Yes folks, today is the Royal Wedding day for Will and Kate. And of course the big question on everyone’s lips is ‘What will the bride wear?’ I can practically guarantee the miles of descriptive prose and full colour magazine pages that will be devoted to every detail of that dress.

Bridal exhibition at Bath Fashion Museum

Perhaps Kate and her dress designer will have taken inspiration from brides of yesteryear, having paid a visit to the exhibition I enjoyed recently at the Fashion Museum in Bath. The ‘What will she wear’ exhibition is a celebration of wedding dresses from the museum’s collections and continues until January 2012, so you’ve no excuse not to visit if you’re looking for design ideas for your own dream wedding dress.

Bridal exhibition at Bath Fashion Museum

The dresses were displayed in no particular order with the bride from the 20s next to the bride of the surprisingly demure 60s although as wedding dresses are often inspired by historic costume it was not so easy to tell them apart. The high necked dress with delicate lace from the 70s looked distinctly Edwardian and the Alexander McQueen dress from 2010 had 18th century panier skirts.

Bridal exhibition at Bath Fashion Museum

If only those cases full of gorgeous gowns could tell their stories; the romance, the fluttering hearts, the courtship, the proposal and finally the big day. For many of those dresses the owners are known and there might even be a newspaper clipping to give the account of the wedding, with full details of what the bride wore. For others, not much is known about the owners. On the walls of the exhibition were formal portraits of elegant and wealthy brides from the 1930s modelling their couture gowns from the House of Worth, in the studio setting surrounded by flowers.

Bridal exhibition at Bath Fashion Museum

Bridal exhibition at Bath Fashion Museum

Fashions for brides have been a reflection of the past and the present. A hundred years ago weddings were held in the morning, so a day dress was worn, but later they came to resemble evening wear with long trains as worn at court. Our teenage girls took it in turn to pick the one that they would choose for their wedding day and the dress above left is my daughter’s favourite. I was married not long after Diana and Fergie and like many brides was influenced by their full skirts, ruffles and lace. Now I think I might like to wear one of those elegant bias cut columns from the 30s. Which one would you choose?

Bridal exhibition at Bath Fashion Museum

Bridal exhibition at Bath Fashion Museum

So what will the bride wear? – we’ll find out soon enough but in the meantime, enjoy these lovely wedding gowns of yesterday.

The What will she wear? exhibition is on display at the Fashion Museum in Bath until 8 January 2012.

Other adventures in Bath

Fancy a dip at the Roman Baths in Bath?
Dressing up at the Fashion Museum in Bath

If you’re looking for a hotel in Bath, compare prices and Book at Hotels Combined

www.flickr.com    heatheronhertravels’ Bath – Fashion Museum 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

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Today I’m giving a shout out to my home city of Bristol, where the city’s premier concert venue, the Colston Hall is up for an Award for Excellence from Enjoy England, the official English tourism organisation, in the Access for All category.

Colston Hall Bristol

As I hadn’t visited the venue since the shiny, copper clad new foyer building opened 18 months ago, I decided that a nose around this weekend was long overdue. Before the redevelopment of the Colston Hall, the original turn of the century building was feeling it’s age, with an auditorium from the 1950s that still remains, but little space in the building to circulate, relax and encourage visitors to linger for a little longer. When a new concert venue for Bristol was proposed as part of the Harbour-side development, the Colston Hall was earmarked for closure, but when those plans were abandoned it was given a new lease of life with funding from The Arts Council and Bristol City Council, for a large, modern foyer building, which opened in September 2011.

The new foyer of the Colston Hall Bristol

Finally there was the opportunity to create a building that met the highest standards for accessibility in Bristol. Now the whole visit becomes an experience with plenty of room to have a drink or a bite to eat in the new H Bar Cafe and restaurant, serving Mediterranean  dishes all day and into the evening and regular free live music in the Foyer performance space.

Food at the H Bar, Colston Hall Bristol

The design for the new foyer involved plenty of consultation with different groups to ensure it met the needs of all users and everything was considered, from the obvious such as wheelchair access, to the less obvious such as whether the width of the glass sided walkways would meet the needs of vertigo sufferers. There are lifts, ramps and chair lifts to enable wheelchair users access to all areas and lower height sections at all the bar and box office counters.

Now there are additional wheelchair spaces available on the balcony area as well as in the stalls and staff are trained and available to give assistance and can even look after assistance dogs during the performance if necessary. There is flat access from both entrances and a new drop-off zone has been created on the Trenchard Street side, close to a public car park.

The desire to make the new Colston Hall as inclusive as possible goes well beyond the physical access for disabled users. The building of the new foyer building has enabled the creation of education rooms that are used for rehearsal and music composition in partnership with projects such as Remix who run Youth workshops. On the ground floor there’s The Glass Room, a small free exhibition space that is used to showcase local artists and frequent free live music or workshops going on in the foyer performance space. The Colston Hall also works with organisations such as Music Beyond Mainstream to bring more unusual performances to Bristol that might otherwise not get to be seen in a major mainstream venue.

Live Music in the Foyer Colston Hall, Bristol

With excellent public access, the Colston Hall is in the heart of Bristol with a large multi-story car park on one side and major bus routes running nearby. The venue is getting an increasing number of overseas visitors who take advantage of flights into Bristol International Airport to build their stay around a performance at the Colston Hall.

Last weekend, the Colston Hall was holding a Latin Weekend to celebrate the performance of Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club, the well-known 15 piece band of top musicians from Cuba. For those not attending the main performance, there was live Latin music in the foyer, giving those who had been practicing their Latin dance steps an opportunity to show off in front of the band. I had a bite to eat first in the H Bar that serves light meals and snacks, choosing a delicious risotto of the day.

The Buena Vista Social Club performance had brought out the Latin music enthusiasts including myself and before long they had everyone up and dancing, wiggling their hips and shimmying their shoulders. The performance featured the ‘Mas Sexy’ Omaro Portuondo, now in her 80s, a vision in pink with sparkly turban and corsage sent by an admirer, who still managed to salsa with the best of them. The performance had me longing to visit the back streets of Havana, to tap into some of the Cuban soul and perhaps take a lesson or two in hip wiggling.

Now I’ve seen what the Colston Hall has to offer, I’m sure to be calling in more often, not least to enjoy a drink or a meal in the H Bar with some of that free live music in the foyer. The winners for the Excellence awards will be announced at the Award Ceremony in Birmingham this Friday 15th April and I’m crossing my fingers that the Colston Hall will be a well deserved winner in the Access for All category.

The Colston Hall, Colston St, Bristol, BS1 5AR, Box Office: 0117 922 3686

Other places nominated in the South West for the Enjoy England Excellence awards include;

• Somerville in Torquay in the Guest House category
• The Times Cheltenham Literary Festival for Best Tourism Event
• Global Boarders in Cornwall for Best Tourism Experience,
• Event Exeter for Business Tourism
• Mother Ivey’s Bay in Cornwall for Best Caravan Park,
• Bovey Castle in Devon in the Large Hotel category
• The Eden Project for Large Visitor Attraction
• Sarah Lee at The Big Sheep in Devon for Outstanding Customer Service
• Milbrook Cottages in Devon in the Self Catering holiday category
• Hestercombe Gardens in Somerset for Small visitor attraction
• Bedruthan Steps Cornwall for Sustainable Tourism
• Porthminster Beach Cafe in Cornwall for a Taste of England
• Gloucester Tourist Information Centre in the Tourist Information category.

More things to enjoy in Bristol

A walk around the harbourside in Bristol – video
A Garden Open day at Emmaus House in Bristol
To Bristol Cathedral for a Contemplative lunch

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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On Christmas Eve I’m wishing everyone out there a very happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year to come.

Obviously I’m not actually writing this on Christmas Eve, but will be going to Midnight Mass with my family, followed by a relaxing Christmas day at home eating turkey and mince pies. You can read all about our terribly British Christmas in my previous post.

What can I bring you to keep you in the festive mood? A few of the Christmas wreaths that I photographed while going up and down the road to deliver Christmas cards to my neighbours.

Can you guess which one is mine? Which one would you have for your front door?

More Seasonal greetings

A terribly British Christmas
Christmas decorations from around the world
Father Christmas on a bicycle in Munich

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

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I just ordered my Christmas turkey from the local butcher, so I guess I’ll be joining the queue of neighbours and friends on Christmas eve to pick it up ready for the big day. If last year was anything to go by, it’ll be a slightly disorganised affair with everyone being frightfully smiley and trying to be full of Christmas spirit, even though being kept waiting for 20 minutes is wearing a bit thin.

Laying the table for Christmas lunch

Here’s how Christmas will go in our house in Bristol this year. On Christmas eve the family will arrive – we always alternate between inviting each set of parents, one for Christmas itself, the other set we usually see just after Christmas. Every year in September, once the children are back at school, we rack our brains on whose turn it is this year and issue the necessary invitations. It’s all very civilised.

Christmas decoration from Buckingham Palace

We’ll trim up a week or two before, once the tree arrives – usually a refugee from the school where my husband works once term has ended. We have Christmas decorations from around the world that we’ve collected on our travels from the fat German fairy to the gilded soapstone hippo from Kenya, and each year add a few more. There’s  an evergreen wreath on the front door, some fairy lights around the fireplace and a few elegant baubles dangling from the light fittings but we try to resist the full on Christmas tinsel and flashing multicolour lights on the front of the house.

This year we’ll be having my parents over for Christmas day and Boxing day and Christmas will start with midnight mass. Even though it’s becoming a bit of a challenge to entice the teenagers near a church, for high days and holidays it’s a three line whip – we like to remember what we’re celebrating after all. Once we get back, they’ll remind us of the other family tradition of opening one pressie from under the tree on Christmas eve, and we do our best to steer them towards the smallest parcels. We might even leave a glass of sherry and a mince pie in front of the fire for Santa and a carrot for Rudolf. In the morning there will be talcum powder footprints to show that he paid us a visit in the dead of night.

Our Christmas tree in Bristol

With the church-going over, Christmas morning is a leisurely affair until I suddenly remember at 8am that the turkey should be in the oven and have to break out of my Christmas lie in. The children will delve into stockings that the Christmas elves have silently placed outside their doors and some time after 1 o’clock (depending how early I put it in) we’ll sit down to the turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

This is no time for simplicity or the pleasure of one delicious thing at a time as the continentals prefer. For a British Christmas lunch, the plates are groaning under legs of turkey, stuffing, roasties and mini sausages on the side with the brussel sprouts and a few other veg and then lashings of gravy, bread sauce and cranberry sauce too. We pull the crackers, wear the silly paper crowns and tell the corny jokes. For desert there’s always a boozy Christmas pudding with some lucky sixpences inside, that we attempt to flame with brandy if we remember to buy some, although everyone secretly prefers Nigella’s pomegranate pavlova.

After lunch it’s time to relax and open the presents and indulge in the Christmas tradition of telling each other how completely spoiled our children are and how we definitely won’t buy them as much next year. Then there’s time to doze with a sloe gin and a mince pie before the Queen’s speech – hopefully it’ll have been a good year what with the news of Will and Kate getting engaged. We might venture out for some fresh air on The Downs  near our house but that can probably wait until Boxing Day.

The dog gets wrapped for Christmas

‘Are you all ready for Christmas?’ seems to be the question everyone asks. No, not really, but then I let the Tesco delivery man take the strain and delegate potato peeling and veg preparation ruthlessly to all the family. I try not to aim for perfection,  just a peaceful time when I can enjoy the family and do very little.

How will you be spending Christmas this year?

For more thoughts on how to celebrate Christmas around the world head over to Inside the Travel Lab for a Christmas carnival of Christmas traditions around the World

More seasonal fare

Celebrate La Bonne Annee in Paris for New Year
Christmas decorations from around the world
Visiting the Munich Christmas Markets – podcast

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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Although I live in Bristol, a city that has plenty of interest for the visitor, the smaller city of Bath attracts many more visitors, with elegant Georgian architecture and the major attraction of the Roman baths. As a local you seldom visit the tourist attractions on your own doorstep and sometimes wonder what the fuss is all about or think you’ll get round to it eventually. I guess that’s why I had never visited the Roman Baths although my children had been on school trips, but as we had an French guest to show around, it was the obvious place for a day out.

Great Bath at the Roman Baths in Bath

The baths are built over a natural hot spring that existed well before Roman times, but was enclosed in the 2nd century AD to become the focal point for worship at the temple of the Goddess of healing Sulis Minerva. The Roman Baths that grew up were unusual for their size and for the amount of hot water that was freely available – most baths around the Roman Empire used smaller plunge pools and a limited amount of hot water, as heating water was expensive.

The baths were a cross between a public leisure centre and a site of devotion to the Goddess Sulis Minerva, with a temple courtyard and altar next to the spring. The Roman Baths in the centre of the city are now surrounded by the cathedral and shops but originally they stretched over a much larger area and some of the remains are under the level of the surrounding streets.

Kings Bath at the Roman Baths in Bath

In the 18th century the Grand Pump room was built next to the main spring as a place where people could socialise and taste the health-giving spring water with these fashionable visits to Bath mentioned frequently in the novels of Jane Austin. In the 19th century the wider extent of the Roman Baths were uncovered, the columns and statues of the Great Bath reconstructed and the baths reopened to the public in 1897.

Great Bath at the Roman Baths in Bath

As you enter the bath complex you are given an audioguide that can play in several languages and can be stopped and started at each point on the tour which worked well and allowed everying to go at their own pace. At certain points there is commentary designed for children and also reflections by travel writer Bill Bryson on his experience of the baths.

The starting point for the tour of the Baths is the terrace above the Great baths, which was created in 1897 when the baths were re-opened with imposing statues of Roman Emperorors who had connections with England. Moving around, you can get a view of the other different baths in the complex, including the smaller original King’s Bath which was a mysterious, sacred place containing the original spring water, steaming and gently bubblings like the whisper of the goddess. Into this pool, prayers or curses, written on small lead tablets were often thrown to ask for the goddess’s help. You can hear the voice of the angry plantiffs across the century requesting punishment for the person who had stolen their cloak or other possessions.

Roman drain at the Roman Baths in Bath

Roman bust at the Roman Baths in Bath

The remnants of the carved stone pediment of the temple have been consructed with a central Gorgon’s head looking more ancient Briton than Roman. Later in the tour you reach the Roman level of the baths, walk around the original temple courtyard and can see the original Roman brick overflow for the spring which channelled the water away to discharge in the nearby River Avon. The scene at the temple and baths in Roman times is brought to life by short film clips of people going about their business – the bored Roman matron and her young servant girl, the young family walking by, the temple priests, full of their own importance remind us of the real people who walked upon these stones.

The Pump Room in Bath

The tour ends at the lower level of the great bath where vistors can sit by the water getting a sense of what it was like to come here to relax, bathe and socialise. It really feels like an open air swimming pool that you’d love to jump into and cool off. As a final part of your visit it’s worth walking through the pump rooms, where you can also have afternoon tea, and you can taste the mineral water from the spring served from an elegant Georgian urn. It doesn’t taste particularly pleasant, but then it it did it wouldn’t have such a reputation for health giving properties would it?

Do you have any major attractions like this near you that you never got around to visiting?

The Roman Baths
Pump Room
Abbey Churchyard, Bath BA1 1LZ
01225 477 785

Compare prices and book hotels in Bath through Hotels Combined

More things to enjoy in Bath

Dressing up in the Fashion Museum – in Bath
King Bladud’s pigs – in Bath

www.flickr.com    heatheronhertravels’ Bath – around Bath photoset

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

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I wrote this week about the Banksy exhibition that was held in Bristol over the summer with fans coming from far and wide to see the work of the illusive Bristol-born street artist who’s made the big time.

This photo is one of the pictures from the exhibition that stuck in my mind although I thought it was just a kitchy bit of fun. But today I had one of those Eureka moments and got the joke (at least I think I did but maybe it’s about something completely different!)

If I say ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ would you get it too? Or perhaps you got it immediately. Or perhaps you think it’s about something completely different. What do you think?

This photo is posted as part of Photo Friday hosted at Delicious Baby - head over to see all the other Friday Photos

www.flickr.com heatheronhertravels’ Banksy photoset

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Although the brief cold snap in Bristol that we had over Christmas has now passed and we’re back to the usual grey skies and drizzle, I thought you might enjoy this snowy scene.

Snow on the downs in Bristol

I took the photo on my way to work one morning (as I always walk to work, I didn’t have any transport problems like many people) On the Downs – the large open park in North Bristol – I passed this stand of trees. They’re a landmark beloved of teenagers in summer, who congregate under them to chat and have picnics, illegal barbeques and generally hang out. On this morning they were stark against the snowline, and I caught someone passing with walking poles who looked almost like a cross country skier.

What sort of weather are you having this weekend and what sort of weather are you wishing for?

This photo is posted as part of Photo Friday – hosted at Delicious Baby. Head over to Delicious Baby to see all the other Friday photos.

Other Bristol articles to enjoy

A walk around the harbourside in Bristol – Video
To Bristol cathedral for a contemplative lunch
Breakfast at the Glass Boat in Bristol

www.flickr.com heatheronhertravels’ Bristol – scenery photoset

Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

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

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A while back I wrote a short piece about the Banksy Exhibition that took place back in July and August 2009 at the Bristol City Museum. You may never have heard of Banksy (until now), but here in Bristol he’s big news as the Bristol-born street-artist who made the big time. There are still a few pieces around town of his that I pass on my way to work every day although most of them have long ago been rollered over by the Bristol City Council. If ever Banksy had a major exhibition it was in Bristol that he was going to find an appreciative audience.

When the exhibition opened, the first thing I noticed were the long lines outside the City Museum which I pass on my wasy to work. Being a Banksy fan, I made a mental note to visit as soon as the crowds had died down after the first few days. But the crowds never did die down, bearing in mind that the Museum is free and so was this exhibition. Every day they got longer and longer until the side road was blocked by the queue and had to be closed and signs were put up showing how many hours you’d have to wait.

Banksy exhibition in Bristol Museum

Banksy exhibition in Bristol Museum

What you need to know about Banksy is that he carefully cultivates his anonymity and no-one knows who he really is (except the other street artists he used to hang out with and my son who apparently goes to the same school) The fact that he might be next to you in the queue always adds a little frisson of excitement. Banksy still comes up with the occasional piece of street art but he now seems to have moved on to collectable pieces. There was definitely a thing going on with the Old Masters theme in these Turner-esqe landscapes and the pieces in the gilt frames that were blended in with the other 19th century artwork on the first floor.

Banksy exhibition in Bristol Museum

Banksy exhibition in Bristol Museum

I just love the humour that you find in Banksy’s work, casting a slightly mocking eye over the ‘serious’ art world, like this take on a Damien Hurst spotty picture that’s been rollered over, no doubt by one of those rats from Bristol City Council that are a real Banksy trademark.

Banksy take on Damien Hurst

There’s the patriotic ‘Best of British’ theme but then you realise that the little girl’s wearing a Flak Jacket and the kitchy Americana to the glory of the aerosol. Children often feature in Banksy’s street art when he uses them with irony to make a political or anti-war message.

Banksy exhibition in Bristol Museum

Banksy exhibition in Bristol Museum

I loved the exhibition when I finally visited and it was worth every minute of the wait and I even had to go around a second time to make sure I had all the pictures. It was also refreshing to be in an art exhibition where you could take as many pictures as you liked, as Banksy’s ethos is that art is for the people.

Take a look at the Banksy Website for more of his work.

Book hostels in Bristol through Hostelbookers

www.flickr.com    heatheronhertravels’ Banksy photoset

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Last week I passed a blue bike leaning against some railings outside the University in Bristol. Luckily I had my camera with me. Half of me said, “you’re late for work, come back and photograph it later”, the blogger in me said “Snap it now, or the opportunity may be gone later”.

The mysterious Blue Bike in Bristol

What was the blue bike doing there? My first thought, was it didn’t seem very road worthy that it was a variation on the ghost bikes that are left to commemorate someone who has died while riding them – read my article about the ghost bikes here.

Then I thought perhaps it was a student bike and someone had thought it was a great idea to get out the paint pot and cover it with blue paint after they’d had a few too many cheap beers in the pubs of Bristol.

Then I noticed the sign beside it that said “Do not chain bikes to these railings” and throught someone had a sense of humour and defiance against the university authorities, and found any old bike to chain there in protest.

Anyway, I took my shot and hurried on to work. When I passed back a couple of days later, the bike had gone. So the mystery remains – What stories do you make up about the strange things you see as you go about your daily lives?

Mystery revealed

Thanks to Chris Hutt from for sending me the answer to this mystery in a link to this post (It’s good to find someone in Bristol who actually reads my posts!) In this post, I learned that the sky blue bikes are part of a project by Students to tackle Social Problems – read about it here.

This photo is pasted as part of Photo Friday over at Delicious Baby - check out all the other photo Fridays here

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A smiling pumpkin all lit up, A bowl of sweets by the door, the black lipstick’s coming out – yes folks I don’t need to tell you that tomorrow it’s Halloween. I’ve been waiting all year to show you this picture of the pumpkin we made last Halloween.

Smiling pumpkin for Halloween

Not everyone in Bristol’s so keen – there are some neighbourhoods where they go to bed and turn off the lights for fear they’ll get a bag of flour thrown at the window or worse. But our road is full of families of all ages, and so my children’s friends make a special journey to trick or treat around this street.

Kids dressed up for Halloween

For the trick we ask for something – a poem, a joke, a song or just a scary mask. For the treat it’s a bowl of those fun size chocolate bars. The unwritten rule is – if you have your pumpkin outside the door or some other halloween decoration, they know they’re welcome, if not they pass you by. Normally the parents are hovering in the background, with a token black hat on. It’s all part of the neighbourhood fun.

What will you be doing at Halloween?

This photo is part of Photo Friday hosted at Delicious Baby - head over to read all the other Photo Friday posts

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Here’s a round-up of some of the other places around the web where you can read what I’ve been up to.

Blog Carnivals

Bristol Harbourside

Thanks for the mention of my video post on A walk around the Harbourside in Bristol on the Carnival of the cities hosted at Family Travel Guide. The Harbourside is where the tall ships once moored along the quayside but now it’s a centre for leisure and pleasure, and I’ll happily take you round my favourite restaurants and cafes.

Podcasts

Thanks for the mention of my first podcast on Family Travel with Hospitality Club from Mr Travel Podcast himself, Chris Christensen at the Amateur Traveler on his episode featuring the Arab Gulf states with Gary Arndt from Everything Everywhere. Keep an ear out as I’ve got a couple more podcasts coming in the next week or two.

Posts at Europe a la Carte

As always, I’ve been doing my regular Thursday post over at Europe a la Carte with some great tips and articles on destinations around Europe.

The Basilica of Euphrasius in Porec, Croatia

A visit to the coastal town of Porec in Istria, Croatia - This was the nearest town to the Plava Laguna Resort where we were based during our stay in Istria, and there’s a lovely Venetian old town to wander around and the beautiful UNESCO world heritage Basilica of Eurphrasius, renowned for it’s glowing golden mosaics.

Some favourite things to see in Riga - I visited Riga with my family a few summers ago on a holiday that combined city sightseeing and a stay by the coast in Estonia. These are my recommendations for the best of Riga as well as those given to me by Riga locals who’ve visited me in Bristol.

Books to Inspire and enhance your European travel – I recommended a couple of travel compilation series, which have titles covering many of the destinations where you might be heading, such as France, Spain, Italy and Greece. Pick up one of these books for an ideal read to put you in the mood for the place you’re visiting with travel stories and short stories set in your chosen destination.

The Dome of St Peter

Climb to Dome of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome - It’s an amazing experience to climb up inside the Dome of St Peter’s and see the gorgeous mosaics close up, then up the narrow enclosed staircase to the top for 360 degree views of Rome and the Pope’s back garden. I wouldn’t recommend it for the claustrophobic though.

Be a Religious Tourist in Rome - As a good Catholic girl I explored some ways you can feel the pilgrim’s experience and connect with the spiritual aspects of Rome, as the home of the Catholic church.

News and Resources

I was e-mailed recently about Soekershof, an amazing botanical garden full of cactuses, succulants and mazes in South Africa. I haven’t visited South Africa, but if I get there it will be on my list to visit – it’s near the town of Robertson, 2 hrs from Cape Town.

I read on Soultravelers3 about Roomerama.com, a website to rent a room or appartment for a short period in major cities like London and New York – what a great alternative to a hotel.

Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

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

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A conker hit my car today (OK, it was yesterday). I guess it must be autumn in Bristol. We have an open green space near the area I live in Bristol called the Downs – it’s the green lung of North Bristol. People play football there, run round it, have picnics in summer and there are also many Horse Chestnut trees there.

Conkers on the Downs in Bristol

Come the autumn, all the conkers (I don’t know if that’s the word you use in the US?) drop onto the ground and where they overhang the road they drop onto the passing cars too, like the one that went Bonk! on my windscreen. I knew it must be autumn!

Autumn Berries on The Downs in Bristol

My children used to love to go out and collect them and we’d make a big bowl of them on the table, shining like jewels. Then they’d go a bit shrivelled and I’d throw them out, but lovely while it lasted. Although I wouldn’t mind a bit of all-year-round-sun-shine, there is something nice about marking the seasons with the things that nature brings us. The conkers on the Downs mark the autumn for me.

This photo is posted as part of Photo Friday over at Delicious Baby – see all the other photo Friday’s here

www.flickr.com heatheronhertravels’ Flowers and Fruits photoset

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The harbouside area of Bristol is one of the great places to walk, eat and hang out, with numerous restaurants and bars and plenty of history to take in from Bristol’s maritime past. Millenium square is a great place to go in good weather, with water features and shallow pools and statues of famous Bristolians, and it’s right next to the @t Bristol hands-on Science centre which is a favourite with families.

Millenium Square in Bristol at Night

I ventured down there one evening after work to go to one of the numerous festivals that take place by the waterside, as the organisers had borrowed some of the footage from our Harbourside video and were playing it on a big screen. It’s rare for me to go down in the evening, so I hadn’t seen all the lighting that illuminates the square, it really makes it something special, don’t you think? especially as the lighting reflects in the water pools.

Seems that you find something enchanting every day in your own city if you know where to look. In your home town are there any areas like this that are particularly atmospheric or beautiful at night?

Take a look at the Bristol Harbourside video here

This photo is posted as part of >Photo Friday over at Delicious Baby - head over to see all the other photo Fridays.

Compare prices and book hotels in Bristol through Hotels Combined

Other Bristol articles to enjoy

A walk around the harbourside in Bristol – Video
Lunch at the Watershed cafe – in Bristol
A visit from Nomadic Matt

www.flickr.com   heatheronhertravels’ Bristol – harbourside photoset

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You’ll remember I wrote about how to film your travel video in Bristol’s harbourside and gave you some tips from my video making experience. Well, the video itself is finally here, thanks to the efforts of my friend and filming collaborator, Marie-Cécile Embleton.

There’s plenty to enjoy as I take you on a walk around the harbour, giving you a local’s view of the best things to visit, where to stay and my favourite places to eat and relax.

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Download A walk around the harbourside in Bristol Video [MP4]
If you enjoyed this video, check out the others in my Video archive

The harbourside has been the commercial heart of Bristol since the middle ages and the foundation of Bristol’s wealth. Once tall ships jostled for space along the quayside and sailed to India and Africa as part of the triangle trade taking British goods, spices and slaves to different parts of the world. In the last century the port was still busy with industrial activity, but after the second world war, like many ports, it went into a decline as the trade moved away. In the last ten years, however, the harbour has been redeveloped and transformed into a centre for leisure and pleasure. I’m pleased to be able to share some of my favourite things to see and do around the harbour – if you come and visit me in Bristol I’ll be happy to take you on this walk personally.

Do let me know what you think of my first attempt at being a TV travel presenter! I’ve got plenty more videos in the pipeline when I get round to the editing, so do keep an eye on my Youtube channel and subscribe if you can.

Special credits to Marie-Cécile Embleton who worked with me on the idea and did all the filming and editing of this video.

Compare prices and book hotels in Bristol through Hotels Combined

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See all my photos of the harbourside on Flickr

www.flickr.com heatheronhertravels’ Bristol – harbourside photoset

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I loved, just loved the Banksy exhibiiton at Bristol City Museum. The queues have stretched right down the street from dawn to dusk, people have been flying in from all over, but it was worth it. Let’s hope they take the exhibition somewhere else soon, so the rest of the world can enjoy. I’ll post a few more photos soon, but here are some of my faves with a travel theme.

I hate Mondays – a homage to Sir Bob

The girl with the apron, could this be the new Mona Lisa? – don’t you think her eyes follow you around the room?

Easyjet is everywhere now you know!

Was this me in my rickshaw in Berlin?

Oops, was that a waterfall?

The photographers were out in force – I feel sure you’ll see a book, postcard or poster in a shop near you soon. This was iconic stuff. More photos coming soon.

This post was part of Photo Friday hosted at Delicious Baby - check out all the other photo Fridays here.

Book hostels in Bristol through Hostelbookers

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Last night I visited the Night Glow at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta, the first time I’d been, even though I’ve lived in Bristol for nearly 20 years. Of course, I’d seen the balloons drifting over the rooftops at this time of year, being prompted to look up by the roaring of the burners above me.

One year on the final day, we took a picnic on to the green space of the Downs which overlooks the Avon Gorge and the Ashton Court park where the Fiesta is held. It’s a great vantage point for seeing the balloons drift up into the sky, framed by the gorge and the Clifton Suspension bridge. The wind blew the wind in our directions and many landed on the grass where we were sitting, including a huge Scottish bagpiper, scattering the onlookers.

The balloon glow is held on the Thursday and Saturday of the Fiesta after dark and the tethered balloons are arranged in an oval and light their burners in time to the music. It’s a bit like a ring of giant light bulbs flickering on and off in rhythm with Abba and Tom Jones. It was quite a sight and one I’d definitely go to next year, especially as the whole event is free.

Subscribe to all my videos in I-tunes
If you can’t see the video above of the Night Glow, view it on Youtube
Download Balloon Fiesta Night Glow, Bristol video [MP4]
If you enjoyed this video, check out the others in my Video archive

Next time I’ll be angling for a balloon ride over Bristol, when the balloons take off at 6am and 6pm, although not sure if I could get up for the early flight. Just so long as we don’t land on the traffic island, like I saw a balloon do that year when they all landed in the middle of our picnic.

This post is part of Photo Friday, hosted at Delicious Baby. See all the other Friday photos here.

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See my Bristol balloon photos on Flickr

www.flickr.com heatheronhertravels’ Bristol – balloons photoset

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This is a story of how two intrepid gals had some fun filming a travel video and blagued their way round the Bristol harbourside to get the shots they wanted.

I wrote about our filming adventure in my previous post on How to film your travel Video, but here’s a shot from one of the tallest office blocks in Bristol that just happens to have a fantastic view over the harbourside. My filming collaborator Marie-Cecile had heard that the view from the top was great from a friend who had also been up there filming. However, on a Saturday, what were the chances that we could get inside?

Nevertheless she twisted my arm, and as we lurked outside a chap came along and swiped his card to get in. Quick as a flash, Marie-Cecile was in the door behind him, explaining about our video and how we’d love to film from the top floor. Before we knew it, we were in the lift and going up to the 12th floor where the employee just happened to work and just happened to have come in to work on a Saturday. He was happy for us to spend some time getting the shots we wanted, while he caught up on the e-mails.

Later Marie-Cecile told me of her year working with an Italian camera crew where they found that a TV camera and tripod would magically open doors for them, even to places which were normally closed to the public or where you’d have to pay to enter. When filming it pays to hone your chat up skills but it’s amazing what the sight of a tripod and a charming smile will do!

Photo Friday is hosted by Delicious Baby - head over there to find all the other Friday Photos

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I know, I know, I have a weakness for flowers, and at this time of year they’re blooming everywhere in Bristol. And this herbaceous border wouldn’t look out of place in a National Trust garden backed by a mellow stone stately home.

But wait, this floral display’s a stone’s throw from from my home and you could wizz past it by car or bus without giving it a second glance. This border’s the work of Bristol city council parks department and it’s on the traffic roundabout. All through the year, they put on a fantastic bedding display with bulbs in the spring and flowers in the summer. Thanks for making the drive to work a little bit more flowery.

Everyday Lovely is about the things that you see in your daily life that make you smile and glad to be in Bristol when the sun’s shining. It’s hosted over at Teacher meets world where you can see some more Everyday Lovelies.

What do you see on your drive to work that makes you smile?

More Everyday Lovelies
Wild Garlic in the woods near Bristol
A carved owl down my street in Bristol
A rainbow of spring flowers in Bristol

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PS If you enjoy my blog, I’d love you to take a momement to vote for me in the Travel Mole Webawards.

In order to vote, please go to the Travel Mole site nomination page, click on the categories tab, find the travel blog category in the drop down and find Heather on her travels, then rate my site and also leave a comment if you wish.

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If you have a fantasy of wandering through a woodland glade, with a perfume in the air that is faintly floral but mostly onion, then you’d have enjoyed the wild garlic that I found blooming in the woods south of Bristol. This is my Everyday Lovely offering of something that you enjoy that is everyday or found on your doorstep, which is hosted over at the Teacher meets World Blog

I was out this bank holiday weekend for a short ramble with my husband and we ended up near Chew Valley lake where we had a later rendezvous with our son who needed a lift home. Short of time, we ended up parking the car in the small village of Compton Martin and walking up a lane that we vaguely remembered from a previous walking outing. As we walked into the woodland, we came across swathes of wild garlic in full bloom, with clouds of white which got more intense as we walked further into the wood.

Apparently the wild garlic or Allium Ursinum is a bit of a thug in the undergrowth as it tends to take over woods where the native English bluebell might otherwise grow. It’s a beloved of food foragers who pick the leaves for soups and salads, in a similar way that you might use chives or spring onions.

As we walked I tasted a few of the flowers which tasted like chives but with a slightly sweet edge and when we got home I made a salad, scattering a few over the top for an added onion bite. The flowers look very pretty too, although the onion smell is not quite what you expect in your living room. If you’d like a recipe for soup using the wild garlic you can find one here, or google to find one of the foodie sites that tell you how to use it.

If you’re a Bristol local, you can find our secret wild garlic glade in full flower in the second half of May by walking up the Coombe, opposite the Ring o’Bells pub in Compton Martin, just south of Chew Valley and Blagdon Lake. At the top of the lane a path leads you into the woodland, although I suspect that at any other time of year it would be just like any other leafy glade.

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Today I’m joining in with a new feature called Everyday Lovely that’s hosted over at my blogging friend Monna’s site Teacher meets world. The idea is to post about some small thing from your daily life that made you smile – those little details that we enjoy and add to our cup of happiness.

My contribution is a carved owl made by my neighbour Joe in his front garden. Joe a resourceful sort of guy who’s always busy with something on his house – if he’s not renovating the stonework, he’s painting the windows or laying some paving.

He told me that the beautiful silver birch in his front garden had died and had to be cut down, so he thought he’d make this owl sculpture out of the tree stump. He started high in case he made a mess of it and had to start again lower down. Luckily it turned out well and so now the owl stands gazing down the street, framed by the magnolia tree behind.

I love to see art and sculpture that’s woven into it’s environment like this. Do you have any artistic touches in your neighbourhood that you enjoy?

See the other Everyday Lovelies at Teacher Meets World

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Garden open day at Emmaus House in Bristol
A Bluebell wood at Abbots Leigh in Bristol
A rainbow of spring flowers

Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

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

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