September had promised to stay fine, and so we headed off again for our second mid-covid trip, this time to Warwickshire. I’ve been to Stratford-Upon-Avon before, but other than that I didn’t know this area at all, so a couple of days spent exploring felt like just what we needed. We were staying at Winchcombe Farm, and it became clear pretty soon after arriving that we might not be doing as much exploring as we’d thought. Winchcombe Farm had … [Read more...]
The Crown & Garter in Berkshire – My First Mid-Covid Trip
Deep in the Berkshire countryside, through winding narrow lanes, in a small village named Inkpen, there is a 17th century inn called The Crown and Garter. This inn has a deep and sometimes dark history, connected to a nearby gibbet high on a hillside that tells us of a time long ago when our punishments for crimes were brutal and ghoulish. But thankfully that’s all behind us and this is now an area of bright bursting flowers pots and English … [Read more...]
A Different Burgundy
After months of working remotely, tending the garden and repairing fences, early May allowed us to travel further than the restricted one kilometre from our house in Burgundy, France. Although the authorities still imposed restrictions to travel, we took an old fashioned map and drew a circle of 100 kilometres, the distance allowed, to find out where we could go exploring. Burgundy is famous for its wine, rolling fields and beautiful villages … [Read more...]
A Transcontinental Train that Transcends the Frontiers between West and East – Bucharest to Istanbul
Casting one last glance at the charming old streets and striking neo-Gothic buildings in Bucharest, I took a brisk stroll, with a heavy backpack strapped to my shoulder, slowly navigating my way to the train station. From there, I was about to embark on a long-haul overnight journey to Istanbul. Having walked incessantly for days in Bucharest, I was looking forward to long hours of doing nothing at all, just sitting still on the train and getting … [Read more...]
Top 10 Things You Must do in Venice
Upon exiting the Venice train station travelers are greeted by turquoise canals and a stunning church. This is like a scene from a movie; one cannot have arrived in a more picturesque setting. As you lose yourself in the narrow streets it can be easy to forget the sites and attractions that lay within. In order to help with planning your trip to this storied city, we have picked our top 10 things you must do in Venice. TOP 10 THINGS YOU MUST … [Read more...]
11 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Iceland
Our excitement, which had been building prior to our trip to Iceland, reached a crescendo after we landed. We immediately saw beautiful snow-covered mountains, contrasting in the harsh rain. Every mountain was white and the landscape was devoid of people. Over the next few weeks, these scenic destinations changed our definition of beauty and natural elegance. Here are the top 11 things you must know before visiting Iceland. 1) Plan your … [Read more...]
Dancing in the Dark on Greece’s Skopelos Island
A slice of local life on Skopelos Island Last June, my husband and I spent three wonderful weeks on Skopelos Island in Greece, the largest island of the Sporades chain east of the mainland. One evening, after a dinner down by the Skopelos town harbor at Στου Δημητράκη (where we dined on giouvetsi, mousaka and ekmek, by the way), we ventured back up the hill around to the City School to watch a night of traditional dancing. The show started at … [Read more...]
6 Things You Didn’t Know About St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick's Day is the quintessential Irish holiday celebrated around the world by millions. Dressing head-to-toe in green and partying through the streets of Dublin on this glorious occasion that every traveler to enjoys a little revelry should experience at least once in their lives - but what do we really know about the holiday? According to most, we can generally assume that people know that St. Patrick's Day is the day that some Irish … [Read more...]
High-Speed Train Europe
It has been 25 years since the last time I was backpacking through Europe. At the time I bounced through 18 countries with little more than clothes and a tattered Let’s Go guide for the better part of a year. Looking back, most of what I brought with me was easily replaced. Well, except for one thing. That was my Eurail Pass. I held onto it like glue and hopped on and off trains with abandon through 18 countries and had a life-altering … [Read more...]
The Midland in Manchester, Former Railway Hotel, Now City Spa
The Midland Hotel in Manchester, England, was built in 1903 to serve railway passengers from the then Manchester Central Station, situated behind the hotel. Although the station is now gone and the hotel has been much refurbished, it remains the oldest purpose-built hotel in the city. One look at its gothic exterior as you approach, and you know this is going to be something special. I took my daughter for a spa break at The Midland last week, … [Read more...]
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