Lavender of Provence
Nothing quite prepares you for the beauty of Provence in summer. If the sunshine and blue skies over dramatic hills, glittering beaches and endearing little village houses do not convince you, a visit to a Provence lavender field will. Lavender blooms between June and August and harvesting begins in mid July. Early July is the most reliable time to see the lavender at its best but the exact time depends on which region you visit. The Plateau de Valensole, north of Antibes and the Plateau de Sault, north-east of Avignon, are the two main areas for lavender. High above the warmer coastline the Plateau de Valensole is the largest lavender…
European cities – what not to miss
With so many people, cultures and influences all packed into a relatively small area, it comes as no surprise that Europe boasts some of the world’s most interesting cities. Here are some European cities not to miss. Europe offers a plethora of different towns and cities to explore and enjoy, so how did I choose just the few you see here? The simple answer is that I chose my favourites. We all have different priorities and preferences. These are the things I love about these cities, which are not necessarily capital cities incidentally. Maybe you will agree with my choices, maybe not. Let me know! Nice, France The perfect marriage…
Chocolates in Provence
You miss out if you go to France but fail to enjoy their chocolate shops. Such is the value placed on quality chocolate that most French towns have their own chocolatier dedicated to meeting the population’s every chocolate need. The fact that chocolates have their own dedicated shops in France says something about what you can expect to find inside. Chocolate-making is a respected art-form in France and all sorts of impressive creations can be discovered inside the country’s many little chocolate-treasure-troves. Obviously being such a big fan I made sure that I paid a visit to Joel Durand’s chocolate shop when in Saint-Remy de Provence recently and I was…
Montrueil sur mer – or is it?
Gorgeous little Montreuil-sur-mer, according to any sensible person’s expectations (one that knows some French that is), should be by the sea, but is in fact a small town inland from France’s north west coast. The town was founded in Roman times when the sea came up the Canuche estuary, hence the name, because back then it was by the sea. The water is long gone now but the rather misleading name remains. The town was famous for its cloth industry in the eleventh and twelfth centuries and its ramparts date back to the ninth century. It has an interesting history peppered with plundering raids by naughty Kings, the English King…
Brittany’s rose granite coast
Who can resist France? If you’re not sure where to go, head to the north coast of Brittany. The magnificent coastline north of Lannion is scattered with pink granite rocks giving it the name ‘the rose granite coast’. Pink Granite Coast Between Perros-Guirec and Ploumanac’h runs an easy coastal track, from which the best views of the rose coastline are seen. There is also an impressive old house near the shore called the Chateau de Cosheares (pictured above) which was built in the nineteenth century and sits perfectly amidst the pink granite rock. Can’t be too convenient for the post man. A little further along the coast is the Pors…
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
To the western end of the Gorge du Verdon in Provence and to the north of the Lac du Sainte-Croix lies the village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, which clings to a cliff and the town spills down from a church at the top. As you approach the village you would be forgiven for thinking you are stepping into a bible story as the village seems to depict a nativity scene. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Church The Chapel de Notre Dame de Beauvoir was built in the twelfth century and is a short walk up from the back of town (or a very long and slippery scrabble if there is snow and ice about), but worth…
French trains
French trains are some of the fastest and most comfortable you will ever travel in. Some routes use double-decker trains and they certainly put British trains to shame. In many countries once you have bought a ticket you can sit back and relax, but in France they have a sneaky extra step that the traveller needs to complete. Buy a ticket French stations are full of ticket machines, so as long as you recognise the words, you can buy your ticket without generating a huge queue and embarrassing yourself at the ticket office. Validate your ticket Once you have bought your ticket (billet) you need to validate it at one…
Magical Mont St Michel
There we were, driving through French villages, dodging sheep and baguette-wielding locals, when we emerged from one village and suddenly saw it, Mont St Michel. Few places match it for atmosphere. Surrounded by sea, this tiny community off the French shoreline has a very isolated feel, despite being only one kilometre offshore. The Stuff of Fairytales Mont St Michel looks what you would expect a young girl to draw if you asked for a fairytale castle straight. I’m not convinced Disney didn’t take inspiration from a quick visit actually. It stands proudly on a rocky outcrop in the middle of seemingly endless sandflats. These flats are in turn exposed and…
Delicious Brittany
Brittany, originally independent from, but now a beautiful corner of France, has over 2,800 km of stunning coastline. It is not just the coastline that will leave you awestruck though. There are some fantastic eats too. The Bretons certainly know their food. Here are some of my favourites. Crepes and Galettes Crepes are found all over France, but nowhere are they quite like those found in Brittany. In the South of Brittany crepes de froment are more traditional. These are sweet crepes made with flour, eggs, milk and melted butter. They are often served with nutella, bananas, or strawberries and Chantilly cream. Galettes de Sarrasin are traditionally from Brittany’s North…
My Dad – My Travel Hero
My parents are travellers. Not the strange hippy kind but the curious-about-the-world type. Travelling is something that always interested Dad especially. From a young age he was curious, taking part in his school exchange to Germany as a gawky teenager and later spending his gap year in Swaziland (in the 1960s when gap years were far less common than they are now). My parents met and I was born in Luxembourg, while they were both expats there. I blame them both for my nomadic streak! From a young age, my brother and I were taken abroad as our parents explored the world. Thanks to them I have fond childhood memories…
