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Category: Europe

Conwy Castle Wales

Conwy Wales: A Medieval Town To Explore

Posted on October 29, 2020October 29, 2020

Conwy, Wales  Located at the top of Wales on the edge of St. George’s Channel is Conwy, a walled market and fishing town with roots dating to the Roman Empire. Formidable stone walls with passageways and lookout towers encircle the medieval city on three land sides allowing an unobstructed view of the channel branching off…

Canal du Midi cruise: Explore Southern France 3 The Canal du Midi, a silky pale green liquid ribbon that slowly meanders connecting the Mediterranean port city of Sète to Toulouse is one of the most notable and oldest inland waterways of Europe still in use. The lofty dream of engineer Pierre-Paul Riquet to create a direct passage between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean bypassing the Strait of Gibraltar enabling farmers and producers of wheat, wine, wools, silks, and salt a way to export their goods for trade.

Canal du Midi cruise: Explore Southern France

Posted on November 28, 2018October 8, 2019

The Canal du Midi, a silky pale green liquid ribbon that slowly meanders connecting the Mediterranean port city of Sète to Toulouse is one of the most notable and oldest inland waterways of Europe still in use. The lofty dream of engineer Pierre-Paul Riquet to create a direct passage between the Mediterranean Sea and the…

Canal du Midi Guide: A Must Read For Cruising 4 Trebes is a charming town with several quaint restaurants located directly on the canal for waterfront dining. Trebes is an ideal spot for fresh Mediterranean seafood. A must do activity in Trebes for food lovers is to take a cooking class at Cooking by the Canal du Midi. The classes, taught in English, show how to recreate the diverse and flavorful dishes of France easily.Carcassonne, dating to the Neolithic period, is home to the famous Gallo-Roman UNESCO World Heritage Site La Cité – the world’s most substantial walled medieval fortress. The picturesque castle perched on top of a hill is built with its two outer walls in a concentric design with 53 towers to help protect the castle during times of siege. The castle still maintains a drawbridge over a waterless moat leading to the central keep. Carcassonne is also a modern city with many shops, cafés, and restaurants within walking distance of the port.Castelnaudary, the main port of the Canal du Midi and the birthplace of Cassoulet - a hearty stew of duck confit, sausage, and the haricot bean (a large white bean specific to the area). Learn the secrets of creating authentic Cassoulet here.

Canal du Midi Guide: A Must Read For Cruising

Posted on November 27, 2018October 1, 2019

  The Canal du Midi guide helps plan a bucket list vacation for empty nesters wanting to enjoy the French countryside, sipping wine and eating artisan cheese at a relaxed, unhurried pace, away from crowds. This cruising the Canal du Midi guide will help you plan your bucket list vacation.

Cooking on the Canal du Midi: Learn the delectable art of French Cuisine 5 Cooking by the Canal du Midi, which offers hands-on cooking classes, is an entertaining way to learn about and create timelessly classic French cuisine with modern ease. Located in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of Southern France, owners David and Heather teach the classes two to three times a week in English. The classes cover a range of culinary topics from basic knife skills to modifying recipes to suit a person’s busy lifestyle or dietary restrictions with a focus on using local, seasonal ingredients - regardless of your location.

Cooking on the Canal du Midi: Learn the delectable art of French Cuisine

Posted on October 29, 2018October 9, 2019

Cooking by the Canal du Midi, which offers hands-on cooking classes, is an entertaining way to learn about and create timelessly classic French cuisine with modern ease. Located in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of Southern France, owners David and Heather teach the classes two to three times a week in English. The classes cover a range…

Pisa, leaning tower, Italy, Travel

Pisa ~ An Authentic Discovery

Posted on June 12, 2017January 2, 2019

  Finding the real Pisa When we vacation, we love to get off the beaten path and

Middleham Castle - England Video 6 Middleham Castle in Wensleydale  in North Yorkshire was a worthwhile stop in England. We had a great time exploring the castle, which is now in ruins. We had fun imagining the dinner parties, guests, and life in general living in a castle.

Middleham Castle – England Video

Posted on May 10, 2016August 8, 2016

Middleham Castle Middleham Castle in Wensleydale  in North Yorkshire was a worthwhile stop in England. We had a great time exploring the castle, which is now in ruins. We had fun imagining the dinner parties, guests, and life in general living in a castle. King Richard III spent many childhood summers at the castle where he trained for…

burial chamber, mound, wales, mystery, neolithic, stone circle

Burial Chamber Shrouded in Mystery

Posted on April 13, 2016January 2, 2019

Bryn Celli Ddu Burial Chamber Sometimes, I am a bit old-fashioned when it comes to travel. I will get a paper map of the location that I am visiting and pour over it for hours looking for places of interest – ruins, historic homes, cemeteries, prehistoric locations, castles, you get the drift. That was how…

The Botanist - where steampunk meets botanical magic 7 One brief headline caught my eye, The Botanist – an eclectic dining experience steeped in charm and style. There are so many ‘wine bars’ and ‘brewers’ that this caught my eye. The name was just enough to give a little intrigue and interest without giving away what it was all about. It was so steampunkish!I was not disappointed! The atmosphere was easy, casual and laid-back. When I walked through the lobby I got the feeling that I had stepped back in time and had reemerged in a garden sanctuary.  The interior was decorated with wood-accents that had a weathered-gray finish to them. There were botanical pictures on the walls that identified the different parts of flowers along with garden yard tools. Hanging from the ceiling was a magnificent display of steampunk art in the form of a three-wheeled bicycle that had glider-style wings attached to the sides and an umbrella secured in the center in a vertical position with a whirligig propeller on top of it. The bicycle also was equipped with a motor. The exterior of the restaurant was decorated in wrought iron panels with vines growing over them.The bar area was quite impressive with an expansive front bar that had ample room for the botanical mix-masters to work their magic with herbal infused liquor and spirits. The back bar consisted of a massive shelving system that contained a sizeable assortment of liqueurs infused with berries, herbs, and fruits in addition to a fabulous selection of craft beers and ales. The bartenders were dressed in the steampunk fashion of simple neutral colored clothes and suspenders on their pants.

The Botanist – where steampunk meets botanical magic

Posted on January 18, 2016August 8, 2016

Steampunk infused with botanical magic Do you ever read those advertising magazines that are spread across the desk in your hotel room? I have to confess – Sometimes, maybe, but usually I just brush them aside to make room for all of the travel books, casual books, magazines, and electronics that I brought with me….

pub food, recipe, foodie, europe, travel, empty nestopia, traveling donna

Old time comfort pub food

Posted on October 21, 2015August 22, 2016

Be Comforted The UK is known for their warm, hearty and flavorful foods. Pub recipes have been handed down for generations. They are a mixture of delightfully flavorful vegetables such as carrots, turnips, rutabagas, and potatoes. Meats such as lamb, venison, chicken, and veal are frequently used for hearty sustenance. Pubs are the place sample this Country’s vast and…

PUbs

Pubs of Great Britain

Posted on October 5, 2015January 2, 2019

Ode To The Magical Pub Pubs are transporters into the mysterious past. Each pub has its own distinct feeling, charm  and character that greets its guests. From the ancient carved wooden door that has been

london, market, cold cereal, food, restaraunt, england, foodie, eclectic, unique

Treasure Hunting

Posted on August 5, 2015August 19, 2016

I love to hunt for treasure, all kinds of treasure -big and small, new and old. It is the hunt for that singularly unique item to fill the vacant spot on the wall, or that

haunted, haunting, edinburg, scotland, ghost, ghost picture, paranormal

GHOST TOUR

Posted on July 23, 2015January 2, 2019

We like to ghost, by that I mean we like to go to haunted places. We like to try to capture them on our cameras. Sometimes we

The things you will see on the streets of London

Posted on July 16, 2015October 26, 2016

The streets of London are very distinct in the curious and particular sights that you will encounter as you meander from one alley or cobble-stoned street to the next. There is such a vibrancy of diversity in both people and architectural structures that there is no shortage of interesting things that will catch your eye!…

England The Botanist Steampunk bartenders

England: Quick stop for nibbles and tippies          

Posted on June 16, 2015February 27, 2019

England is incredible with the amount of diversity in people, adventures, food, and cocktails you find in unlikely places. We have done so much and been so many places!! I have so many stories to tell from exploring alleys to sheep herding at a B&B to hanging out at pubs with our sons! Right now we…

York

YORK, ENGLAND

Posted on June 14, 2015January 2, 2019

Well, we made it to England! The plane ride was so very long! For the most part none of us were able to sleep, except of course, Ian. During the 10 or so hour plane ride I

dover, castle, blue orb, haunted, england, haunted england, haunted dover

The Ghost That Followed Us

Posted on April 13, 2015October 17, 2019

Now, I am not a big believer in the ghost, goblins, supernatural and such. I think that sometimes, people make up a fair amount to make a good story. But I will say, after this trip, it

boy surprised look, driving in England

Driving in England: A Hilarious and Memorable Experience

Posted on April 13, 2015September 30, 2019

Driving can be a challenge in a foreign country – especially if they drive on a different side of the road you are used to. The first time that we went to England we were so excited to be going to a different country! It was so thrilling to think of all the new experiences…

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