My stories to date have almost exclusively covered those parts of Europe outside British shores, so in an attempt to redress the balance a little, I thought I’d give you a glimpse of England’s past and present, which I hope will make you consider a trip to our shores. Our flight two weeks ago took […]
By Annemieke Waite
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Also posted in England, History, Holiday Activities, Nature, Travel Writing
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Tagged Alnwick Castle, Bamburgh Castle, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Hadrian's Wall, Harry Hotspur, Holy Island, Housestead, Lindisfarne, Lindisfarne Castle, Lindisfarne Gospels, LIndisfarne Priory, Northumberland, St. Cuthbert, Vindolanda
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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, […]
By Annemieke Waite
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Also posted in Customs, Denmark, Finland, France, History, Netherlands, Traditions, 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 […]
By Annemieke Waite
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Also posted in Customs, Folklore, Netherlands, Traditions, 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 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 […]
By Annemieke Waite
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Also posted in Arctic, Backpacking, Customs, Folklore, Holiday Activities, Nature, Sweden, Trains, 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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I don’t think there is anything more exciting than a row of backpacks in the hall, all ready and set to go! It does it for me every time. There is that funny feeling in my stomach that says: yes….we’re going!!! Hurray!! We’re off said the monkey… 🙂 The first time we went on a backpacking […]
By Annemieke Waite
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Also posted in Backpacking, Cheap travel, France, Switzerland, Trains, Travel Writing
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Tagged Backpacking, Bordeaux, butterflies, coach travel, France, Futuroscope, Ile de Re, La Rochelle, packing, Paris, Poitiers, Tours, Travel, Zermatt
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Without a doubt, one of the most exciting train journeys we have taken during our backpacking holidays was the sleeper train from Tampere in Finland) to Rovaniemi, high up in the Arctic Circle. We didn’t expect much really – a sleeper train after all is just the replacement of a bed in a hostel and […]
By Annemieke Waite
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Also posted in Arctic, Backpacking, Customs, Estonia, Finland, Folklore, Holiday Activities, Latvia, Nature, Norway, Sweden, Traditions, Trains, Travel Writing
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Tagged arctic circle, bonfires, druids, Estonia, Festival of St. Hans, Finland, Herb Day, husky dogs, Jani, Jani Songs, Janis, Juhannes, Lapland, Latvia, Maypole, Midnight Sun, midsummer wreaths, Nordkapp, Norway, pagan, reindeer, Rovaniemi, Sami, Saule, sleeper train, Stonehenge, Sweden, Train Travel, wild flowers
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