Where Heather travelled in 2010

As one year ends and another begins, I review my travelling year at Heather on her travels and highlight the places I’ve visited and things I’ve enjoyed. What’s on my New Year list? Seeing some more of Scandanavia, back to visit my sister on Zakynthos, some explorations of northern Egypt with a friend who’s in Alexandria (avoiding pyramids at all costs), hunting out more hidden corners of England and any other interesting opportunities that come my way. Here’s what I enjoyed in 2010;

January brings a stay at the Mandarin Oriental and tea at Kensington Palace

January and February are the dreary months weatherwise in England but there’s still plenty to enjoy in London, where many museums and galleries are free and indoor attractions come into their own. I was brought up in London often popping back to visit my parents, and I spent a delightful weekend with my daughter at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Hyde Park, where we were treated like princesses, ate Princess Diana’s favourite crab cakes and went shopping at Top Shop on Oxford street, that favourite of teenagers. A little later in the month and I was back in London to meet a friend, when we spent the day at Kensington Palace, admiring Princess Diana’s frocks, encountering a former palace resident, the Countess of Marlbrough and treating ourselves to afternoon tea at the Orangery.

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To Kensington Palace and tea at the Orangery
A suite for a princess at the Mandarin Oriental – video
Affordable Luxuries at the Mandarin Oriental
Weekend at the Mandarin Oriental – podcast

February – and we’re nearly snowed in at our Welsh country cottage in the Brecon Beacons

In a contrast to city life we got a breath of fresh air in February in the half term holidays when we found a cosy Welsh cottage in the Brecon Beacons. My thoughts of spring sunshine and daffodils were lost in a fall of snow that almost threatened to maroon us half way up the mountain, even though the fields around Crickhowell at the bottom of the valley were still grassy green. The children loved our snowy break with walks along the quarry tracks on the slopes above our cottage, making snow angels and sliding in the snow down the steep hillside.

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A snowy break at Laswern Fawr holiday in the Brecon Beacons, Wales

March – and we take a creative break in Manchester

You may think that Manchester is all about nightlife, football and shopping, but I discovered Manchester’s arty side on a weekend break hosted by Creative Tourist, staying at the stylish, modern MacDonald Hotel, Manchester. We observed Manchester’s industrial past proudly on display and buzzed around on the new Metrolink that took us out to Salford Quay to seek out the pictures of LS Lowry, Manchester’s favourite son and the moving Don McCullin Images of War exhibition at the Imperial War museum just opposite. We completed our whistlestop exploration of Manchester’s museum scene with a close up of the Mona Lisa, naked as you’ve never seen her before (well without her varnish anyway). Before we left we just managed to fit in a Sunday morning stroll around the Northern Quarter, all vintage and street-art. I’m looking forward to being back in Manchester in March for Travel Bloggers Unite.

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Up close with the Mona Lisa at MOSI in Manchester
Getting to know LS Lowry at The Lowry in Manchester
Shaped by war – Don McCullin at the Imperial War Museum in Manchester

April when we stay at a Cotswold Country Inn and take a dip in the Roman Baths

A weekend break in the country drew us out of Bristol again with a promise of picture perfect pale stone Cotswold loveliness. The Kings Head Inn at Bledington, proved charmingly English, set on a village green complete with babbling brook and quacking ducks, with views over the fields from our bedroom window. We tramped across the muddy fields to Stow on the Wold for tea, but returned in time to have supper by the open fire in the bar. Later that month I was in Bath, showing my daughter’s French exchange friend all the tourist sites, including some I’d never seen such as the Roman Baths which are a must see for any visitor. Sometimes you have to be a tourist in your own back yard.

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Cotswold country charm at the Kings Head Inn at Bledington – Video
Fancy a dip at the Roman Baths at Bath?

May – and we seek the sun on the Greek island of Zakynthos

In May I finally got the sunshine I was longing for in our annual visit to my sister who runs the Windmill Studios Hotel and Windmill Bay Hotel in Argassi with her Greek husband Denis. We’d seen plenty of things over the 20 years we’ve been going but still managed to find a few we hadn’t tried yet, like the a visit to the Monastery of St Denis, the island’s patron saint, with a quick stop to photograph the famous Smuggler’s cove at Navagio. We also loved the day we spent on a boat trip around Laganas bay, known for it’s loggerhead turtles. We didn’t spot any turtles this time but we had a great time jumping off the boat and swimming in sea caves in the refreshing turquoise water.

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Visiting St Denis Monastery on Zakynthos – in Greece
13 Zante – my Greek island holiday – podcast
A turtle spotting boat trip on Zante – in Greece

June and we’re going underground into Churchill’s London war-rooms

I was back in London with my son to visit my parents and we spent an afternoon visiting the Churchill war rooms, near Horseguard’s Parade. It was a facinating glimpse of the war operations conducted here by Churchill in his secret underground bunker, with offices and sleeping quarters for Churchill and large numbers of his war staff, and war maps and telephones still laid out, as well as a museum devoted to Churchill’s life. This is a London attraction that deserves to be better known, especially for those interested in history, and could be combined with a visit to nearby Buckingham Palace, St James Park and Horseguards Parade.

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Into Churchill’s underground bunker – Churchill war rooms in London

July – we make a pilgrimage to Altötting and see the passion play at Oberammergau

July was a special month as we took a trip to Bavaria in Southern Germany, to see the famous Passion play at Oberammergau. The Passion Play only takes place every 10 years and has been performed by the residents of the Bavarian Town since 1632, when they made a vow to perform a passion play if the village was spared the plague that was then ravaging Germany. The play is performed in a modern auditorium, with an extremely professional production of choral singing telling the dramatic story of the passion, death and resurrection of Christ. Afterwards we were also able to wander around the town itself to see the painted houses and wood carvings against the backdrop of stunning Alpine scenery. We also stayed for a couple of days in the pilgrimage town of Altötting, where we saw the small shrine of the Black Madonna in the town square, as well as the many other beautiful churches in the town, and hired bikes to seek out the badesee or local swimming lake.

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12 Oberammergau Passion Play and Altötting in Bavaria – Podcast
A pilgrimage to see the Black Madonna at Altötting in Germany
Painted houses and wood carving at Oberammergau – in Bavaria, Germany

July in Malaga – seafood on the beach on the Costa del Sol

Later in July I flew to the south of Spain to stay with a friend at Benelmadena near Malaga on the Costa Del Sol. This is a region of Spain that’s full of British expats and beloved of the English package holiday makers as well as many Spanish families on holiday, and as a consequence the coastline has been highly developed in recent years. We spent our time eating seafood in the many beach restaurants known as Chiringuitos and escaped for a day into the hills behind Marbella to visit the pretty village of Ojén, one of the many Pueblos Blancos or white hill villages that you can visit in Andalucia.

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A visit to Ojén – the Pueblos Blancos of Andalucia
Gaudi glitz at the Puerto Marina – Benalmadena, Spain
Seafood on the beach at the Chiringuito in Spain

August – and we head for Hungary for a family holiday in Budapest and Lake Balaton

For our family holiday we headed for Hungary, spending a couple of days in Budapest before driving to Lake Balaton, a large freshwater lake that’s a very popular holiday destination for Hungarians and Germans. In Budapest we drove out to Memento park to see enormous statues that had been preserved from Budapest’s communist era, climbed up to the Fisherman’s bastion and went for a swim on Margaret Island. On the Southern shores of Lake Balaton, we based ourself at the friendly Hullam Hostel in Révfülöp and visited the castle at Sigliget, the palace at Keszthely and floated among the water lilies in the thermal lake at Heviz, as well as taking a ferry trip across the lake to the busier resorts on the southern shore.

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Thermal springs and rubber rings at Hévíz – in Hungary
The Festetics Palace and the marzipan museum at Keszthely – in Hungary
Memento park – Icons of Budapest’s communist past

September – far a walking break in the French Alps  on the Tour de Mont Blanc

As the summer holidays finished I took an early September break with my friend Julia to walk in the mountains above Chamonix on the Tour de Mont Blanc Trail. This long distance circular path normally takes 12 days to walk through the mountains of Switzerland, France and Italy around the Mont Blanc mountain range, but we did a cut down mini-version in 3 days. We hiked up above the Chamonix valley, staying in basic mountain huts, with amazing views of Mont Blanc on the opposite side of the valley, visiting the glacial Lac Blanc and the ice cave in the Mer de glace at Montenvers. We enjoyed the experience so much that we’re already planning to go back in 2011 to walk another section of the Tour de Mont Blanc trail.

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Inside the glacier – at the Mer de Glace above Chamonix
Video diary – walking the Tour de Mont Blanc path above Chamonix
Day 3 on the Tour de Mont Blanc – Flégère to Lac Blanc

October – family fun in northern France, near Paris

At October half term we took a family break in Northern France with Eurocamp, staying at La Croix du Vieux Pont parc at Berny Riviere. We stayed in a mobile home on this parc that has plenty to keep families busy with an indoor swimming pool, boating and fishing on the lake, cycling and a bar and restaurant on site. We used the parc as a base from which to explore northern France, with a day trip to Paris for the obligitory climb up the Eiffel Tower, a visit to Disneyland Paris and time to explore some of the First World War battlefields such as the Canadian Memorial at Vimy Ridge that mark this region of France.

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Our supercalifragilistic day at the Magical kingdom of Disneyland Paris
The Eiffel Tower – Icon of Paris or tourist trap?
Visiting the Canadian War memorial at Vimy Ridge, France

November and I link up with other travel bloggers at TBEX in Copenhagen

In November I was off to Copenhagen to attend the Travel Blog Exchange or TBEX conference in Copenhagen staying in the cosy Avenue Hotel. The conference was held in the amazing Wallmans Cirkus, an old circus building that now hosts a dinner and caberet show in the evening but was used for the conference activities in the day. I was a speaker at the event on Using images effectively for your blog, and enjoyed other highlights such as the  SEO skit, listening to other speakers, special events such as the tour of the Georg Jensen Silver Workshops and eating in some great restaurants. I didn’t spend as much time as I’d like seeing Copenhagen itself, so I’m hoping to get back again some time in 2011 to explore the city more thoroughly.

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Burning the midnight oil – my TBEX Copenhagen diary
TBEX Copenhagen – what were the highlights for you?
Cosy up in Copenhagen at Avenue Hotel

December – it’s Christmas!

I took a breather from travelling in December and spent the time getting into the Christmas spirit, buying presents, hanging the Christmas decorations from around the world, and generally preparing for our typically British festivities with turkey and all the trimmings. I hope you also had a very happy Christmas and here’s looking forward to more exciting travels for us all in 2011.

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Join me for a traditional English Christmas dinner
A terribly British Christmas
A very Happy Christmas from Heather on her travels

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com – Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

You’ll also find our sister blog with tips on how to build a successful travel blog at My Blogging Journey

Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels

Join me for a traditional English Christmas dinner

Before we put away the Christmas baubles and see the New Year in, I’d like to relish the Christmas turkey and all the trimmings a little longer. So until the cold cuts are quite eaten up and the fridge is bare again, I’m inviting you to join me for our traditional English Christmas dinner. Of course those of you on the other side of the Atlantic will still have memories of the Thanksgiving turkey and may even have relived it all over again on Christmas day.

First comes the turkey in all it’s burnished glory. There’s always the argument between those who like to ring the changes with a goose or even another roast like rib of beef, rather than stick to tradition. We did have goose one year but once the fat had all melted away it seemed a scrawny bird compared to the turkey. The worry with the turkey is always that it will be dry so we have to watch the cooking time carefully and perhaps employ a trick or too, such as cooking it for part of the time breast down, and an onion or lemon in the cavity for extra flavour.

Vegetables for Christmas dinner

Brussel sprouts for Christmas dinner

The point of an English Christmas dinner is all the trimmings, to the point where the plates are groaning. I hope you appreciate my pretty presentation of the feast before it gets into such a jumbled state on the plate. There must be roast potatoes and parsnips of course, cooked in goose fat bought in a jar especially for the occasion. Then cranberry sauce – home made the day before in my case. I bought a punnet of fresh cranberries and cooked them gently in a pan with some cloves and nutmeg, sugar to counter the sour berries and some fruit jest of orange with the squeezed juice too.

My bread sauce is made with creamy milk heated through with half an onion and a few cloves, then thickened with white breadcrumbs. We must have brussel sprouts too, even though we wouldn’t countenance them at any other time of year, but we give the mini cabbages a bit of Christmas pazazz by stirring them with slivers of bacon and peeled chopped chestnuts. The stuffing is cooked separately and varies from year to year according to my fancy, but this year was made of minced pork, sweated onions and breadcrumbs, flavoured with some chopped dried apricots, lemon jest and juice and dried coriander.

Gingerbread house at Christmas

Christmas dinner

As you can see from the photo, it does become rather a muddle on the plate but it tasted good (my food styling failed me for that photo). What’s for afters? Well, we have to stick to tradition with a small Christmas pudding although more than a mouthful is a bit too sweet and sticky. My mother generally brings the pudding from the supermarket although I do remember my grandmother making it herself when I was a child in a white glazed pudding bowl with the greaseproof paper lid tied over the top, and the lucky sixpences discreetly stuck in just before serving. We’ll stick some bay leaves or holly on top and flame it briefly for the full Christmas effect.

To keep the children happy though, we normally make an alternative, such as the trifle that we had this year. As long as you have all the component parts; the custard, cream, fruit and sponge cake, it’s a good one to ask your house guests to make. I hope you’re also impressed with the gingerbread house that was my sister in law’s contribution with jelly bean and marshmallow roof tiles.

So now the Christmas dinner’s over for another year, we can all look forward to the cold turkey sandwiches and plan our healthy eating regimes for the New Year.

This article is posted as part of Wanderfood Wednesday hosted at Wanderlust and Lipstick – head on over for a Tuscan tearoom and other foodie delights

More Christmas cheer

A very Happy Christmas from Heather on her travels
Christmas decorations from around the world
A terribly British Christmas

www.flickr.com heatheronhertravels’ Christmas photoset

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com – Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

You’ll also find our sister blog with tips on how to build a successful travel blog at My Blogging Journey

Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels

Calgary’s family spirit for fun with the kids

For holiday fun with the family in Calgary, this sponsored post offers ideas to entertain the kids, from space flights to animal encounters to a heart stopping view from the Calgary tower.

Located in close proximity to the rolling foothills of the Canadian Rockies, Calgary is majestic, safe and a truly heartwarming city. Considering all major Canadian cities, there are only few that can match Calgary’s abundant family activities and destinations, which are adorned by kids and parents alike.

Whenever I visit Calgary, an overwhelming sense of realization grips me while contemplating over the fact that the city has evolved from an early 1800s outpost of the North West Mounted Police and a haven for ranch builders to a bustling city that retains the magical small-town spirit. Calgary has always fostered a “family-friendly” culture and encourages the development of parks, playgrounds and fun activities for the entire family. To elaborate my point, I have jotted down a list of the city’s landmarks that are sure to make you chuckle with glee with your kids.

Be sure to check out these top family delights in Calgary…

SpacePort

If you fly to Calgary, head to the food court on the third floor of Calgary International Airport. Located next to the food court is a 6,000 square foot high-tech interactive zone called SpacePort. It houses four flight simulators, a time machine and visitors can also take a virtual tour of the International Space Station. SpacePort offers free facilities and exhibitions, except for simulation rides that carry a small charge. The educational exhibits give hands-on experience and information about flight simulation, the Canadian Space Agency, and communication technology. Hence, it is a truly entertaining and engaging outing for families. I personally enjoyed dodging aliens!

Spaceport at Calgary International Airport
Phone: (403) 717-7678
Opening hours: 9am-9pm Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Sat & Sun

Calgary Zoo, Botanical Garden and Prehistoric Park

Calgary Zoo offers habitat to more than 1,100 animals and a wide variety of species from different parts of the globe. The highly innovative and themed exhibitions offer close encounters with grizzlies, wolves, moose, cougar, bison, bighorn sheep and many other animals. If you feel like going green, you can step in the lush Botanical Garden. I love the serene environment of this garden, especially the charm of the butterfly garden. If you believe that size does matter, then head to the Prehistoric Park where you can view life-sized dinosaur models lurking in prehistoric lands. I visited Dino Island to experience its unique simulator ride that placed me right in the middle of prowling dinosaurs! Calgary Zoo also offers catered sleepovers specially for birthday parties for kids and other special occasions. Hence, you can enjoy the thrills of three unique attractions in a single Calgary Zoo. Moreover, it only takes 10 minutes to reach the zoo by train from Downtown Calgary.

Calgary Zoo, Botanical Garden and Prehistoric Park,
1300 Zoo Road NE, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2E 7V6
Phone: (403) 232-9300, 1-800-588-9993
Opening hours: Daily 9am-5pm

TELUS World of Science

Formerly known as the Calgary Science Centre, the TELUS World of Science offers highly intriguing and interactive exhibitions that cover various aspects of science ranging from biology to astronomy. TELUS World is complete with a Discovery Dome Theatre, WOWTown, Creative Kids Museum and an Amazement Park.

Moreover, you can clarify any doubts or queries with professionals with guided programs and interpretive tours. The displays are changed frequently. Hence, I always keep an eye out for upcoming interesting exhibitions.

TELUS World of Science, 701-11th Street Southwest, Calgary, AB, T2P 2M5s
Phone: (403) 268-8300
Opening hours: 9:45am-4pm Mon-Thurs, 9:45am-5pm Fri, 10am-5pm Sat, Sun, Holidays

Calgary Tower

Picture yourself with your family standing midair at 525 feet and looking straight down at the heart of Calgary. You can experience this thrill at the Observation Deck of the Calgary Tower. The tower is not the tallest building in Calgary, but you can walk on a 36 feet long glass floor that presents a panoramic view of the city and the breathtaking magnificence of the Rockies at the horizon.

Calgary Tower, 101 – 9th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB, T2P 1J9
Phone: (403) 266-7171
Opening hours: 9am-10pm Jun-Aug, 9am-9pm Sept-May

Crossroads Market

Crossroads Market is Calgary’s largest indoor-outdoor market that is open round the year. Located at at the junction of Ogden Road and Blackfoot Trail, Crossroads is just a 5-minute drive from Downtown Calgary. Moreover, the market offers free parking facility. The minute I stepped in the premises of this colossal market, I was exposed to the overwhelming presence of a flea market, antique market, indoor farmer’s market, and a seasonal outdoor farmer’s market – all under the same roof! Over 125 vendors represent a maze of booths that offer a mesmerizing display of unique products, rare collectibles, and antique treasures. The fresh produce, delicious baked goods, locally raised meat and poultry available at the market will certainly turn your visit into a grand feast. There are also many vendors who sell gluten-free products.

Crossroads Market, 1235 – 26 Avenue S.E., Calgary, AB T2G 1R7
Phone: (403) 291-5208
Opening hours: Indoor-Outdoor Market: 9am to 5pm Fri, Sat, Sun
Food Court:  Open on Fridays for lunch
Flea & Antique Markets Mall: 9am to 5pm Sat & Sun

Family Friendly Tip

Keep an eye out for the “sunburst logo” of Child and Youth Friendly Calgary (CYFC). Established more than 14 years ago, this organization accredits establishments for “child-friendliness”. A strict inspection is conducted by Calgary’s youth and the businesses that pass this test earn the right to display the organization’s logo.

Thanks for this article to Vinay Shingornikar, who is a professional writer and has authored insightful articles for a wide spectrum of publications. Currently, he is working with Flight Network, which is Canada’s second most visited online travel agency. Flight Network negotiates bulk rates with major airlines such as WestJet and Air Canada to offer the cheapest flights to customers.

Photo Credits: Little Green Men by Cuppojoe , Calgary Zoo by k-ideas , Calgary Tower by vill3r , Plasma Disks by  D’Arcy Norman .

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com – Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

You’ll also find our sister blog with tips on how to build a successful travel blog at My Blogging Journey

Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels

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