heather on her travels
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- Member since
- 21st November 2008
Heather's blog is about travelling around the world and in her imagination. Sometimes she wanders around hers home town of Bristol and shares the interesting things she finds. But when the skies are grey she escapes to far off places to collect beautiful objects and bask in the sunshine.
heather on her travels's activity
- June 2010
heather on her travels reviewed The Colosseum in Rome, Italy
There are times when you really need a Gelato and this was one of them. After our hot and crowded visit to the Colisseum and Forum we headed towards the river. On the map I spotted the Island in the Tiber and I remembered from Shelley’s Gelato Tour…"
heather on her travels reviewed Nuoro in Sardinia, Italy
Underneath it’s unassuming exterior, Nuoro has apparently been a hotbed of cultural and artistic activity in the last century, with writers, poets and scultors working in the area. If you walk a few minutes up the hill from the main street, Corso G…"
heather on her travels reviewed Porto Zoro beach in Ionian Islands, Greece
This is a smaller beach with easy road access near Vassilikos but I like the fact that it is not too developed, with just a couple of beach bars. The large rocks at one end are great for swimming and snorkeling around."
heather on her travels reviewed Dafni beach in Ionian Islands, Greece
The steep and winding dirt road down to Dafni beach is not for the faint-hearted and personally I’d not risk it on a moped. Because of the difficult access and the fact that it is also protected for the turtles, this is likely to be the least crowd…"
heather on her travels reviewed Gerakas Beach in Ionian Islands, Greece
At the south-east tip of the island, this beach is part of the Marine park of Zakynthos and is known for the Carretta Carretta turtles that nest there. No building is allowed above the beach and sun-loungers are kept well away from the nesting sites. If …"
heather on her travels reviewed The Venetian Fort at Bohali in Ionian Islands, Greece
Although I visit the Greek island of Zakynthos each year, last summer was the first time that I managed to take a look inside the old Venetian Fort or Kastro on top of the hill at Bohali and overlooking Zante town. I’ve often sat in one of the terr…"
- April 2010
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Seafood and beer at Cervejaria Trinidade in Lisbon
This is a story about a fast food meal, with no golden arches in sight at the Cervejaria Trinidade in Lisbon. We were taking a last Sunday morning wander around the streets of Lisbon, climbing the hill up to the Chiado district where we had spent the even"
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Window shopping for coral in Sardinia
When on holiday I spend idle hours window shopping which I could never afford at home. I admire the handicrafts in shops designed to tempt the relaxed holiday-maker into parting with their money. Here on the coast of Sardinia there are many jewellery shop"
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Anyone for roast guinea pig? - in Peru
Depending on your point of view you may find the Peruvian delicacy of roast guinea pig as a horrid way of treating our squeaking furry friends or just another local speciality to try. My friend Joanne decided to keep an open mind and give it a try on her"
heather on her travels reviewed Kensington Palace in London, United Kingdom
Last weekend I was in London to meet up with an old friend, and we decided to take a look around Kensington Palace, just off Kensingon High Street and on the edge of Kensington Gardens. Kensington Palace has been a home to members of the Royal …"
heather on her travels reviewed Lowry Favourites Exhibition at the Lowry Centre in Manchester, United Kingdom
If you take the new Metro-line tram from central Manchester out to the Salford Quays, you’ll find a regenerated waterway with smart apartment and office blocks standing where once there were factories and back-to-back housing. This was where the ar…"
heather on her travels reviewed Gola di Gorroppu in Sardinia, Italy
To make a change from the local beach at Cala Gonone where I’m on holiday, we headed inland today, where the terrain quickly becomes rocky and mountainous. West of the town of Dorgali we followed signs for Gorroppu and were soon on an uneven dirt t…"
heather on her travels wrote a blog post We were silhouetted! at Rovinj in Istria, Croatia
We’d just climbed up through the narrow cobbled streets of Rovinj, to the cathedral square with a great view of the sea at the top of the hill. As we rested on the wall among the other tourists, the silhouette man appeared from no-where. With his sharp li"
heather on her travels reviewed St Peters Basilica in Rome, Italy
The bells were calling to us as we hurried along to early morning mass at St Peter’s. We moved through security and then up the steps, passing one priest after another whose walk, by contrast, was slow and measured. As we crowded around the g…"
heather on her travels reviewed Sidon in Sidon, Lebanon
As you arrive in town it looks a little like many a European seaside town, with parking spaces along the seafront and plastic tables with sun umbrellas where you could sit and take a drink. The public beach was completely deserted although I imagine that…"
heather on her travels reviewed Chateau Ksara, Bekaa Valley in Lebanon
You may be surprised to learn that Lebanon is a source of world class wines - of course grapes have been grown and made into wine here for centuries, but it was mainly for local consumption. It was probably the influence of the French, who had a protecto…"
heather on her travels reviewed Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, Germany
On our rickshaw tour of the sights of Berlin we briefly took in a stop at Checkpoint Charlie. The Berlin half-marathon was in full swing and it was a little incongruous to see reconstructed guardhouse with actors in uniform waiting to have their phograph…"
- February 2010
heather on her travels wrote a blog post The fading charms of the Palmyra hotel in Baalbek - Lebanon
Have you ever been to the hotel that time forgot?"
- January 2010
heather on her travels wrote a blog post On the hunt for the Istrian truffle - in Croatia
As well as being a land of olive groves and medieval hill-top towns, the region of Istria in Croatia is home to the highly prized white truffle."
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Visiting the hill-towns of Grožnjan and Motovun in Istria, Croatia
On out holiday this summer in Istria, the northen most province of Croatia, I particularly enjoyed getting away from the coast and into the rural interior."
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Chiesa Santa Maria in Trastevere
There must be so many lovely churches in Rome, but Chiesa Santa Maria is close to my idea of perfection."
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Inspired by the Anne Frank Museum in Berlin
Our visit to the Anne Frank Museum in Berlin came as a happy chance."
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Having my Pastéis and eating it in Lisbon - Portugal
They’re crisp, creamy, custardy and perfumed with vanilla and cinnamon – the Pastel de Nata are the signature pastry of Lisbon."
heather on her travels wrote a blog post An authentic Portuguese meal at Casa do Alentejo in Lisbon
If you want to try authentic regional Portuguese cuisine just like your Portuguese mãe might make, in a slightly crumbling tiled Moorish mansion, then I highly recommend Casa do Alentejo in Lisbon."
heather on her travels wrote a blog post A rainy day at the Monastery of Jerónimos - in Lisbon
"I’d highly recommend spending half a day at least of your visit to Lisbon exploring the Monastery of Jerónimos and the other things of interest in the neighbourhood of Belém."
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Drinking Feuerzangenbowle to warm the spirits in Munich
On my trip to Munich I ate and drank my way through the best that the Christmas Markets could offer, including an interesting tipple called Feuerzangenbowle."
heather on her travels wrote a blog post The chilly welcome at Michaelkirche in Berg am Laim
My mother had been especially recommended to see the Michaelkirche or church of St Michael in Berg am Laim which is reputed to be one of the most beautiful Rococco churches in Southern Germany."
heather on her travels reviewed Motovun in Croatia
When you reach this old hill-top town, you have two choices for parking, either park for free at the bottom of the hill, or pay a small amount to park higher up at the edge of the pedestrianised area. You walk up through a stone gateway with carved Venet…"
heather on her travels reviewed Grožnjan in Croatia
After the second world war most of the Italian Inhabitants abandoned this town but in the 1960s it regained somethng of it’s previous success and the town was designated as a ’City of Artists’. Now, you arrive and park on…"
heather on her travels reviewed Chiesa Santa Maria in Trastevere in Rome, Italy
There must be so many lovely churches in Rome, but Chiesa Santa Maria is close to my idea of perfection. It was one of the first churches in which masses were openly celebrated in Rome and there has been a church here since 340 AD although the present ch…"
heather on her travels reviewed Anne Frank Museum in Berlin, Germany
Our visit to the Anne Frank Museum in Berlin came as a happy chance, when you stumble across something interesting and decide to follow your instincts. We had been planning to make an early start to beat the queues at the Reichstag Dome, but walking past…"
heather on her travels wrote a blog post The latest Dirndl fashions from Bavaria - in Munich
With the party season upon us, I thought you might like to have a taste of the Dirndl fashions that the well-dressed Bavarian lady is wearing this season."
- December 2009
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Step back in time at the Dennis Severs’ house in London
As I arrived at the Dennis Severs’ house in the Shoreditch neighbourhood of London, there was not much to distinguish it from the others in this Georgian Terrace, surrounded by modern office blocks. One of the guardians of the house was waiting just outsi"
heather on her travels wrote a blog post A seafood feast at Limski Kanal - in Istria, Croatia
On our recent visit to Istria, the northernmost province of Croatia we tore ourselves away from the sunlounger to explore the coastline at Limski Kanal (also known as Lim Fjord or Limski Channel). This deep sea channel cuts inland with steeply sloping woo"
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Cycling by the sea in Istria - in Croatia
When we visited Istria in Croatia this summer, the joys of lying by the pool were wearing abit thin after the first day (for me anyway) so we decided to hire some bikes."
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Mezze memories in Lebanon
I love the Mezze style of meal where you can try a little of what you fancy instead of wishing you had ordered your friend’s meal."
heather on her travels wrote a blog post The Cedars of Lebanon - Tannourine Cedars Reserve
If Lebanon is on your travel radar as a place to visit, you may not think of bringing your walking boots. Yet my video about the day I spent hiking in the Tannourine Cedar Forest Reserve will show you that this is one of the highlights of a visit to Leban"
- November 2009
heather on her travels wrote a blog post A Fairy Tale of camping in mid-Wales
There was once a princess who lived in Bristol with her travelling mother and father and her stay-at-home brothers, who longed for adventure with her friends."
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Gone fishing for crabs on the Ile de Houat - in Brittany, France
The Gulf of Morbihan in Brittany, where I’ve been for a couple of days is a wonderful holiday destination, with many small islands off the coast that you can visit by ferry."
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Enjoy a Greek wine-tasting at Oenolpi winery on Zakynthos
On the Greek Island of Zakynthos (Zante), I was intrigued to find that there are some serious wine makers, who are producing excellent quality wines"
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Blue glass reflections at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial church in Berlin
The Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church must easily be the most photogenic church in Berlin..."
- September 2009
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Through the snowline on Mount Lebanon
On my recent trip to Lebanon, my friend and I went on a girl’s mini-road trip for 3 days, touring the north of Lebanon."
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Saving the Caretta Caretta turtles
An interview with Yannis Vardakastanis from the Earth Sea and Sky centre on Zakynthos."
heather on her travels wrote a blog post On the hunt for the Istrian truffle - in Croatia
As well as being a land of olive groves and medieval hill-top towns, the region of Istria in Croatia is home to the highly prized white truffle."
- August 2009
heather on her travels reviewed Gerakas Beach in Ionian Islands, Greece
"When I was at Gerakas beach recently I visited the Earth Sea and Sky centre dedicated to preserving the wildlife and the turtles on Zakynthos. I met the founder Yannis Vardakastanis who has won conservation awards for his work there to preserve the turtl…"
- June 2009
heather on her travels reviewed St Peters Basilica in Rome, Italy
"I visited the dome of St Peter’s one afternoon and had to queue for about half an hour to take the lift to the bottom of the dome. From there you go through a door and up a ramp into the base of the dome where you are close to the wonderful mosaics and c…"
- May 2009
heather on her travels wrote a blog post A Roman Secret
If you walk up the hill from the Circus Maximus along the Via di Santa Sabina, you’ll arrive at a pleasant square where a surprise awaits you."
heather on her travels wrote a blog post The Fallas Museum, Valencia
The Fallas festival must be one of the best known in Spain and it’s unique to Valencia."
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Eat on the street in Berlin
In Berlin there is street-food to be found at all the major tourist hot-spots."
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Coca tea or Cappuccino - in Peru
When you fly in to a high altitude city like Quito or Cuzco, the first thing you should stock up on is the Coca tea."
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Savoyard food specialities from the French Alps
It's simple mountain fare, with various combinations of melted cheese, charcuterie and potatoes, guaranteed to pack in the calories..."
- April 2009
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Sea caves and a boat trip - in Sardinia
One of the highlights of any stay in Cala Gonone is to take a boat trip in the Gulf of Orosei to visit the many beaches that can only be reached from the sea."
heather on her travels wrote a blog post How to eat well in Sardinia
I know that there are plenty of food-loving (or should I say greedy) folk out there, as any time I’ve written something on food I get lots of Yum Yum comments."
heather on her travels wrote a blog post The Museum of Costume in Nuoro
There is nothing to see in Nuoro which is always a relief, wrote DH Lawrence when he visited this inland Sardinian town in 1921."
heather on her travels wrote a blog post The view from the dome of St Peter’s - in Rome
I visited the dome of St Peter’s one afternoon with my mother - we had to queue for about half an hour to pay €7 to take the lift to the bottom of the dome."
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Our 36 hours in Berlin
Fresh back from Berlin I’m reflecting on how best to plan a 3 day trip like ours, as things never quite go to plan."
- January 2009
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Cycling in Valencia
To get our bearings in the city we hired bikes in the old town at 'Do you bike', tucked down a side street in Barrio Carmen..."
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Campo de’Fiori in Rome
I do love a good market and although we weren’t cooking for ourselves, we couldn’t resist paying the daily market at Campo de’Fiori a visit."
- October 2008
heather on her travels wrote a blog post My top three beaches on Zakynthos
If you're looking for beautiful beaches on the Greek island of Zakynthos, you'll be spoilt for choice, but I'm only going to share with you my personal top three..."
- September 2008
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Dennis Severs’ House
Step back in time at the Dennis Severs’ house in London."
- August 2008
heather on her travels wrote a blog post Bandits and Murals at Orgosolo in Sardinia
This summer we visited Sardinia for our family holiday and one of the highlights was seeing the murals in the mountain village of Orgosolo. This village had a history of blood feuds and banditry..."
- June 2007
heather on her travels reviewed Euphrasian Basilica in Croatia
If you’re a coinesseur of historic monuments and beautiful churches, you’ll enjoy the Unesco World Heritage site of the Basilica of Euphrasius that we visited this summer while staying near Poreč in the province of Istria in Croatia. Yo…"
