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Borough MarketMarkets in London, United Kingdom I wish I was one of those women who shopped glamorously. Whose attention to detail spanned even the apples she chooses and the width of the cut of her Italian cured meats. Women like that carry old fashioned shopping bags that usually have a baguette sticking out of them and go shopping for food dressed in an ‘outfit’ – she’s put herself together even to do the groceries! And will finish her shopping expedition with the purchase of a bunch of flowers. Those kinds of women find their sustenance at the Borough Markets. As do people who like to eat organic or locally grown produce, foodies and wanna be foodies, and people looking to prepare a special dinner party menu – I don’t know many places in London where you can buy hand stuffed wild boar sausages or so many different varieties of cheese or olive oil and the bakery stalls are WAY above par. I’m not a big meat eater but I’ve been with people who’ve managed to ingest ostrich, deer and pheasant in the same meal – that’s quite a feat. In my own way I contributed to the record breaking feast by eating a brownie, a blondie (white chocolate brownie), a cheesecake brownie and a raspberry and dark chocolate brownie. If I could have handled the sugar over dose I could have got stuck into another couple of varieties. If I was planning a perfect dinner party I would definitely come here for ingredients; from cherry and plum tomatoes that taste like they’ve been in the ground – and there is a difference trust me – to the balsamic you’ll want to squoosh them up with, the fresh fish and shellfish, meats sold to you by the men who raised it, cheese made by French nuns, the breads and wines you’ll want to serve it with and the Monmouth coffee and handmade chocolates you should be serving at the end of the meal. You can even buy locally made ales or sparkling wines if that’s your tipple of choice. One of the best things about shopping at Borough is that you get to taste and natter. In a lot of cases it’s the producers who’re standing behind the counter, so looking mildly interested is enough to encourage them to offer you a taste and give you a run down about how it’s done and why it’s the best. And personally I enjoy that – it makes me feel like those glamorous shopping ladies. And complimentary tasters are always welcome. Before you choose your flowers from the two flower stands by the pub.
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Review by Photo by flickr user fabbio |
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Natural History MuseumMuseums in London, United Kingdom Visitors can tell the British Natural History Museum is a unique museum from the second they enter. It was one of a trio of great Victorian museums created at the end of the 19th century, and boasts 70 million items within five main collections: Botany, Entomology, Mineralogy, Palaeontology and Zoology. It has been beautifully updated for modern day educational needs, and has information bursting from every corner.
Hallways are lined with interactive light-up pictures that will delight every child. The Museum also has plenty of gallery activities that get children interested and entertained in the natural wonders of the world. The galleries are split into colour zones which coordinate with some aspect of the exhibit (i.e.: the green zone talks about the earth’s ecology).
For those a little older, exhibits of nature's most rare, unique and valuable treasures are in a new permanent gallery. Diamonds, gold and gems glitter from The Vault at the end of the room. Visiting areas with life-sized creations of some of the largest creatures on the planet are sure to awe people of all ages. Some of the changing exhibits charge for admission, but the museum is free to enter. This huge museum needs at least two days to fully explore, but if done quickly, visitors can also pop in to the Science Museum connected in the back.
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Review by Photo by flickr user srboisvert |
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The Waterside Inn, BrayRestaurant in Cotswolds, United Kingdom Modern French cuisine at The Waterside Inn is served up by staff with a mission to “use their knowledge and skills to enhance your pleasure and spoil you” (waterside-inn.co.uk), and spoiled is certainly how you will feel, sitting in the establishment of the celebrated chef Michel Roux (now run by son, Alain) next to a tranquil river. Not only a restaurant, The Waterside Inn features 11 bedrooms, “beautifully kitted out: feminine and elegant in the French manner” (telegraph.co.uk). The cooking is “unashamedly French” (waterside-inn.co.uk) with each dish delicate and “carefully structured”(guardian.co.uk). The menu changes throughout the year to incorporate the finest offering of the season with the best of Scotland (beef, scallops, langoustines, lobsters and wild salmon) essential to the menu. Guests can choose between Le Menu Exceptionnel, a 6 course affair with wine to accompany, or A la Carte.
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Review by Photo by Andrea Meyer |
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Hadrian's Wall Walking TrailWalking in North East England, United Kingdom This trail was opened in 2003 as a World Heritage Site and it follows the wall quite closely. Walkers pass through Medieval Hexham, which was once a big local market town, the ancient Roman forts of Vindolanda, Segedunum and Birdoswald. Hadrian’s Wall is a relatively easy five or six day walk with a couple of hills thrown in for the view. It’s a civilised trip with places to stay and pubs a plenty along the route, which is one of the nicest parts about walking in Britain. Obviously the weather is the most problematic part, but if you’re not camping it’s not bad walking in the drizzle because you can always sit by the fire later and it’s more like being a Roman Centurion. This is an easy walk to do, and I’ve done it several times for the history of it. It’s a good one if you’re thinking of doing your first long walking trip, or if you’re taking children because there is a lot to look at along the way.
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Review by Photo by flickr user Alun Salt |
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Isle of Skye (Eilean a Cheo)Islands in Scotland, United Kingdom Great scenery, if somewhat treeless. Great for serious walking and hill climbing. Cab boggy and lots of scree climbing up to the higher peaks. Very uninhabited in most parts. Friendly locals who still speak Gaelic as well as English. Good B and B's and reasonably priced.
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Review by Photo by flickr user conner395 |
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