorge (the deepest in the South West) with a 30m waterfall. We walked the whole gorge and can thoroughly recommend it for an interesting, varied and quite challenging (in places) walk. Definitely a highlight of the week. We drove to Plymouth on one rainy afternoon and walked around the Hoe and the shopping centre before going for a swim in the public pool in the very nice market town of Tavistock. All in all a fabulous week away from it all….and we look forward to heading back to Dartmoor again in the future.

24 May 2012

New York – a City begging to be explored and sadly few first time visitors have the time to really dig deep and explore some of very different 'villages' within the City. Thanks to living in New Jersey for 2 years, we were able to get into the City for various day trips and wander around a few of the different neighbourhoods which make Manhattan island such a special place. My sister and family were visiting from the UK and I had booked them into the Park South hotel for a few nights before their flight home. The Park South is a brownstone property, well located midtown in Gramercy Park and is one of the few hotels that include breakfast! We took the ferry across to the City from Atlantic Highlands, NJ – the warm sea breezes were welcome on that boiling hot day in July! Passing Sandy Hook National Park and whizzing past the Staten Island ferries we could see Lady Liberty in the distance and having dropped off passengers at Wall Street the ferry continued up the East River, under the Brooklyn Bridge and into East 54th St Pier. We walked to their hotel from the pier and dropped off their luggage before catching taxis across the island to Chelsea to begin our walk on one of New York’s newest and now very popular attractions – the High Line. The High Line is a public park built on an historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. You get quite different views of the City and across the Hudson from the High line and with wooden boardwalks, herb gardens, wild flower, coffee bars and water features for cooling off your toes…. it provides quite a unique experience! We joined at 30th Street in Chelsea and after a short walk (it was hot!!), we stopped off at ‘Chelsea Market’ (at Ninth to 10th Avenue and 15th to 16th Street) for lunch….what used to be the National Biscuit Company (apparently where the Oreo was invented) is now home to a high class food temple - stuffed with restaurants, cafes and gift shops. Buskers play music and the tantalising smells from the Fat Witch Bakery and the Lobster Place compete with the many other eateries – from smoothies to cupcakes, chocolates to pizzas, books to baskets, fresh fish to fresh flowers - you could spend hours wandering up and down the Market ‘block’. Instead we headed back up onto the High Line to continue our journey on into the Meatpacking district and down onto the streets once more. After several blocks walking through this district we were ready for a very welcome ice cream and then spent some time chilling out in Washington Square park watching street performers and listening to a local brass band…the children cooling off in one of the fountains. From there we walked on into the Village and Chinatown and no visit to New York would be complete without a piece of cheesecake and a cannoli at ‘Ferrara’s’ bakery in Little Italy….not cheap but a truly New York experience! We ended our walk in the business district and said good bye to our family before taking the ferry back to New Jersey from the Wall Street pier. I would urge all visitors (first time or returning) to walk the High Line for a unique perspective of the City and a truly wonderful experience!

26 September 2011

Living in New Jersey, and taking advantage of the overnight auto-train from Virginia to Florida meant that we could avoid driving both north and south on this epic east coast trip…something I had wanted to do for a long time. We boarded the train, just outside Washington DC, late afternoon and settled into our family cabin before meeting some friends (also taking the train!) in the lounge car for cheese and wine tasting. Meals are included when taking cabin accommodation…and it was pretty good. Wine was included with the three course meal and a movie was playing in the lounge car to keep the children amused until bed time. We arrived into Sanford, Florida in the morning and drove straight to ‘Aquatica’ – a fantastic water park in Orlando! We spent the day at the Park enjoying all the rides before checking into our hotel (the Residence Inn) just a ten minute drive away. We had a kitchen so were able to self-cater and with complimentary breakfast at the hotel this offered a huge saving for those few days in Orlando. It was Archie’s birthday and we were up and off early to Universal’s ‘Islands of Adventure’ and the ‘Wizarding World of Harry Potter’. What better way to spend your 11th birthday than in Hogsmead, eating fish and chips at the Three Broomsticks! The butter beer was pretty yummy too! Day three and after a fairly dull five hour drive down the Florida turnpike we arrived in Key Largo in time for a delicious lunch al fresco at the Big Chill. The drive from Key Largo across the Keys to Lime Tree Bay resort was more interesting and we arrived late afternoon to enjoy a refreshing swim in the newly built decked pool overlooking the Gulf. We enjoyed an amazing sunset from the hammocks that evening! The following day, we spent the morning snorkelling in the warm waters of a small local beach on the adjacent Key. In the afternoon we drove down to Key West and to the most southernmost point of the USA. Key West has quite a unique atmosphere and it felt more like the Caribbean than America. With many open cafes and bars, music spills out onto the pavements, horse and carriage rides, trolley buses and people getting around on bikes and mopeds – it was buzzing and had such a fun atmosphere! After three nights in the laid back Keys, we began the long journey home stopping over in some fun and interesting places en route. We spent our first night on the Space coast and enjoyed a great day exploring the Kennedy Space Centre. We were lucky to see Endeavour on the launch pad ready for the last mission. We then went on to St. Augustine, the oldest city in the America. The St. George Inn was full of character and situated right in the heart of the old town. After a fun and informative trolley bus tour of the town we continued our journey into Georgia and had a fish supper on Tybee Island before checking into our hotel on the outskirts of Savannah. Savannah is a very compact and pretty city, steeped in historic sites and homes and it is very easy to walk and explore the city’s 22 squares, riverside and waterfront. Late afternoon, we crossed another State border into South Carolina for a two night stay in Charleston. We stayed in the Springfield Suites Riverview, not central to the city itself however they did run a very convenient shuttle bus into the city each evening and breakfast was included. I had waited a long time to visit this wonderful city and I wasn’t disappointed. We spent the day wandering around the cobbled streets and the French quarter, window shopping on Broad St and admiring the many mansions and houses. It is a wonderful city with great shopping and a lovely atmosphere including the market a huge choice of bars and restaurants. And so to our final and longest single trip of the holiday. We drove all the way from Charleston to New Jersey in thirteen hours! We only scratched the surface in Savannah and Charleston with both cities and surrounding areas offering so much more than we had time for. We loved the business of the parks in Orlando followed by the laid back and relaxing atmosphere of the Keys. I was delighted to have visited the Southern states on the east coast and would not hesitate to return in the future.

15 July 2011

Living so close, we have been able to take a few day trips into New York…all seasons! However, I wanted my children (that’s my excuse and I am sticking to it!) to experience New York at night…therefore we booked a hotel for a night and tickets to a Broadway show! We drove into New York on a sunny Saturday arriving at the Affinia Gardens hotel late morning. We received a warm and friendly smile from the two girls on reception who quickly checked us in early and up-graded us to our one bedroom suite...very nice! The Affinia Garden hotel is a tranquil, modern hotel located in the upper east side of Manhattan. A small suite hotel with very friendly staff, spotlessly clean and with well-equipped rooms - ours had a full kitchen! It is situated just four blocks from Central Park and even closer to shops and restaurants on Madison, Fifth and Park Avenues. We grabbed our picnic and walked into the south east entrance of Central Park, up the Mall and met some friends at the Bethsada fountain – made famous by movies such as ‘Enchanted’ and ’Stuart Little’! Of course, we were able to bring our picnic from home, however, anyone wishing to spend a similar afternoon in the park should head to the basement of Whole Foods on Columbus Circle – with a massive variety of prepared foods, salads and fresh produce you can pick up pretty much anything you want for a park picnic…and much cheaper than having lunch in a deli! After eating our picnic and watching the world go by we walked over Bow Bridge and through the woods to the Alice in Wonderland sculpture and on to the boating lake where we hired a remote controlled sailing boat. It was a wonderfully relaxing afternoon and apart from seeing the top of the tallest buildings peeking through the trees you can quite easily forget you are in the City. Back to the hotel to freshen up and a quick change for the theatre. We zigzagged down avenues and across streets, stopping for a quick snack at ‘Chipotle’ before arriving at the Gershwin Theatre just off Broadway. ‘Wicked’ was fantastic - the stage set, costumes, music and humour kept us captivated throughout the whole show. We can see why it remains one of the most popular shows on Broadway. A walk through Times Square with its bright lights and street entertainers, ended the evening perfectly. It is truly a spectacular place and a must do for any visitor to the New York. On Sunday morning we had breakfast at the delightful ‘Alice’s Tea Cup’ restaurant situated just one block from the hotel. Tastefully decorated and themed to Alice in Wonderland we had a wonderful brunch style breakfast of French toast baked bread and butter pudding style, pancakes, eggs benedict and vanilla flavoured tea! On our way out of the city we drove down the east side, via the UN Plaza, through East Village and stopped for coffee, milkshakes and New York cheesecake in the West Village. We were so glad we had a weekend in New York. Central Park has so much to offer families with children of any age…plenty of play parks, open space, the zoo, rocks for climbing on, sculptures, not to mention the horse and carriage rides, boating lake and the inevitable street entertainers to keep you amused! We are tempted to squeeze another weekend in before we leave!

25 February 2011

Philadelphia is the birthplace of the United States. It is the 6th largest city in the nation yet not over whelming. It is a city of neighbourhoods and contrasts – skyscrapers soaring above national icons. With a downtown historic district easy for exploring on foot and a hop on and off trolley bus to tour the rest of the City it is a destination just waiting to be explored. We were only in the City for a short time so we limited our explorations to the historic old town and the Museum of Art. Arriving Sunday we went straight to the Museum of Art (closed on Mondays) - home to the best collection of modern art in the USA including Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and Picasso’s Three Musicians. The children particularly like the Japanese tearoom and the most amazing Arms and Armor collection. The 99 steps up to the entrance made famous in the movie ‘Rocky’ are popular in themselves and yes…we all ran up them! After a couple of hours we were ready to snack so headed for Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia’s famous indoor market under the roof of the world’s largest single arch train shed. From the famous Philly cheese steaks to cup cakes and exotic cheeses to fresh seafood & oysters, this eclectic mix of flavours and variety of foods offered by the 80 different vendors must not be missed. Monday morning and we started our day at the Independence Visitor Centre – the gateway to the historic park and home to a theatre showing a 30 minute movie ‘Independence’ giving an interesting if a little complicated for the children depiction of the historic events. From there we passed the archaeological remains of the President’s House before walking through the glass enclosed ‘Liberty Bell’ pavilion. After more than 200 years inside Independence Hall the Liberty Bell replete with famous crack now sits in its own dedicated centre in front of Independence Hall, much more accessible and visible to visitors. Independence Hall is where the Declaration of Independence was signed and the Constitution was adopted. It is a non imposing red brick building, with its clock tower and steeple, now one of the nation’s greatest icons. Sadly it was under scaffolding when we were there but we enjoyed the fascinating 20 minute walking tour of the East Wing standing in the very rooms where Washington, Franklin and Jefferson sat and where the Declaration of Independence was signed! Time for a quick lunch of a Philly cheese steaks at ‘Campo’s’ on Market St before walking past Christ Church and down Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest continuously occupied residential street in America. Given our time constraints we were limited to the number of attractions we could visit. Should we return (and we hope to in the spring) we would like to visit the Franklin Institute (housing the world’s largest model of a human heart), the National Constitution Centre and eat our way around the Italian Market…all closed on Mondays!

17 February 2011

Our second and last Christmas whilst here in the USA and so on Christmas Eve we flew into Denver to start a fabulous Christmas holiday week on the ski slopes of the Rockies! We picked up our car from Alamo and drove the scenic two hour drive up into the famous Rockies Mountain range before arriving in Frisco from where we had pre-booked our skis and boots – and where the nearest supermarket is situated! Straight in with no queue we bundled the kit into the car and drove another 15 minutes along the I-70 to arrive at Copper ski resort and Tucker Mountain lodge – our home for the next 7 days and the address we had given to Father Christmas! After picking up our room key from the very quick and friendly chap at the lodging reception we found the very convenient underground car park and took the elevator to our condo. After picking up our lift passes and ski school vouchers we headed back to Frisco and to a rather up-market Safeway to do our food shop for the week. Being Friday night and Christmas Eve it was pretty busy and we were surprised to hear so many English accents. However, we were lucky enough to catch the torch light decent on the slopes of Copper as we drove back into our resort. Back at the condo and after a pasta supper and ‘Wizard of Oz’ (things haven’t changed!) we unpacked our Christmas stockings and hung them over the fireplace in anticipation. Xmas Day and the children were awake far too early. Father Christmas had found them and they were delighted of course! After a porridge and croissant breakfast we headed out for our first day on the slopes. Bright sunshine, blue skies and sparkling white slopes greeted us – we were one of the first families on the ski lifts. There is something quite special being able to look back and see your own tracks – and parallel too! The snow was superb and the variety of trails and slopes is extremely extensive for all levels of skiers. What we all liked particularly about the resort was the variety of green and easier blues making skiing interesting and enjoyable for the most novice of skiers and for families with young children. There was a frequent and free resort bus for getting to the ski school (if you didn’t want to ski there) and the leisure centre if you preferred not to drive. What we missed on the colder days was a gondola as all the slopes were accessed by chair lifts of varying speeds. Geoff & I ventured onto more difficult blues while the children had 2 full days of ski lessons and then we spent the rest of the week between scenic greens and easier and more challenging blues with the children. Geoff tackled and enjoyed a few blacks at the end of each day…and why not! Most afternoons we went back to the condo for hot chocolate and muffins before heading down to the outside hot tub. One afternoon we headed to the activity centre and went swimming. Copper village was compact and had a variety of shops, bars and restaurants some overlooking the ice rink. A small store sold milk, ready-made meals, ice cream and beer and there was also a liquor store. We spent New Year’s Eve in Denver at the Courtyard by Marriott in the very popular Cherry Creek area of the City. We had a fabulous view of downtown Denver and the Rockies beyond. Recommendations from 3 different ‘Denverites’ on the ski lifts sent us to ‘Cherry Cricket’ located just a short drive from the hotel and in a rather up-market shopping area beautifully lit for the festive season. With a reputation for their burgers this neighborhood bar did not disappoint after a truly delicious freshly prepared burger cooked to order and a Breckenridge avalanche beer we headed back to the hotel for dessert and a good night sleep before our flight back to New Jersey the following morning. We all agreed that Copper provided a fantastic ski holiday and another wonderful Christmas in the USA. I wonder where we will be next Christmas?

24 January 2011

We had heard from many sources how stunning the New England coast was and we were not disappointed! Our first stop was for coffee at the delightful ‘Popover‘s café’ situated in the heart of Portsmouth’s (New Hampshire) historical market square. After a short walk around this lively New Hampshire coastal city we headed off again crossing over the border where the remarkable coast of Maine beckoned. The first 30 miles of the Maine coast comprises 90% of the State’s sandy beaches and we drove through many historic towns such as Kittery, The Yorks, Ogunquit and Kennebunkport before arriving at the historic port district of Portland brimming with charming boutiques and seafood restaurants. After a much anticipated lunch of lobster rolls (yummy!) we moved swiftly on to Brunswick for an overnight stay. After a complimentary breakfast we continued North along the rugged coastline dotted with lighthouses and picture-perfect seaside villages. We couldn’t resist stopping in Camden - known as the ‘Jewel of the Maine Coast’ and for very good reason. With a postcard perfect harbor full of schooners and windjammers and quaint boutiques and galleries we found it hard to leave. And not before enjoying a cappuccino and cake from the verandah of the ‘Camden Deli’ – the best view in town! Alas it was time to leave - passing through Rockport we made our way onto Mount Desert Island, home to Acadia National Park, and to our wonderful ‘Bay View Cottage’ nestled among the trees in a secluded setting overlooking Frenchman’s Bay. Acadia is the second busiest National Park in the USA and truly enjoys one of the most spectacular settings on the East coast. Where the mountains meet the sea, the park offers an array of activities not least 55 miles of carriage trails, originally built for horse and carriage rides and now enjoyed by hikers and cyclists, lacing around crystal clear lakes and spectacular mountains. We enjoyed 2 wonderful bike rides around the trails…spotting deer in the woods and frogs on lily pads! We took our own bikes however bikes can be hired locally. Another sunny day and we explored the Park via the extremely scenic drive. Stopping at Sand Beach for a paddle in the oh so cold ocean and a fabulous walk on the cliffs and rocks at Thunder Hole before driving up Cadillac Mountain for more breathtaking panoramic views of the Park. On our last morning we hiked and climbed up to Bubble Rock – pretty tricky and extremely steep in places but completely worth the effort once we reached the top! We took the plunge and bought some live lobsters from a local fisherman. It was quite an experience cooking them for the first time and although it got very messy, we all enjoyed the end result – particularly those cooked on the BBQ…mmmmm! Bar Harbor is the largest town on Mount Desert Island and is the hub for shopping, bike shops, souvenir stores and ice cream parlors. It is a bustling place to stay for families of all ages. We were happy, however, to retreat to our peaceful and relaxing cottage each evening for a BBQ and a game of cards whilst watching dazzling sunsets and seals frolicking around the lobster pots. Idyllic! After 5 wonderful nights it was time to leave Acadia and head south west back into New Hampshire for our last 2 nights. Staying at the Grand Summit Lodge in Sunday River – a ski resort now boasting a ‘chondola’ lift thus catering for Summer activities, predominantly hiking and mountain biking. Although the downhill playground was a little too technical for myself and the children we did complete a couple of descents before leaving the bikes behind and walking down the wonderful trails instead. Before heading home to New Jersey we couldn’t resist another white water rafting trip (after the fun we had in North Carolina). We had pre-arranged the private trip through ‘Enriched Learning’. With 2 guides in the raft and another in a safety kayak we were in good hands on the exciting, fast moving Grade III Magalloway River. After 3 wonderful and at times thrilling (including one un-scheduled departure from the raft for me and Geoff!!) journeys down the River we were hungry for the delicious deli lunch provided by our guides. After a long, very wet and rainy journey home we arrived back home to New Jersey with some very fond memories of our Maine trip. Don’t be surprised if I try and send you there!!

12 October 2010

We had a wonderful family holiday this year on the beautiful island of Lesvos. My husband, not content with lying on a sunbed and reading the latest bestseller like his wife, enjoys a more active holiday. Our two children (8 & 6 this year) enjoy nothing more than swimming in the pool and sea, joining in with any beachside activities, playing in the sand and making new friends. So we choose to take activity holidays each year to keep everyone happy and the Aeolian Village (named after the Greek God of Wind) in Lesvos did not disappoint. The 2 hours transfer from Mytilene airport to the resort, though a little hairy at times due to the island’s volcanic past, provided some stunning scenery. The hotel, typically Aegean in style, is spacious and sits on a long, safe and sandy beach. We stayed in two extremely spacious inter-connecting rooms, both en-suite and with balconies. Our room overlooked the swimming pools and the pool bar, though at a distance so that we were not disturbed. A 10 minute walk, over ‘turtle’ bridge takes you to the charming village of Skala Eressos. Pleasantly surprised by this charming village we enjoyed strolling through the cobbled streets (no traffic allowed after 8pm) and along the bamboo-covered decks which extend out over the sand and sea on stilts. On the few evenings that dinner was not included at the hotel, we enjoyed some wonderful seafood in the large selection of restaurants and some delicious cocktails too! Top tip: try the Mojitos in Par-E-Sol…best ever! It was go go go for the children who were surfbusters and sharksters this year. As they hurried off to their clubs most mornings we were left to smile and be content with the odd glimpse of them as they walked, ran and swam around the resort chanting club songs and keeping up with the wonderful staff who had so much energy and enthusiasm…..they sailed, windsurfed, water skied, went out on kayaks and even, during the evening club, enjoyed tennis lessons….after a long and restful night they were ready for the next day. While the children were busy, we booked ourselves into sailing and windsurfing clinics, pilates classes, mountain bike rides and tennis sessions….and spent a lot of time lying around the pool reading and generally chilling out. As we watched the teenagers making friends and enjoying the different activities provided by the ‘TAG’ Club, we were re-assured that maybe our children will still want to holiday with their parents for many more years to come!

12 October 2010

What a delightful town Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is. We wish we were able to spend more time exploring the town itself before heading out to the Battlefields and Visitor Centre. We spent a fascinating couple of hours wandering around the museum and taking in the sights and sounds of the incredible Cyclorama - a 360 degree painting depicting ‘Pickett’s Charge’ – before taking the self guided auto tour of the Battlefields themselves. Onwards into Virginia and after an overnight stay in Winchester we joined the Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park. Our first walk was along a short trail out to an overlook with magnificent views. Further along the Skydrive we stopped at Dark Hollow Falls and walked down the rocky path to a series of frothy cascading waterfalls. Late afternoon and we arrived at Cabin Creekwood, originally a hunting cabin, located next to a wonderful creek in the peaceful surroundings of the Blue Ridge Mountains and close to Sherando Lake. Enjoying BBQ’s each evening and cooking marshmallows on an open fire we enjoyed getting away from it all but were able to make use of the shared heated outdoor pool just a short bike ride away from our Cabin. After 3 nights of peace and quiet we packed up and drove through some truly awesome scenery along the Blue Ridge Parkway to Fries from where we cycled the ‘New River Trail’, a very scenic ride along an abandoned rail road bed. After a night in Wytheville, we headed for the small town of Damascus for our pre-arranged bike uplift to Whitetop to begin the 17 mile down hill rail-trail ‘Virginia Creeper Trail’. Passing stunning scenery, following the river through gorges and over wooden bridges & trestles this is possibly one of the prettiest rides we have ever done as a family. Crossing the border into North Carolina (after a very short visit to Bristol, Tennessee en-route) we arrived in Asheville for a 2 night stay: historic, hip and artsy with sidewalk cafes, cool squares and historic streets, it is a city of neighbourhoods begging to be explored on foot….if only we'd had the time to explore all of them. We did spend a morning wandering around the downtown area through various squares (with street performers), book shops and quirky stores before taking coffee and cake on Pack Square. A short drive out of the City to Marshall and we were at ‘Blue Heron Rafting getting togged up for our first family white water rafting experience. The children were a little apprehensive to start with but were soon begging the guide to go down the fastest parts of the river and wanting to float in the river to cool off. It was a highlight of our trip and left us wanting more! It was a long drive North East to Williamsburg, however we arrived mid afternoon and had time to drive around Jamestown before cycling through Historic Williamsburg. Staying in Newport News, there is no better place than the historic triangle (Williamsburg, Jamestown & York Town) for experiencing pre-revolutionary war, nautical and military history. And there is no better place than Water Country USA to spend a fun filled day getting totally soaked! We ended our amazing holiday with a 'bang' at Busch Gardens as they celebrated 4th July with their Illuminights parade and fireworks. We headed home via the immense Chesapeake Bay bridge tunnel from Norfolk to Delaware and then the Cape May ferry back into New Jersey with some amazing memories.

21 June 2010

After an amazing boat trip (see Part I for details) from Dana Point we headed North once again on the Pacific Coast Highway (or Highway 1) towards Newport Beach, passing through the very trendy Laguna Beach. Newport Beach oozes wealth with its many yacht clubs and marinas. We walked along the pier and had a quick bite to eat before jumping back in the car and heading North to Malibu (our home for the next few days). We joined the traffic around the sprawling Los Angeles area and then hopped back onto Highway 1 on the legendary stretch of coast road between Santa Monica and Malibu - an area made so famous by its beach culture, canyons and the movie industry! The following two days we spent enjoying the Californian spring sunshine and chilling out on the picturesque and secluded El Matador State beach, a much quieter beach than its neighbours. Ready for more adventure, we set off early the next day for Universal Studios, Hollywood. We went straight to the Simpsons Ride and were not disappointed by the popular 3D virtual coaster. We then joined the famous Studio tour before getting wet on the Jurassic Park ride, getting hot during the ‘Backdraft’ special effects tour and ‘feeling’ the action on the Shrek 4 D adventure. All in all an exhausting yet great day out! Before heading back to Malibu, we took a drive around West & Central Hollywood, glimpsing the Hollywood sign, cruising past the Chinese Theatre & Walk of Fame and down the famous boulevards - Sunset, Santa Monica and Hollywood - before heading slowly down Rodeo Drive - our hire car sandwiched between Rolls Royces, Bentleys and Ferraris – we were all secretly wondering if we would see any movie stars! A trip to California would not be complete without a visit to Surf City USA – Huntington Beach! We spent a morning exploring the Pier, surf shops and the Surfing walk of fame. Having bought the t-shirts we paid a quick visit to the International Surfing Museum full of memorabilia and photographs of surfing legends. Late afternoon and we arrive at our hotel in Anaheim, home to all things Disney, for our last 2 nights in California. We stayed at the Menage Hotel and although it was surrounded by freeways it promised a front row seat for the Disney ‘Dreams Can Come True’ fireworks display from the Mist pool bar. In fact, after a delicious Pizza at the Californian Pizza Kitchen we were back at the hotel in time to watch the fireworks from the warm and welcoming swimming pool and hot tub! Another early start and we took the Anaheim shuttle bus to Disneyland. First stop – the Indiana Jones Adventure ride – not to be missed - then onto Tarzan’s Treehouse and the Jungle Cruise before daring to enter the Haunted Mansion and the ever popular Pirates of the Caribbean ride. The children loved driving around Autopia and were fascinated by Innoventions. After thrilling rides on the Big Thunder Railroad and the Matterhorn bobsleds and helping Buzz defeat the evil Zurg, we were just in time to catch the street party parade before staggering back to the hotel. After fantastic ribs at Tony Roma’s, and a second viewing of the fireworks, we were ready for our beds. It truly was a magical experience spending a day at Disneyland with my children and a fitting end to our fun filled trip to Southern California. We are looking forward to visiting Northern California in the near future!

17 June 2010

The approach into San Diego airport was an exciting start to our Southern Californian adventure. The flight path took us right through the skyscrapers of the city! We drove our hire car to the Old Town Inn – a small oasis located on the Pacific Highway offering excellent value and a good base for sightseeing. We had a large room with kitchenette which, although we did not cook, was very useful for keeping drinks cold and making packed lunches for the following few days. After the welcome complimentary breakfast we spent the morning chilling out by the pool and then walked across the Highway into ‘Old Town San Diego’….an historic State park paying tribute to the cultural influences that make San Diego and California so special. With restored and reconstructed buildings around a town square the Old Town commemorates San Diego in the 1800’s in a fun and informative way. In the evening we wandered back through the Old Town to the popular ‘Old Town Mexican Café’ a lively and informal Mexican diner. Just a short wait and we were tucking into some wonderful Burritos and Chimichanga’s….delicioso! Off early the following morning to San Diego Zoo. It is an enormous park complete with rainforest and some amazing exhibits and habitats. We were so pleased to see so many of the animals out and about. We began our day by taking the 35 minute bus tour around the Zoo followed by the Skyfari – an overhead tramway offering a bird’s eye view of the Zoo and of San Diego in the distance. There are more than 4 thousand animals from 800 different species but our favourite had to be the baby panda! Mid afternoon we were ‘animaled out’ so took a drive through Balboa Park and past one of the largest collections of museums in the USA. A short drive over the Bay Bridge and to Coronado - providing views of the City across the San Diego Bay. That evening we strolled around the buzzing and historic Gas Lamp district. Our last day in San Diego and we were off to ‘Seaworld’. The Shamu show was pretty amazing and from the Wild Arctic to the Forbidden Reef and from Shark Encounter to Rocky Point reserve we enjoyed seeing so many sea creatures (some for the first time) and getting wet on the roller coaster and tube rides! After we had exhausted ‘Seaworld ‘, we headed to bustling Mission beach and ate ice cream whilst watching people rollerblading down Ocean Front walk. From there we drove high up on the cliffs above Pacific beach – a huge expanse of white sand and a surfer’s paradise. We watched the sunset over Ocean Beach pier whilst eating fish and chips – a great end to a fantastic few days. San Diego is an ideal holiday resort for all ages. It is most famous of course for its Zoo, Seaworld and the Museums in Balbao Park. However, there are other well defined and interesting areas that are perhaps less well known such as the Gaslamp District, Little Italy, the Old Town and San Diego Harbour (a mariners paradise and home to the USS Midway, HMS Surprise, the Maritime Museum). All these areas can be reached by the Old Town Trolley for those preferring not to hire a car. We would have loved to stay a few more days but had to move on. The following morning we made an early start and drove up the Pacific Coast Highway) to Dana Point where we were joining Captain Dave on his Dolphin and Whale Safari. What a treat this was…having seen dolphins, whales and sea lions in captivity we were now hoping to see them in their natural habitat. And we were not disappointed. After a short ride out to sea we found a small pod of dolphins and were able to follow them (or were they following us?) for some time viewing them from the unique under water pod….how amazing to be travelling underwater with a pod of dolphins! After about an hour, Captain Dave spotted a Fin whale – we followed it’s footprint for a while and then it disappeared, only to pop up behind us…it was now following us….what a wonderful experience! Heading back to the harbour we had a very informative question and answer session with Captain Dave whilst eating Mrs Captain Dave’s homemade brownies. We passed some sea lions sunning themselves on a large buoy ….a funny end to an amazing afternoon!

27 May 2010

It was 3 years since our last family ski holiday therefore we decided to take advantage of a road trip to Vermont! The drive from New Jersey was a treat in itself particularly once we crossed the border into Vermont. We drove through some picturesque small towns including the elegant and charming Woodstock – a quintessential New England village begging to be visited again in the Spring or Summer! We reached Killington at 11.00 am and were delighted to be told that our apartment was ready (joys of arriving on a Sunday!) ….after a very swift and friendly check-in for both the accommodation and the ski rental depot we were in the apartment and un-packed by midday. We chose to stay at the Trail Creek condominiums and were not disappointed. Being just a short free shuttle bus ride from the base lodge and the ability to ski back to the condo with the children for lunch or at the end of the day was a plus. We booked a 1 bedroom apartment and although we expected to be sleeping on a sofa bed in the living room, the double sofa bed was actually up on a mezzanine level – the children were delighted! The apartment was very spacious with a galley kitchen and dining/living room with a log fire. The balcony provided fabulous views of Killington Peak. A separate bedroom and small but perfectly functional bathroom were also downstairs along with a rack and bench for leaving wet ski gear overnight – they were warm and toasty by the morning. It wasn’t the most modern of apartments but it was clean, well stocked with essentials and everything worked! At the end of a full day on the slopes we were able to relax in Trail Creek’s small activity centre which had a small indoor pool, sauna and 2 hot tubs. Killington is the ideal family resort – an extensive ski area with diverse terrain to suit all levels of ability. From wide open ‘green circle’ confident building trails to ‘blue square’ slopes tempting advanced beginners (7 year old daughters with no fear!) and intermediates and ‘black diamond’ and fee style terrain for the more advanced and crazy skiers (Boarders in particular will enjoy ‘The Stash’)! What we particularly liked as a family with young children was being able to take the children up the K1 Express Gondola to the top of Killington Peak and ski on green (and easy blue) trails all the way back to the Condo. Our favourite trails were ‘Bear Run’ and ‘Great Eastern’ - much more exciting than staying on the nursery slopes! The wide trails and connecting runs are surrounded by snow covered pine trees and provide amazing views across the green (and white) mountains of Vermont - and at the bottom of the main runs there are café’s, rest rooms, lockers, ski shops and more importantly a ‘Waffle Cabin’ – you could smell the waffles as you rode the chair lifts…mmmmmmm! We didn’t eat out in the evenings but there are plenty of options for eating at the Base Lodge or in Killington village. ‘That was the best ski holiday ever’ was the consensus as we drove back to New Jersey and we hope to ski there again soon!

27 May 2010

It was Christmas Eve and we took a taxi to the St James Hotel – a small boutique style hotel just on the edge of both the business district and 2 blocks from Canal Street in a great location – close enough to walk into the French Quarter and far enough away to escape the hustle and bustle. We had a good size room with original beams and West Indies decor. We spent a wet (but warm) afternoon wandering around the French Market and French quarter. We had dinner at ‘Olivier’s’ – a small Creole and Cajun restaurant serving local cuisine and recipes handed down through generations. It was just a couple of blocks from the hotel. Christmas Day and the sun came out. After a wonderful breakfast at ‘Café Fleur de Lis’ (serving the best hash browns in New Orleans!) on Chartres Street we strolled down the infamous Bourbon Street, through Jackson Square and peeked into the commanding St Louis Cathedral before taking a much drier walk along the mighty Mississippi River. Boxing Day and a short walk through Riverwalk took us to the Cruise Terminal to join our 5 day Western Caribbean Cruise on board the Carnival Triumph….please see my journal entitled ‘5 day Cruise to Mexico’. We arrived back in New Orleans on New Year’s Eve to a City buzzing with Football fans who had arrived for the Sugar Bowl weekend – a huge event on the ‘Nawlins’ calendar. This time we checked into the Hampton Inn in the Garden District. Offering very good value, this hotel is located right on St Charles Avenue with a street car stop right outside the hotel. A day pass meant we could hop and off the street cars all day. The complimentary breakfast was available in the lobby or on a warm day could be taken outside by the hotel’s small pool. The room was spacious and clean with a good sized bathroom. The staff was friendly and the location perfect for catching the street car out to Audubon Park & the Zoo in one direction or to Canal Street junction for the French Quarter and business district. In the afternoon, we set sail (again!) – this time on board the Steamboat Natchez, the last authentic steamboat on the Mississippi River, for a 2 hour river cruise. From the Steam Caliope Concert playing as we boarded, to the live narration throughout the tour, it was a truly memorable experience and we learned many interesting facts about the mighty river as well as some history about the Crescent city from its birth to the devastating Hurricane Katrina. We steered clear of the French quarter on New Year’s Eve. Although we had heard about the ‘not to be missed’ firework display on the Mississippi, we decided it would be too busy to take the children into the French quarter that evening. We chose instead to eat locally in the Garden District and after a long wait at the bar enjoyed a wonderful supper at ‘Houston’s’ - the seared tuna salad was worth the wait! New Years Day and we took a short walk around the Garden District, once part of a plantation this ‘American’ section of town was built to rival the architectural splendour of the French quarter and there certainly are some wonderful looking properties. We passed by the ‘Lafayette Cemetery’ one of the oldest cemeteries in the City before hopping onto the street car and heading back down to the River. Our afternoon tour took us onto the water again - for the last time! This time a Swamp boat through part of Jean Lafitte National Park – home to some of Louisiana’s many famous swamps and bayous. Despite it being a little too cold for the wildlife we did spot a couple of ‘gators and a cheeky raccoon called Roxy! On board the narration was funny and interesting and we were able to hold a real live alligator much to my daughter’s delight! We absolutely loved New Orleans – it is a City that has so much to offer to all ages. Whether you visit the Zoo, Aquarium, Insectarium, take a swamp or river boat trip, a ghost tour of the old town, try your hand at the Casino, take day trips out to the Plantations or simply wander through the French quarter and savour the wonderful smells, sights and sounds of this vibrant and extremely friendly City you are sure to go home with some very fond memories.

27 May 2010

Conveniently, Carnival Triumph was sailing from New Orleans on Boxing Day which meant we were able to combine a few days in a fantastic, vibrant and interesting city with a fun and relaxing short cruise across the Gulf to Mexico and enjoy some Winter sun! Day one: A short walk from the James Hotel, through Riverwalk took us to the Cruise Terminal in New Orleans - on the mighty Mississippi River. After an unusually long check in (due to a Nationwide security alert and not the fault of Carnival), we settled into our good sized family cabin made up of bunk beds , a queen size double bed, port hole and en-suite shower room before joining the rest of the passengers at the Lido for a much needed buffet lunch. We ate in the Paris dining room in the evenings. The menu was varied, tasty and not too overwhelming and there was plenty of choice for the children - the chocolate melting cake was a firm favourite! Our waitress was very friendly and accommodating and we enjoyed the ‘entertainment’ provided by all the waiters, waitresses and chefs each evening. Day two: At sea – we played mini golf and table tennis and the children swam in the pool and used the water slide on many occasions. I managed to make use of the Gym a couple of times – not enough to counteract the amount of food consumed but it did make me feel a bit better! Day three: Progresso, Mexico. Not wanting to commit to a whole day excursion we decided to take the courtesy bus down what is of the world’s longest piers (5 miles!) into the small authentic and colourful village of Progresso. It was a little windy but warm and the children enjoyed a dip in the sea while we repeatedly said ‘thank you but no thank you’ to the various street vendors! After a walk around the local market and street stalls we headed back to a much quieter ship and enjoyed an afternoon around the pool. Day Four: Cozumel and the ‘Caverns by Jeep and Beach Combo’ excursion. An extremely rough ferry ride took us to Playa del Carmen on the Yucatan Peninsula where our 4x4 Jeep was waiting for us. We drove in convoy with 10 other jeeps to Explora Beach and an authentic Mexican beach front restaurant. It was a warm day and we enjoyed the Mexican buffet lunch, the hammocks, the white sands and a quick swim in the warm waters before setting off for the Mayan Caverns. We all took the plunge, literally, into the cool waters of the Chac Tun Cavern cenote (a pool fed by underwater rivers), swimming through the dark and looking at stalactite and stalagmite formations and underwater fossils by torch light. A quick drink and snack was welcome before we drove back to Playa del Carmen to catch the ferry back, in much calmer waters thankfully, to the Ship. Day Five: Another day at sea to enjoy the ships facilities and plenty of reading on deck in the sunshine! Our last evening and we took the children to the Show. It was very entertaining, the stage sets well done and the quality of the dancers and singers was high. Day six: We arrived back in New Orleans on New Year’s Eve having thoroughly enjoyed our 5 day cruise, some warm winter sunshine, the ship’s many facilities, the two ports of call and the plentiful food!

12 May 2010

Our first Thanksgiving weekend in the USA and we thought we would head to where it all began….New England! Being on the East Coast we were able to self drive to Cape Cod and we stayed overnight in the historic seaport of Mystic in Connecticut. The Hilton Mystic was just 2 minutes off the interstate so perfect for a quick stopover. The spacious room had 2 double beds and good sized bathroom plus all the usual amenities. There was a good sized indoor heated pool for tiring out 2 young children who had been sitting in a car for 4 hours…..thanks to holiday weekend traffic through Connecticut! Although we were only there for one night, the hotel is ideally placed for longer stays bring located opposite the Mystic Aquarium and the Olde Mystic Village and only a 5 minute drive to Mystic Seaport (a living history museum consisting of a village, ships and 17 acres of exhibits depicting coastal life in New England in the 19th century) and of course to the town of Mystic itself. Our visit to Mystic would not be complete without a visit to ‘Mystic Pizza’ a restaurant made famous by the Julia Roberts film of the same name – the pizzas were indeed ‘A slice of heaven’. Onwards to Cape Cod the following day and for a 2 night stay at ‘The Inn on the Square’ hotel in Falmouth – a quaint seaside village. Located just a 10 minute walk from the Village Green and charming downtown area with a variety of restaurants to choose from, the hotel blends in with its surroundings, situated among historic houses and opposite a nice little row of galleries, cafes and gift shops. The room and en-suite bathroom were both a good size and well equipped and the complimentary breakfast was a welcome addition each morning. The children made use of the large skylight indoor pool – a good size with plenty of seating for parents who would rather read a book! The famous Bike Path is just a block from the Inn and only three blocks away is the free bus shuttle service to the Martha’s Vineyard Ferry terminal. We were planning to catch the ferry and use the local buses to explore the island but sadly due to the weather we didn’t make it on this occasion. However, a short and pleasant drive took us to ‘Woods Hole’ from where the ferries depart. The following day we drove to Plimouth, a town steeped in maritime history and home to the famous ‘Mayflower II’ and the ‘Plimouth Plantation’. Braving the weather we visited the Plantation first. A re-creation of a 1600's English village where we all enjoyed listening to tales of bravery and hardship suffered by the English colonists and also from the perspective of the native Wampanoag people who have lived in South Eastern New England for over 12,000 years. After a brief (and chilly) but interesting walk around the Mayflower II and quick look at the ‘Rock’, we had lunch in a little coffee shop on the main street in Plimouth – Clam Chowder served in a bowl made out of bread…delicious! Despite the weather, the drive back to Falmouth was scenic via the town of Mashpee, littered with ponds and inlets and surrounded by pine and oak trees, the town is known for its Native American culture and was one of the largest reservations of the Wampanoag people before the settlers arrived. Our journey home from Falmouth took us over the waterways and bridges of America’s smallest State of Rhode Island. After a quick lunch down at the bustling wharf in the town of Newport….a hub of art, music and Yachting…we were on our way home. So much to see and explore and not enough time – we hope to return to New England….perhaps in June to catch the Whale migration or more likely in the Fall combined with a visit to Boston.

02 October 2009

We flew into Washington Dulles Airport on Friday afternoon and caught a cab into the city. It took about 30 minutes to reach the city centre where the roads are noticeably clean, wide and spacious and in some cases tree lined. The Du Pont Hotel is in a great location – right on Du Pont Circle with a metro just across the circle (we would describe it as a roundabout!). We checked into a family suite – a corner suite with a huge twin room and good size double room both with en-suite shower rooms and sharing a small entrance hall. This meant we could lock the outer door and leave the bedrooms open at night for easy access. Although we had a family suite, the hotel is more suited to couples or business travellers. There are no leisure facilities for example. However, the staff are very accommodating and we all thoroughly enjoyed the breakfasts each morning. There was a wide choice of freshly prepared a la carte options including pancake stacks, omelettes, oatmeal and waffles or a wonderful ‘grazing table’ with fresh fruits, pastries, cheeses, meats and bagels. On Saturday we took the metro to the historic Union Station, which with over 100 places to eat, drink and shop remains a tourist destination in itself, to join the Old Town Trolley Bus Tour of the city. An attraction in itself and with very informative and amusing drivers we hopped on and off the Trolley Bus at various famous sites around the City. Passing the magnificent Capitol building and the Library of Congress (the largest library in the world housing over 142 million items!) we passed the Jefferson Memorial before deciding to disembark at the Lincoln Memorial. From there we walked to the Washington Monument via the Korean, World War II and Vietnam Memorials before joining the crowds outside the White House. We boarded the bus for an hour long tour around the lesser known areas of the city, down Embassy Row and on through the charming and vibrant Georgetown. It was a fantastic introduction to the City, particularly for the children who were suffering from both humidity and jet lag and preferred the seated approach! The area around Du Pont circle provided us with a large choice of restaurants – Italian at ‘La Tomate’ on Friday night, ‘Kramerbooks and Afterwards Café’ on Saturday evening and ‘The Front Page’ on Sunday all providing good quality food and excellent service. On Sunday, we spent the day visiting just 2 of the 19 museums of the amazing Smithsonian Institute - the National Air & Space Museum and the Museum of Natural History. Both these amazing buildings provided such over-whelming displays and exhibitions that we were only able to scratch the surface – sadly we only had time to pass through both the Portrait Gallery (a truly breathtaking building in itself) and the National Archives (home to the Declaration of Independence) too so we have vowed to go back again to explore them all in more detail! That evening however, we did go back to see ‘Night at the Museum 2’ at the IMAX in the Air & Space Museum where the film was shot – a highlight for the children and for us as we were all able to identify many of the famous locations! So, we survived our first weekend in the United States and thoroughly enjoyed visiting this truly fascinating City with its many famous monuments and sights – we look forward to returning there one day!

01 May 2009

I was lucky enough to visit Disneyland Paris last year. I travelled in standard class on the direct Eurostar service from the newly opened and very flash St Pancras Station in London on one very snowy Sunday morning. The train takes only 2 hours & 34 minutes and I couldn’t quite believe how quickly the journey went – perfect for over excited young children! I arrived at Marne-la-Vallee Station which is located right in the heart of the park. Shuttle buses take guests to the off-site hotels but a short walk took my to one of the on-site Disney hotel - the New York. There are 7 Disney-owned themed hotels and 7 associated hotels to choose from. I stayed in a standard room at the Hotel New York – a 4 star Disney property with a New York theme! The room was a standard 4* room, fairly spacious with 2 double beds....perhaps an upgrade to one of the new Empire Tower rooms may provide more of a view and a wow factor – unfortunately they were not finished during my visit so I was unable to inspect them myself however a client has stayed in one and approved it! A short walk from the New York hotel took me to the Disney Village where there are numerous restaurants, cafes, the Night Club and of course the first wave of gift shops. Another 5 minute walk and I had arrived at Disney Park and the Studios. Most of the original rides are written in French however the characters speak for themselves! Instructions are given in both English & French. The new rides are all in English, and the shows are in different languages at different times so language is never a problem. I don’t generally like rides but I was brave enough to take a trip on the ‘Hollywood Tower of Terror’ and ‘Crushes Coaster’ (don’t be fooled by the adverts depicting a gentle ride through an aquarium!). Both rides were exhilarating in their own way. The Peter Pan and Buzz Lightyear rides are a must for young ‘flyers’. Be prepared for a deluge of fast food…there is very little else to choose from in the Park itself….and it is not terribly fast! I was pleasantly surprised by the choice of off-site hotels. ‘Explorers’ is great for families on a budget and has an ‘Aquaplay’ pool for end of day fun! Rooms are compact and functional and adjoining rooms can hold up to 10 people – great for extended families or friends travelling together. Dream Castle and Holiday Inn are both themed with family rooms. Holiday Inn’s bunk beds have their own TV in the curtained off area. Kyriad although only a 2* is a very clean and fresh property with a comfortable atmosphere and perhaps suited to groups of adults, couples or families with older children with little interest in Disney themes – great value. For the more discerning client the Radisson SAS was bright and spacious, a calm atmosphere with its own spa and gym and plenty of comfortable seating areas, inside and out. The restaurants are smaller than the other hotels with soft lighting to give a romantic feel. All the off-site hotels offer disabled rooms, a Disney shop and a shuttle bus. A quick peek at the Disneyland Hotel left me wishing my daughter was there with me! It has Princess written all over it – from the decor to the playrooms – and little girls can be a “Princess for the Day”. Disneyland Paris is perfect for families with young children wanting their first Disney experience or for a short break Disney experience without a long haul flight. With hotels to suit all budgets and the option to take the train or fly from all over the UK it is accessible to everyone! Top Tips Check out the fast pass times and plan your day around them to avoid queuing. Travel by Eurostar if you possibly can: it is fast, comfortable and hassle free. Pay the supplement for the Disney Express service – your luggage is taken directly to your hotel so that you can go straight into the park and enjoy yourselves from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave. Take nappies, baby foods and milk with you if you can – they can be hard to find!