When planning a family holiday, I tend to rely heavily on recommendations from people I know well and who have personally inspired me to visit a certain place or country – people who know me and my family well, and who understand what things will appeal to us. I have been fortunate: I have a loyal band […]
The first herring of the season, freshly caught, arrived yesterday afternoon in the Dutch fishing port of Scheveningen. If you’re not from the Netherlands this little fact may not mean much to you, but to many Dutch people it means everything. Herring, or more specifically the eating of herring, is almost an institution in Holland, […]
Posted in Customs, Denmark, Finland, France, History, Netherlands, Traditions, travel tips, Travel Writing
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Tagged Fishing, Flag Day Scheveningen, Haring, Holland, Raw Herring, Scheveningen, Vlaggetjesdag
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Tired of all the Royal Wedding planning in the UK? Fancy a Royal Party with a difference? If so, then read on… 🙂 In neighbouring the Netherlands preparations are in full swing for something completely different. It is the annual celebration on the 30th of April, when the Dutch celebrate Koninginnedag, (‘Queen’s Day’). Having grown […]
Posted in Customs, Folklore, Netherlands, Traditions, travel tips, Travel Writing
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Tagged Amsterdam, Family Travel, Johan Willem Friso, Koekhappen, Koninginnedag, Koninginnenacht, Netherlands, Queen Beatrix, Queen's Day
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I recently read somewhere that if a place is worth visiting, you should be able to list at least ten things you can do while you are there. Hmmm…. Interesting thought. Let’s give it a go. Let’s assume you’re planning your first ever trip to Croatia. You’ve bought your plane tickets, your kids are excited […]
January 28, 2011 – 2:20 pm
Yesterday was national Holocaust Memorial Day in the UK, the day when we take time to remember all those who have died during the Holocaust and in armed conflict around the world since then. It is a day that always makes me reflect on the things I have learned, seen and experienced throughout my life but […]
Posted in Estonia, History, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Travel Writing
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Tagged Estonia, Family Travel, History, Holocaust, Kids Travel, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Travel Planning
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January 25, 2011 – 11:28 am
If you had a snowy Christmas this year, you may think (or even wish) that winter is over and done with. You might well be right of course, especially if you stay in the UK. On the other hand, if , like me, you love the snow and if you and the kids are still […]
Posted in Arctic, Backpacking, Customs, Folklore, Holiday Activities, Nature, Sweden, Trains, travel tips, Travel Writing
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Tagged Ajtte Museum, Arctic, arctic circle, Aurora Borealis, Backpacking, Family Travel, husky dogs, Husky Farms, Ice Hotel, Jokkmokk, Jokkmokk Sami Market, Kids Travel, Northern Lights, Sami, Sami Winter Market, Sweden, Train Travel, Travel Planning, Travel Writing
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December 19, 2010 – 5:10 pm
After 21 years of living in Bristol, this is the first year we have a serious cold snap leading up to the festive season and a real possibility of a white Christmas. As I am writing this, I can only glimpse out of my attic window if I squint enough to sneak-peek through the snow […]
Posted in Arctic, Austria, Carol Singing, Christmas, Customs, Finland, Folklore, Norway, Sweden, Traditions, Travel Writing
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Tagged Carol Singing, Carols, Christmas, Gruber, Heilige Nacht, Julbock, Julenissen, Koledy, Minced Pies, Nativity, Oplatek, Rovaniemi, Santa claus, Silent Night, Snow, Stille Nacht, Turku, Wigelia
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November 24, 2010 – 10:45 pm
I have to admit it: I don’t much like beaches. The thought of sand sticking to my skin is not very appealing, and I really dislike not knowing what is underneath my feet when I walk into the sea… Of course none of this makes any sense to my kids, who love nothing better than […]
Posted in Backpacking, Croatia, Folklore, Food, France, Ireland, Music, Nature, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Traditions, Trains, Travel Writing, United Kingdom
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Tagged bagpipes, Beaches, Brittany, Cornwall, Croatia, Dubrovnik, Fjords, Food, France, Ile de Re, Ireland, Korcula, La Flotte, Mljet, Mousehole, Music, Netherlands, Osijek, Portugal, Rijeka, Scotland, Spain, Split, Traditions, Train Travel, Trogir, Vis, Zadar
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November 1, 2010 – 5:46 pm
I wonder if you have packed away the pumpkin yet and cleared all those cob-webs from your ceiling that decorated that all-time great Halloween Party… Or did you try hard to ignore this autumn festival, thinking it is an Americanism that shouldn’t be encouraged? I have to own up right here and now that we […]
Posted in Cooking, Customs, England, Estonia, Folklore, Food, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Slovakia, Spain, Traditions, Travel Writing
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Tagged All Saints' Day, All Souls' Day, Guising, Halloween, Hallowmas, Ireland, Pao-por-Deus, Pumpkin Soup, Pumpkins, Samhain, Scotland, St. Martin, St. Martin's Day, Trick or Treat
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September 9, 2010 – 4:04 pm
There are many things I love about travelling: meeting new people, exploring different cultures, and of course the journey itself. However, as an enthusiastic cook and someone passionate about good food, I also really enjoy having the opportunity to try new, local dishes and if I’m really lucky, I might even get told how to […]
Posted in Backpacking, Cheap travel, Cooking, Food, France, Holiday Activities, Travel Writing
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Tagged Austria, Backpacking, Boulangerie, Carrot Cake, Catherine de Medici, Cheese Fondue, Cooking, Cucina, Cuisine, Estonia, Estonia Garlic Bread, Family Travel, Finland, Fleur de Sel, France, French Cuisine, French Food Markets, Ile de Re, Kids Travel, La Flotte, Lefse Bread, Lingonberry Sauce, Moules and Frites, Norway, Paludiers, Pension Edelweiss Zermatt, Pierogi, Poland, Reindeer Stew, Sea Salts, Sweden, Swedish Meatballs, Switzerland, Teens Travel, Train Travel, Travel Writing, Viennese Pastries
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