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Photo Tour of Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
I stayed in Leuven for one night during my Flanders is a Festival blog trip in August 2012. The weather wasn’t very kind during my visit with a cloudy, damp evening and more of the same the following morning. Baker sculpture in Leuven Grote Market Leuven Door of Stadhuis (Town Hall) in Leuven Stadhuis in [...]Show More Summary
Walking around Limehouse Basin in London
I’ve passed Limehouse Basin in east London many times when riding on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and thought it looked an attractive spot for a walk. However, I’d never gotten around to doing it. Limehouse Basin I’d planned to finally explore Limehouse Basin when staying at the Travelodge London Excel, a few stops away [...]Show More Summary
My Social Media Diet
After a deluge of invites to join travel related Google+ groups today, I’ve decided to go on a social media diet for one month, starting from tomorrow until the 8th January 2013. Although Twitter is where I spend (waste?) most of my time, it is fun and a pleasant distraction from writing blog posts. I’m [...]Show More Summary
Sailing to the Cies Island in Galicia, Spain
A couple of years ago Inka wrote a post on Europe a la Carte about her trip to the Playa de Rodas on the Cies Islands in Galicia, north western Spain. which has been called one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. I was delighted that a visit to the islands was on [...]Show More Summary
What I think about Zwarte Piet
Ordinarily, I try to stay as far away from the Great Zwarte Piet Debate as possible. I figure if I keep my nose out of it and others follow suit, it'll eventually disappear.
How naive is that?!?
The debate - nay, argument - only seems...Show More Summary
How I’m Using Tumblr for Europe a la Carte
Tumblr is a cross between a micro-blogging and a social networking service. It’s free and fairly easy to use, even for a non-techie like me. I recently revived Europe a la Carte on Tumblr as a showcase for photos of the best places to visit and stay in Europe. I have lots of beautiful photos [...]Show More Summary
Photo Tour of Beamish Museum in North East England
We visited the Beamish Museum near Newcastle upon Tyne in November 2012. I was given complimentary tickets for the attraction. During a very wet couple of days, we were fortunate to have a dry afternoon for our visit. The unmade car park was full of puddles; we were wearing wellies, just as well. I could [...]Show More Summary
Photo Tour of Mechelen, Flanders, Belgium
I spent one night in Mechelen during my Flanders is a Festival blog trip in August 2012. I’d heard about Mechelen in a Europe a la Carte post written by Andy Hayes. There’s a lot of beautiful architecture, but one of its charms is that it’s not quite so full of visitors as some of [...]Show More Summary
Review of The Met Hotel Leeds
I stayed at the 4 star Met Hotel Leeds in September 2012. I booked through the otel.com Facebook page which offered me a 10% discount, bringing the price for a single room for three nights including breakfast to £121. The other advantage of the Met was its proxmity to the venue for the Write on [...]Show More Summary
Visiting the British Museum, London
I prefer to pay fairly short visits to museums and focus on one theme. It’s just too overwhelming to spend hours in museums. On my most recent trip to London, this strategy was my only option at the British Museum. My train arrived at Kings Cross mid afternoon. By the time I checked into my [...]Show More Summary
Review of Grand Cafe Lamot Mechelen
I dined at the Grand Cafe Lamot in Mechelen, on a complimentary basis, during my Flanders is a Festival blog trip in August 2012. The second floor restaurant is flooded with light, as the glass walls were put in during the conversion from a brewery. There are great views over the canal. View from Grand [...]Show More Summary
Review of Holiday Inn Express Perth
We stayed at Holiday Inn Express Perth for 2 nights in October 2012 on our Autumn colours break in Perthshire. It cost £115 for the two nights on Expedia. However Topcashback were offering 12% cashback on Expedia hotel bookings, so the cost after cashback was around £100. The good thing about Holiday Inn Express is [...]Show More Summary
Walking Along Spittal Prom on a sunny November Morning
Walking Along Spittal Prom on a sunny November Morning Where to visit in Europe from the Europe a la Carte Travel Blog. Copyrighted content published on Europe a la Carte. Walking Along Spittal Prom on a sunny November Morning Where to visit in Europe from the Europe a la Carte Travel Blog. Copyrighted content published on Europe a la Carte.
Review of DoubleTree by Hilton Leeds
I thought that the DoubleTree by Hilton Leeds would be a great hotel, as I’d eaten there a couple of years ago when it was the City Inn Leeds. It’s in a characterful location on Granary Wharf, a ten minute walk from Leeds railway station. The lowest price I could find for a Friday/Saturday stay in [...]Show More Summary
Visiting the Design Museum Ghent
I had a couple of hours allocated to visit some Ghent attractions the morning before I had to pick up my luggage and head for my next overnight stop in Leuven during my Flanders is a Festival blog trip in August 2012. However, I loved the Design Museum Ghent so much, that I spent all [...]Show More Summary
The View from the Shard over London
The View from the Shard is due to open to the public in February 2013. I had a preview during a press trip in early November 2012. I was very aware of the Shard dominating the London skyline during my visit to the UK capital in August 2012, so was keen to see what the [...]Show More Summary
Review of Lombardia Antwerp
I had lunch at Lombardia Antwerp in August 2012 using a 15 Euro voucher given to me by Visit Flanders. It’s a very colourful vegetarian restaurant. Although there was outdoor seating, I elected to sit inside in the shade. Between the tables looking more like small desks and collage style decoration, the interior made me [...]Show More Summary
Leave some love for Clogs and Tulips
Been rather lonely here on the blog, hasn't it? I guess an almost-eleven-month-old, a dog, a career change, a presidential election, and, well, just life in general will do that to you.
It's my sincere hope to get on the blog more, though I can't make any promises in regards to regularity. Show More Summary
Walking Along Vigo Prom at Dusk and Dawn
One of the most enjoyable things to do in Vigo, in Galicia in north western Spain, is to walk along the prom. My hotel, the AC Palacio Universal, was located just opposite the prom. I went out for a walk just before dusk, on the evening of my arrival in Vigo. View of Vigo prom [...]Show More Summary
Review of Gilt London
I had lunch at Gilt London in August 2012, using a Groupon voucher which was priced at £21 for two courses and a glass of wine for each of two people. The restuarant is located close to Tower Hill Underground station. Groupon had givn me credit to choose and try out some of their deals. [...]Show More Summary
