Best British Holidays

Personally, when I think about holidays, I can’t help but picturing paradise. You know, sun, palm trees, sandy beaches, cocktails, secluded ocean view villas… the works. Being a realist though, I understand that for many, including myself, this is just a pipe dream, and one that isn’t happening any time soon. But who’s to say you have to splash the cash and whisk away to exotic destinations to have a good time? As a Brit, I often forget about the beauty that exists on my very own doorstep. Rather, I spend hours stressing, working up a budget and fretting over this year’s holiday destination. I mean, even places like France and Spain, which are relatively close by, can be expensive. Come to think of it, anywhere you go can be expensive. So, why not stay put? Britain may not be everyone’s holiday of choice, but it’s full of gems that I truly believe match even the best of destinations. Here is a pick of some of the best bits of Britain:

Stonehenge- Ok, the obvious one to begin with but really a must-see. This mysterious prehistoric stone circle is believed to have been constructed around 3100BC- yet nobody knows for sure exactly when, by whom or what purpose it served.

Lake District- This stunning rural area in the North-West of England is one of the most beautiful and tranquil spots in England. Stretching over miles of countryside, this is the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Here, you will also find Lake Windermere (Cumbria), the largest natural lake in the country (2 miles long, 1 mile wide and 220 feet deep).

The Giant’s Causeway- This is a World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland. It is a stunning picture. This natural structure is made up of around 40,000 basalt columns, created by a volcanic eruption and is really something to behold as the tide of the sea lash against it.

Bath- Another gem in the South West of England. Few other towns can yield such elegance, charm and fantastic architectural riches. Here you’ll find the famous Roman Baths, Circus and Royal Crescent.

York- This beautiful historic town in the North of England is another must see. It is home to York Minster, one of the country’s most impressive cathedral’s and, incidentally, the largest in Northern Europe.

Edinburgh- The Scottish capital is a cultural treat- full of galleries, museums, regular arts festivals and dominated by the impressive Edinburgh Castle. It’s also got some fantastic nightlife on offer, and is home to one of the largest New Year’s celebrations in the world, the Hogmanay

London- Finally we come to the UK’s largest city and England’s capital, London. There is so much to see and do here, the list is endless. Historic monuments, museums, parks, buzzing night life. What’s more, the city will be playing host to the 2012 Olympic Games!

So there you have it. Obviously not a complete list, I’ve only just brushed the surface when talking about what Britain has to offer. But this should be enough to get you started!

Crêpes & Paris, the perfect combination!

Mmm chocolate…we all love the odd chunk of chocolate don’t we? Well, have you ever thought about having crêpes with chocolate? How about crêpes, chocolate and the Eiffel Tower in front of you? This may seem may not seem so special to you, but for me this simple combination is one of my fondest memories of the French capital. Paris has got to be the best place to enjoy crêpes in the entire world- it’s the capital of romance, of haute cuisine, of haute culture and anything else “chic” that you could think of, but it also reserves a special place for me as THE capital of tasty chocolatey treats. With hundreds of stalls selling them across the city, you won’t find a better crêpe au nutella in the world.

Let’s start with my personal favourite, the best crêperie in town in my opinion. The crêpes at Crêperie Bretonne, (on the 11^th arrondisement, near the Bastille) are sensational. Here they are referred to as blé noir, or buckwheat flour in English and if you decide to make the trip here you’re guaranteed not to leave disappointed. The chocolate here is silky, milky and simply melts in your mouth as it oozes out of the sweet wrap.

But you don’t have to stop there. Many places offer various alternatives and combinations. You could mix nutella with strawberry. Nutella with banana (another personal favourite). Even nutella with cream. All will leave you going back for more. Even if you’re not feeling particularly in the mood for something sweet, a delicious substitute would be a savoury crêpe, the perfect option for a quick and light lunch. Some examples could include crêpes with ham, ham & cheese or ham & mushroom. The great thing about these tasty pocket-sized treats is that they’re just so convenient. On a chilly winter’s day, they’re the perfect quick snack to warm you up. And as everyone knows Paris is the city of amour, so they’re also perfect to pick up as a quick bite when on a romantic walk with the partner.

Bon appétit!

A Gem of the East

What is there to see and do in Warsaw, Poland’s capital city? To put it simply, a lot! The city has a more turbulent history than most, which is what gives it its distinct character, but also combines this with a modern urban diversity. This can be seen instantly through its skyline, a mix of modern sky scrapers and structures reminiscent of the many upheavals that the city has witnessed. Here’s of pick of Warsaw’s top attractions:

 

The Old Town: This area of Warsaw was raised to the ground in WW2, completely destroyed by the Germans; located in the heart of Old Warsaw, the structures have been impressively restored to their past glory after years of reconstruction. The area is perfect for a leisurely stroll and people watching, with many windy streets, square and cafés/bars/restaurants around every corner.

The Palace of Culture and Science- This is Poland’s highest building and was also once the highest in Europe. If you go to the top of the Palace, you’ll see staggering panoramic views of Warsaw from the observation decks.

Lazienki Park- This is one of Warsaw’s most beautiful spots. Perfect for a peaceful/ romantic stroll, you might even get lucky and catch one of the music concerts often performed here. You’ll also be able to tour the impressive Palace on Water, a luxurious palace with an expansive garden that was built by King Stanislaw during his eighteenth century rule.

The Zoo- This is always a popular choice amongst kids if you happen to be travelling yours. With over five-thousand different species of animals, lush park trails, an aquarium and a reptile house, the zoo is a dead cert to please young and old alike.

The New Town: The term is slightly misleading as this part of the city was constructed in the 13^th century. The area offers an exceptional dining and shopping experience with a distinct tendency towards Polish culture.

The Warsaw Uprising memorial: This inspirational memorial was erected in honour of the many men and women who lost their lives battling against German forces.

 

For those looking to do a bit of drinking on their trip, why not go vodka tasting and experience one of the true roots of Polish culture. Vodka is a beverage which originates in Eastern Europe. Poland is well known for its vodka and there are many of them. Distilled from grain or potatoes, Polish vodka tends to have more taste and texture than others.

Centre of the Wine World

In my lifetime I’ve been lucky enough to travel to many wonderful places across the globe. One place that particularly stands out for me is the small, yet incredibly charming French town of Beaune. Located just a few hours south-east of Paris and in the heart of the Burgundian wine country, this may not jump out to you as one’s dream destination, but I´m almost certain that if you ever have the chance to visit you’ll quickly be seduced. The fact that I spent 10 months living there probably does have something to do with the attachment I have developed with the town, however I would highly recommend visiting for anyone who happens to be in the area, especially wine-enthusiasts.

Beaune lives and breathes wine- making it, selling it, tasting it, but most of all drinking it. It has consequently become one of the best places in France for wine tasting. But Beaune has much more to offer than just wine: It is a bustling, wealthy, and charming place of pilgrimage for art lovers and gastronomes too. It is also home to one of the jewel’s of Burgundy: the magnificent Hôtel-Dieu, France’s grandest medieval charity hospital and one of the country’s most visited tourist spots.

For the typical tourist, Beaune is a half-day town. The historic town centre (with its narrow, cobbled streets and picturesque old square) is charming and a pleasant place to walk around. Clearly the Hotel-Dieu (or Hospices de Beaune) is a must-see, but doesn’t take too long to see. In contrast, there’ll never be enough to time to spend in and around the town for the food and wine lover. For this the region is like a wonderland. Almost every town in the Côte-d'Or (the “département” where Beaune is located) has a fabulous restaurant, where you can sample all the local delicacies (such as the famous “escargots”, or “snails” in English), as well as countless cellars to taste wine. Even though the wine appellations in the Côte-d'Or are geographically not far apart, the wines produced in relatively close appellations vary radically- this diversity is one of the major attractions of Burgundy wine, and is what makes it such a popular destination. You’ll find world-famous wines dotted all over the region.

Beaune makes the ideal base for exploring other small wine towns in the region. It is centrally located and well connected to other famous nearby wine towns like Montrachet, Pommard and Nuits-Saint-Georges, all just a short drive away.

Krakow - The Market Square

If ever you have the pleasure of visiting the beautiful city of Krakow, Poland’s former capital, the chances are you’ll come across the Market Square (‘Rynek Glowny’, in Polish) at some point. In fact, it is one of the largest squares in Europe and is the city’s main attraction, so you can’t really miss it. Within, you’ll find countless shops, restaurants, bars and clubs, and all the culture and history you could possibly hope to soak up.

The Market Square was initially constructed long ago in 1257, after the Mongol hordes swept through the city. At 200m squared, it immediately became the largest market place in Europe at the time. Yet the beauty of the square is that as one is taking a peaceful stroll through, it never seems too big, with the also famous Cloth Hall running through the centre and providing a perfect feeling of balance. Many important events of Polish history were realized here and the square remains one of the most energetic, vibrant and inspiring places in the country. It really is a must see for anyone visiting Poland.

At the beginning, the square was the life and soul of Krakow, providing the social and commercial heart of the city. It became an emporium of the Black Sea trade and from here a springboard to Poland’s connections with the Western World. In modern times, the square provides the perfect meeting point for Cracovians of all ages. One of the most attractive aspects of the square is that it never sleeps. There always seems to be people milling around within it no matter what the time. The phrase “Pod Adamem” (“By Adam”, in English) refers to the famous statue in the middle of the square and is often used to mean “we´ll meet by the statue”).

 
Anyone that has been here will agree that the square has a certain sense of majesty and magnificence about it. There are many grand buildings within it (the old aristocracy built their palaces here) which one can use as vantage points to view the square. And probably the best time of year to visit, as you can imagine, is during the summer months. This is when the bars and cafés dotted about the square begin setting out tables and chairs, which provides a fantastic place to relax and take in the beauties of the square- all you need to do is sit back and watch the buskers, flower sellers and horse drawn carts flow by.

Its location is also a massive plus point. Just a short walk away is the ancient Wawel Castle and Wisla River, which you can reach through the many charming, narrow streets that branch off the square itself.

A unique city

Right throughout the country, England is brimming with many wonderful towns, cities and buildings, all beautiful in their own individual way: Historic York, the peaceful regatta town of Henley, university-dominated Cambridge and the famous horse-racing Cheltenham. These are just a few examples of the gems one can find in England, yet the country is littered with many more. Though I must say that from personal experience, having travelled a fair bit around the country, no other place has been so stunningly striking than the very unique City of Bath, better described as a spa-town, where I have studied for the past 4 years.

Few other towns can yield such elegance, such charm and such fantastic architectural riches. It really cannot be compared to any other town in the country, or at least I have seen none other like it. Bath´s original construction somewhat ran in the family. John Wood (there were two, the elder and the younger), both of them, were responsible for much of the city´s impressive architecture, constructing the famous Circus and the Royal Crescent. Many beleive the two combine to form a huge question mark symbol, visible from a bird´s eye view.

Upon arrival in the town you´ll also immediately notice the obvious architectural harmony, continuous throughout the city. Particularly after Bath was pronounced a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, strict construction regulations have meant that every building must be in keeping with its surroundings. For this reason, the heritage of the city has been meticulously preserved right up to this day. There really is nowhere else like it.

Yet not only is the city bursting with architectural beauty, it is full of many other treats. The famous Roman Baths (open to visitors) are a main attraction and there are endless cute little restaurants, bars, cafés and shops to keep you busy all day. Merely taking a stroll through this peaceful, historical town will take your breath away.It really is a must-see.

Try tapas in Seville

Seville is well known for two things: The flamenco and tapas. Along with some of the nicest monuments, palaces, cathedrals and Gardens in the whole of Spain. In some areas of Spain the tapas can be very similar, for example in every cafe/restaurant it can be hard to find something different. But in Seville after passing one tapas bar after another you realise that the offer is extremely varied compared with the major cities of Barcelona and Madrid where although you can find excellent tapas it’s often at a high price. Many of the Seville tapas bars serve it free when you order a drink such as the Spanish Cruzcampo beer.

The cities beautiful architecture combined with the excellent cooking provides a stunning setting to sample the Tapas. 
One of the most popular dishes is the squid friend on a skewer along with fresh prawns and coconut.