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Treasure hunting in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar
Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is virtually a city within a city; there is so much going on in there. Covering an enormous area, the bazaar’s 3,000 or so shops offer the intrepid explorer an opportunity to buy almost everything imaginable. Come on in. For those who thrive on bustle and activity the bazaar will be a highlight of your trip to Istanbul. It is certainly something to be in a good mood for and not pressed for time. The shopkeepers will banter with visitors and expect their customers to bargain for goods. This is all done in good spirits and often accompanied by offers of tea and coffee that should not…
European cities – what not to miss
With so many people, cultures and influences all packed into a relatively small area, it comes as no surprise that Europe boasts some of the world’s most interesting cities. Here are some European cities not to miss. Europe offers a plethora of different towns and cities to explore and enjoy, so how did I choose just the few you see here? The simple answer is that I chose my favourites. We all have different priorities and preferences. These are the things I love about these cities, which are not necessarily capital cities incidentally. Maybe you will agree with my choices, maybe not. Let me know! Nice, France The perfect marriage…
Adventures in Colour
The world is such a colourful place and photographs are one of my favourite ways to take a little bit of that brightness home with me. So the Capture the Colour competition gave me the perfect excuse to explore my travel memories. Travel Supermarket has launched the competition (details here) and travel bloggers around the world have jumped to in the hopes of winning one of five ipad 3s or £2,000 of cash to spend on travelling. That’s pounds not dollars folks. Think how far you could get on that! So here are my coloured offerings: Red Perhaps unusually I have chosen an underwater image as my red entry. Red…
Ightham Mote
If you are looking to step back in time and visit a medieval manor house then Ightham Mote, built over 700 years ago might be just the thing. Ightham Mote was built in the 14th century and has changed very little since it’s original design. The house is made up of over 70 rooms built around a central courtyard and sits on its own little island surrounded by a square mote. Three bridges provide access. Impressive features include the great hall, chapel, solars, crypt and a tudor painted ceiling. The property also boasts the only existing Grade 1 listed dog kennel. As you wander around the property taking it all…
Chocolates in Provence
You miss out if you go to France but fail to enjoy their chocolate shops. Such is the value placed on quality chocolate that most French towns have their own chocolatier dedicated to meeting the population’s every chocolate need. The fact that chocolates have their own dedicated shops in France says something about what you can expect to find inside. Chocolate-making is a respected art-form in France and all sorts of impressive creations can be discovered inside the country’s many little chocolate-treasure-troves. Obviously being such a big fan I made sure that I paid a visit to Joel Durand’s chocolate shop when in Saint-Remy de Provence recently and I was…
Emmetts Garden, Kent
Kent in the south east of England is lovingly referred to by many as the garden of England, on account of the lush and abundant greenery especially during spring and summertime. On a recent trip back home I visited Emmetts Garden for the first time since my childhood and saw that few places are as obviously well-cared-for and thriving as Emmetts Garden, a National Trust property in Ide Hill, near Sevenoaks. The property consists of a house and about six acres of botanical gardens and arboretum. The house was built and the gardens established by Frederic Lubbock, the original owner, in 1860. The property was then acquired by Charles Boise…
Expat repatriated (temporarily)
Landing at Heathrow last week felt really strange. As the clouds parted and I saw green fields, trees and the neat rows of terraced houses on the approach to west London it dawned on me that England no longer feels like home. Of course, in one respect England will always be home. I have family, friends and even two cats in England. I grew up here and have spent periods of my adult life here. But at the moment I live in Australia and have commitments there like my job, daft things like my car and of course, the life I share with my partner. A few months ago my…
Montrueil sur mer – or is it?
Gorgeous little Montreuil-sur-mer, according to any sensible person’s expectations (one that knows some French that is), should be by the sea, but is in fact a small town inland from France’s north west coast. The town was founded in Roman times when the sea came up the Canuche estuary, hence the name, because back then it was by the sea. The water is long gone now but the rather misleading name remains. The town was famous for its cloth industry in the eleventh and twelfth centuries and its ramparts date back to the ninth century. It has an interesting history peppered with plundering raids by naughty Kings, the English King…
Cruising Barbados
Barbados is an amazing little island. It is a beautiful place with something for everyone, but its beauty cannot be truly appreciated unless you hit the high seas and take in the views from a cruise. Luckily several operators offer catamaran cruises up the West coast of Barbados, out of Bridgetown Careenage. These are the best cruising waters as the Atlantic pounds the East coast making the water rougher. The catamaran cruises operate large catamarans that easily take about 30 people and probably more. As they round the south west point of Barbados it can be a bit choppy but as soon as you are around that point the bar…
Tips for Expat Success
Life as an expat offers challenges not faced by those living in their home countries. Of course these challenges vary depending where you are from and where you move and many things can have an impact on how successfully you adapt to expat life. These are my tips for expat success. Explore Getting out and exploring your new territory should definitely be a priority. What do the locals have that you don’t? Local knowledge. It is invaluable when trying to fit in somewhere new and granted, it does not come overnight, but at least if you know the names of local places and make your own observations you at least…
