Inspiring Travels

Reliving my French Food Memory Bonsoir,  Carcassonne, France So one of my methods in managing my travel withdraws is to revisit my favorite food memories.  Those that know me, are aware that food is as much a passion for me as travel - so it's the next best thing in a bad situation  - yes? Australia is a fabulous country with great food from all cultures around the world even just in Sydney (and considering the rest of Australia is pretty much off limits, NSW is my playground!) - so I have decided to indulge in regular outings to a different country around my city to experience the  best in global cuisine we have on offer.  First stop - France - and FRENCH FOOD  - Oh la la!  The hunt started to find local but fabulous cultural cuisines and my first find was Bistro Cocotte in Haberfield. https://www.cocottesydney.com.au/ This is a great find - lovely, local and truly authentic.   Haberfield is a inner city suburb of Sydney that I learnt a litt...

With these strange and ever changing times around us, I have like all of us, had the time to ponder  how this affects both the world we live in and our own individual space. Looking at how this pandemic is affecting other parts of the world is both shocking and scary as we Australians are guarded and protected by our island continent.  This protection does also, however create for me, a feeling of separation which is strange. Like most travel lovers, I have viewed the world as my playground to explore.  To see and experience all the varied cultures and landscapes as I wished. But now, I am faced with the thought that I never,  ever imagined I would face.  That I can not move and travel as I wish. That borders are now locked and we have no clear idea of when this or if, may change.  To image the idea of never being able to depart and explore our world makes me very sad. The village of San Fele  I am sure that soon this will change and we can a...

There's something about a road trip that is different to a planned destination when you go on a vacation. I think its the freedom of having the ability to get in that car and not really know exactly where you are heading - it gives you the sense of exploration and the ability to change your direction depending of how you feel and what you see. There's nothing like it - its part of the joy of travelling and exploring - where you see some little gem of a destination that you may never have even heard of, or, it may have been a little dot on a map - and you just think, "you know what, lets just stop here" and it turns out to be something amazing. Giving you memories unplanned . This happened many times of our recent trip around Spain and Portugal. The driving leg from Madrid to Lisbon had us discovering  Trujillo in the region of Extremadura. Plaza Major The Plaza Major, when lit at night is said to be the most beautiful in all of ...

Ole to Madrid – what’s with the big paper Mache heads?? Arriving in Madrid the weekend of the Fiesta de San Isidro was not something we had planned but could not have worked out better. This is just one of many Fiestas celebrated throughout the year.     This city really put on a show for us but I get the feeling it’s really always like this – full of people young and old, fun and laughter. This is a really friendly place.    An easy metro ride and we were in the thick of things!  On our first night landing in Spain and raced to our tapas and history tour with   Devour Tours   which I had pre booked and I cannot recommend these guys enough. The tour leader Oliver was super passionate about the city, the food, history and culture of Spain and Madrid; you will not get a more in-depth and interesting insight tour like this anywhere else. (and I have been on a few!).  The tour took us though the main areas in th...

The entire area of Venice is a hidden treasure.   I just wish to share a small part of it with you from our resent, too short a visit. Arriving by train is the best!!!! Stepping out of this train station to the bustling canal open in front of you, sun shining, ferries jostling – it’s the best buzz. This place is alive and I was at my most happiest. This elegant lady of a city is full of art, fashion, style, history and the best people waiting place in the world! This place may be old – but the people and the latest fashion trends are not.  The latest fashion accessory here for 2017 is most definitely the dog! Ye the dog. We saw pooches crimped to perfection, styled with trims and tails - it was so most fun sitting back and looking at the parade of people and pets strutting their stuff with the hippest, funkiest fashion ever. For a more reserved historical and cultured feel, you only need to wander down a few quiet allays like we did and st...