Alentejo
Gorging on the gastronomy of the Alentejo
We discovered on the whole Alentejo cuisine consisted of good quality products, unsophisticated meat and fish dishes, and portions that were generous to a ridiculous level. […]
Europe
Crete
The past in the present on Crete
For some reason I can’t explain, the past in Crete feels as though it walks besides us more so than in other places. An ancient marble column lying amidst the rocks on a beach is a reminder of a great civilization […]
Alentejo
The marvel that is Marvao
Marvao, considered one of Portugal’s prettiest towns, lay virtually on our doorstep, around 10km and a 15 minute drive away. Yet after four weeks of living with it as a neighbour we knew we really ought to visit, we hadn’t done so. […]
Bavaria
10 reasons to visit Berchtesgaden in Bavaria
Berchtesgaden’s attraction as a destination is thanks to a series of ingredients, some are wowsers, others are snippet sized. These are ten which would have us returning in a jiffy. […]
Corsica
Cheese beignets in northern Corsica
It was clear things weren’t going to end well at the Osteria a Stalla Sischesse in Sisco, northern Corsica. Dinner had started with a hearty and filling thick soup which was more stew than soup. […]
The Canary Islands
The death of the travel forum
If a writer gets it very wrong about the Canaries, how can I trust them when it comes to other destinations? The answer is I can’t. […]
Alentejo
Life in the Slow Lane in Alentejo, Portugal
After dark, Marvao’s golden lights shimmer like a jewelled crown, the only light in the valley save for the moonlight that throws the landscape into blue shadows… […]
Europe
Eagles and gourmet food, 24 hours in Cáceres
The drive from Alentejo through seemingly endless Extremadura plains to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cáceres wasn’t a classic one, apart from the eagles. […]
Europe
7 Seven Canary Islands, 7 classic walking routes
if I had to recommend one circular route on each of the seven main Canary Islands these are the ones I’d choose. […]
Dish of the day
Dish of the day, wild boar sausage in Freiburg
Game dishes in the Black Forest go together like sausage and mash. In this case wild boar sausage with mash potato, plus bacon, gravy, a hill of red cabbage, and, possibly to foster the illusion there’s a healthy element to all this, grapes, pear and cranberries. […]
Europe
Eating around the world in Lisbon’s Mouraria district
The Cantina was tiny, dark, infectiously lively and our first proper taste of the life which makes Mouraria a seductive place to stay […]
Europe
The changing route to the river in Porto
The route from uptown Porto via Rua das Flores is a prime example. Last time we were in Porto we felt as though we’d strayed from the path when we stood on its quiet cobbles… […]
Alentejo
The magical lure of tree-lined avenues
In an enchanted forest there are pixie doors in tree trunks; sorcerer’s incantations can be heard in the breeze rustling through leaves, and spindly branches reach out to tap you mischievously on the back as you pass by. […]
Alentejo
A Serendipitous Arrival into Galegos
“Excuse me, can you tell me where we can get petrol please?”
“Espanha”.
It’s almost 4pm on a Saturday, we were supposed to be in Galegos an hour ago; we have no petrol, no idea where we are, and the nearest gas station is in Spain… […]
Calvi
March or die to the Citadel in Calvi on Corsica
Calvi, tucked neatly into a crescent-shaped bay on Corsica’s north west coast, seems an appropriate base for the French Foreign Legion. […]