French Food France. Just saying the word to most people brings up images of snails, frog’s legs, cheese, croissants and baguettes eaten by men wearing black-and-white striped shirts and berets sporting curly moustaches. Of course we can’t forget the beauty and history of Paris and Versailles, the picturesque vineyards of Champagne and Burgundy, the clifftop villages in The Lot or … Read More
Housesitting; a new way to travel?
I travelled around Europe for over 7 months this last year. And, understandably, many people asked: How I can afford to travel for so long? AND How I managed to stay on top of the study requirements for my Masters while enjoying my travel? There are several ways I’ve been able to afford such extensive, lengthy travel. One of which is Housesitting. … Read More
Beautiful Beaune
A Day in Beautiful Beaune The city of Beaune is situated in the mid-east of France, roughly halfway between Geneva and Paris. It is one of the two most famous cities in Burgundy, the other being Dijon. Unlike Dijon however, Beaune is smaller and has a wonderful ‘village feel’ about it. Much of the city’s tourism centres around Burgundy’s wine industry, its World Heritage acknowledgement … Read More
Monet’s House and Garden in Autumn
Monet’s House and Garden in Autumn Giverny, France The French painter Claude Monet, most famous for his Impressionist style of painting, lived from 1840-1926. Claude Monet ~1899 Painting; “Woman in White, in the Garden” In 1883 Monet moved to Giverny, a small village in Normandy in the north of France where he and his … Read More
San Sebastian in Winter
San Sebastian in Winter Means Constant Rain… San Sebastian is very much a tourism-oriented city, with its sandy beaches (both surf beach and a sheltered bay), history (it is the centre of the ancient Basque region and language), pintxos (tapas-style bites served on the bars) and fine dining (as a city San Sebastian has the most Michelin Stars per … Read More
The Ouche Valley
Country Living in the Ouche Valley, Burgundy I spent 3 blissful weeks housesitting in the small town of Bligny-sur-Ouche in Le Val D’Ouche (Ouche Valley) in Burgundy in October 2016. I was without a car but certainly didn’t feel isolated. I spent most of my days exploring Bligny and neighbouring villages by foot or bike, hiking in the expansive countryside and … Read More
A Day in Dijon
A Day in Dijon The city of Dijon is situated in the mid-east of France, roughly halfway between Geneva and Paris. It is one of the two most famous cities in Burgundy, the other being Beaune. In my opinion, any city where you can find traditional Maille Mustard on pump (ie. like a beer tap/pump) is somewhere definitely worth a visit. I spent a … Read More
Grape Picking and Stomping in Burgundy
Pinot Noir Vendange (grape picking) and Pigeage (grape stomping) 2016 Domaine Frederic Mazeau, Burgundy Burgundy (Bourgogne) in France is world-renowned for its wines. Wine has been produced in the region for over 2000 years. Its Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) was awarded in 1936 and describes the regions or climats that produce Grand Crus wines, Premier Crus wines, Villages wines and … Read More
The Best of Cyprus
In the far east of the Mediterranean Sea, surrounded by Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt, you’ll find the fascinating island of Cyprus. Cyprus has a rather interesting history. Previously part of the Ottoman Empire, the English colonised Cyprus in 1925 when the Empire fell. Cyprus remained a Crown Colony until its independence in 1960. In 1974 Turkey invaded the North side … Read More
8 Foods but Only 1 Day in Parma?
Parma, Italy, is known as the food capital of Italy. If you ask an Italian, this therefore means it is the food capital of Europe. Parma is right in the middle of the region of Reggio Emilia Romagna north of Tuscany and Umbria. The region is famous for Prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiano Reggiano, Balsamic vinegar of Modena but there is … Read More