I THINK it’s very cool that Scotland’s favourite son is a poet. In a land with thousands of years of history, and a place that’s produced many patriots, warrior royals and folk heroes, the locals decided in 2009 that humble wordsmith Robert Burns was the greatest Scot of all time. Burns, the son of aContinue reading “Scotland, for Auld Lang Syne …”
Category Archives: Destinations
Dipping a toe in a steaming pool …
YOU will need to adhere to a particular dress code if you want to enjoy the best view in Bath. No, you won’t need a jacket and tie or cocktail dress to get into this venue, with the apparel of a more practical style that requires guests to wear a different kind of suit. ToContinue reading “Dipping a toe in a steaming pool …”
Will and Kate’s UK …
THE English talk about Prince William and Catherine Middleton as if they were the next-door neighbours. While the young couple are known simply as Will and Kate, his grandmother is always referred to as “the Queen” and the Prince of Wales is only Charles when his subjects are being informal. People discuss details of theContinue reading “Will and Kate’s UK …”
One of the best …
→ When it comes to special places to stay in London there’s few better the The Dorchester … THE Dorchester is one of the world’s most famous hotels with this London icon, which opened beside Hyde Park in 1931 and underwent a two year-refurbished that wrapped in 1990, offering a feeling of “timeless glamour” toContinue reading “One of the best …”
Going the distance …
TODAY my journey was better than the destination. I was travelling from Edinburgh to London, with my destination an airport hotel at Heathrow conveniently placed for my early departure tomorrow morning, and it was the train ride south from Scotland that was the highlight. When I woke up in Edinburgh big flakes of snow wereContinue reading “Going the distance …”
Edinburgh …
ON my last day in Scotland, and with no plans to keep, I spent the afternoon wandering around Edinburgh between the rain storms that drifted across the city every hour or so. When the clouds cleared, and the rays of the weak winter sun were able to find the ground, I headed outside to exploreContinue reading “Edinburgh …”
Sunshine to storms …
I WAS fooled by a blue sky today. When I woke there wasn’t a cloud in the expanse of perfect blue that stretched from horizon to horizon so I grabbed my camera, piled on the warm clothes, and headed out to explore Edinburgh. I had a plan to walk from my hotel just below CaltonContinue reading “Sunshine to storms …”
Day tripping …
I DID a circuit from Edinburgh today that took me to the Trossachs, through some of the villages that Mary Queen of Scots frequented, and into the barrel room of a whisky distillery to sample a wee dram of the local drop. Scottish Blue Badge Guide Ken Hanley and I hit the road early, followingContinue reading “Day tripping …”
Really freezing …
THE next time I complain about a Melbourne winter’s day is “freezing” please remind me of this visit to Scotland. Since I arrived here last week the temperature has been stuck in the low single digits, with a couple of days where it has been literally freezing with the mercury sitting on zero. The firstContinue reading “Really freezing …”
Royal rooms …
I GOT as close to a royal bedroom today as I’m ever likely to get. After spending the morning exploring Edinburgh Castle – the impressive structure at one end of the Royal Mile in the Old Town that completely dominates the city’s picturesque skyline – I set the afternoon aside to tour the royal yachtContinue reading “Royal rooms …”
The Mackintosh house …
IF I ever get to design a house I will make sure it has two particular features. It will face the direction necessary to ensure the winter sun floods into at least one room, and it will feature a collection of rounded French doors made from small panels of curved glass. Catching the winter sunContinue reading “The Mackintosh house …”
On track in Aye …
→ A Scottish city’s racecourse is home to this hotel … THE Western House Hotel is perfectly placed we race day rolls with suites in this comfy place to stay, which rests beside the Scottish city’s racecourse, looking across the white picket fences and green turf of the track. Every other day of the weekContinue reading “On track in Aye …”
Burns’ Scotland …
I SPENT the morning in Burns country. That’s Robert, not Monty, which means I was exploring a quiet corner of Ayrshire in Scotland rather than a nuclear plant in Springfield. Robert Burns, who was born in 1759 in the hamlet of Alloway just 3km from Ayr, is not only considered to be Scotland’s favourite sonContinue reading “Burns’ Scotland …”
Fresh Ayr …
I AM sleeping in a hotel suite tonight that is, quite literally, bigger than the apartment I occupied in Brisbane for two years. The bathroom alone is larger than my bedroom in Kangaroo Point, with a free-standing bath that’s more spacious than my first car. It’s also considerably nicer than my little one-bedroom apartment inContinue reading “Fresh Ayr …”
It’s all in the name …
ROLLING pastures that look like they are covered by blankets of green velvet, ancient dry-stone walls hiding beneath layers of moss, quaint cottages with clouds of fireplace smoke wafting from terracotta chimney pots, and flocks of black-faced sheep grazing beside babbling brooks. This is the Cotswolds, a place that is just as beautiful as itsContinue reading “It’s all in the name …”
On your bike …
IT seems the theme of bicycles is continuing … this time in Oxford. Visit the Oxford website
An Oxford address …
→ Bound for Oxford? Then make reservations at the elegant address in the heart of academia … THE Macdonald Randolph Hotel – a plush five-star hotel in the heart of Oxford – is an address that seems to compliment a stay in this English university town with a location across the road from the AshmoleanContinue reading “An Oxford address …”
Hitting a high note …
I WENT to church last night. No, it’s not something I would typically do when travelling, and the last time I visited a Catholic church when a priest was all frocked up and ready to work was back in 1985 when I was in grade six and still wearing the maroon and light blue ofContinue reading “Hitting a high note …”
Bath, in winter …
PHOTOS from an afternoon wander around wintertime Bath passing by just some of the glorious buildings in this historic settlement a stone’s throw from London. Visit the Bath website … posted Friday, January 28, 2011
Sunny wandering …
The sun finally came out in Bath, after snow fell for a few minutes this morning…here are some more photos so you can see just beautiful the buildings in the historic Somerset village are. Visit the Bath website
Bath time …
BATH is just as wonderful as I imagined it would be. Seeing the historic settlement always sat very high on my travel to-do list, so it was a big moment when I drove into town two days ago and got my first glimpse of the rows of regal Bath stone buildings that meander over theContinue reading “Bath time …”
Taking the water …
TODAY I soaked in water that has been trapped underground for centuries, and in a place where the Romans did exactly the same thing more than 2000 years ago. I’m in Bath, the beautiful settlement two hours west of London, and after doing a tour of the ancient Roman baths I went next door toContinue reading “Taking the water …”
Food, glorious food …
AS the old saying goes, travel expands the mind. But there is no doubt that some trips also expand the waistline, and this is one of them. When a hotel chain or tourist authority is hosting a trip, just as the folks from VisitBritain are looking after this one, most of the meals are takenContinue reading “Food, glorious food …”
A royal affair …
SO far this tour of England has been all about the royal family. I have visited Kensington Palace where a long line of princesses lived, seen the royal family’s collection of carriages at The Royal Mews, had a tour of Eton where William and Harry were educated as well as numerous kings both foreign andContinue reading “A royal affair …”
Very fancy address …
“IT’S The Dorchester, Darling,” the voice behind me announced. For a moment, as I was standing on the front step of my London hotel trying to locate the nearest underground station on my tourist map, I thought I was checked into the same address as Ivana Trump. I casually looked around, pretending to peak atContinue reading “Very fancy address …”
The Knowledge …
I LOVE London cabs. I caught a taxi home from the theatre tonight and it was a delightful journey. That statement will mean more when I tell you I’m a girl that will go to great lengths to avoid hailing a cab when I’m home in Australia, as well as most other countries, which includeContinue reading “The Knowledge …”
On your bike …
LAST year I seemed to take a lot of photos of doors, from Argentina and Italy to Sri Lanka and the Philippines my travel snaps featured lots of doorways. I have been organising my Vietnam photos and this year the theme seems to be bicycles and you can see from the collection above that IContinue reading “On your bike …”
Eat, drink and be memorable …
During the eight days we spent in Vietnam, where the top three holiday activities were eating, drinking and shopping, there was one meal that’s worth a special mention. It was my birthday dinner on January 1 and it consisted of real Vietnamese spring rolls and lime juice at my favourite spot on the roof ofContinue reading “Eat, drink and be memorable …”
Lake Eyre …
Where … Lake Eyre in South Australia When … Monday, April 5, 2010 What … Flying over Lake Eyre in a small plane, while on an expedition through the South Australian outback with APT Tours, I snapped this picture of the flooding water creeping across the desert. Visit the Lake Eyre page on the TourismContinue reading “Lake Eyre …”
Far Near Or Here 