An African Escape

In the last year I've tried to capture the essence of holidays and travelling by exploring different areas of London and taking my travel camera along to see the city as a tourist. 

For a more foreign escape, I've been going to Africa with free live safaris on youtube with WildLife. They are at sunrise and sunset. The safaris are shown daily. It's pretty cool, but for the pandemic, I don't think this experience would be available. 

I've never been on an African safari. I've explored the Pantanal in Brazil and these WildEarth safaris remind me of that trip and the excitement of seeing animals, watching them and discovering a whole other world. 

They have previous live safaris available on their youtube channel too. If you like wild animals, it's worth taking a look. The live safaris are more exciting for me because you're seeing it with others and there's no pausing or fast forwarding. It feels more real and it's a great African escape for travel addicts who need a fix. 

For more information on WildEarth, you can also go to:

• You can watch daily livestreams of safaris including elephants, lions and hippos
• https://wildearth.tv/
  

A French Escape

I've been listening to French music lately. It makes a great change from the everyday. 

I discovered the French singer and actress, Louane, from the film La Famille Belier. The film is a comedy about a sixteen year old girl who interprets for her deaf family. Her newly discovered talent for singing may mean leaving home and moving away. It was quirky and amusing. 

Though my holidays to France might be over for now, music and films make a lovely little French escape possible. 

London's Borough Market - Happy Foodie Heaven

Borough market is where all foodies take other foodies. The aroma, excitement, anticipation and mouthwatering sights of all sorts of treats make this one of the premiere places for indulgence and pleasure.

Dulwich Artist Open House Festival

At the Dulwich artist open house festival, you meet London artists while exploring their work, studios and homes. 

The Cronut at Dominique Ansel Bakery London

I've finally tasted the world famous Cronut, the creation of Chef Dominique Ansel who was also named the World’s Best Pastry Chef of 2017. The croissant-donut hybrid was launched in May 2013, went viral and was deemed one of the best inventions of the year by TIME Magazine.

Each month, there is one flavour of the Cronut. For January, the flavor is Date & Butterscotch, so the pastry is filled with a homemade date ganache and creamy butterscotch ganache. Check out the DAB website for the flavour of the month and other menu items. 

The Dominique Ansel Bakery London opened in September 2016. The closest tube station is Victoria. So it's convenient if you're taking a coach trip from Victoria Coach station, seeing Hamilton, going to Gatwick from Victoria station or visiting Buckingham Palace.

I'd read there were massive queues and the cronut sells out. On a cold wintery Sunday at 4pm, they still had cronuts and we waited less than 10 minutes. 

What's my verdict on the cronut? It would probably be more mind blowing in the morning just after coming out of the oven. The butterscotch ganache oozed out each time I cut into it. The ganache was lovely and light. The pastry itself didn't really wow me though. 

Would I go back to the bakery again? Sure! I'd love to try the watermelon self serve in the summer. Keep in mind however, it is a pretty pricey outing going to DAB. You pay more to eat-in so get it takeaway if you want to save a bit. 

DAB began in NYC. There are bakeries in London, LA and Tokyo.  When Ansel is in London, he's 'exploring the breadth of restaurants the city has to offer,' he says in an interview with Business Insider. You know ansel's cronut is worthy of trying because there's copycats and variations, but whether they surpass the original remains to be seen. 

Forever young - adults play at London's Lego Shop

In London's Leicester Square, the Lego shop is two stories of fun which brings out the kid in us. There are some awesome London iconic scenes in Lego 3D glory. They are perfect for the Instagram addicted.

There are cities to see and Lego people to create. This is one example that makes me believe that online shopping hasn't won the war on real life in store experiences.

Yes it's crazy busy with kids and school holidays will be a bit gnarly.

Head to the Lego store experience website.

This gives you an idea of the sorts of shenanigans you can get up to - the mosaic maker (bookings needed 5 weeks in advance!) and the digital box where you scan a lego box set to see the model in 3D.

For Star Wars fans, currently there is a massive range available in store with prices from £8.99 to a whopping £649.99! There's some models in store, so you might want to check them out.

For those who can't head out of town to LEGOLAND, then this will be a decent Lego fix.

Lego has come a long way and continues to be one of those enduring toys that adults and kids love. We want to build, create and play. It is a world of imagination and possibilities. It is the real and tangible.

And when you're done with the Lego shop, don't forget M&M world across the road. You can now personalise your M&Ms with photoes! I wrote about M&M world back in 2013. Check it out here.

Enjoy the Lego shop and happy playing!

St John Bread and Wine - the best bacon sandwich in London

Omg you have to try the best bacon sandwich in London. If you are all about health and fitness, do not read on. You do not want to be tempted. You do not want to know about this.

I must confess, I never eat bacon sandwiches and I rarely eat bacon. If I'm going to brunch, it would not be in my top three choices, in fact , it might be on my list of bottom three.

Apparently, bacon sandwiches are a thing. And this particular one, from St John Bread and Wine in Spitalfields sells out. They are talked and written about. They probably are all over Instagram and Facebook.

Why is it so special? Well the bread is really great. What do you expect when it is baked fresh? The bacon rocks as it's not fatty or oily and is rather tasty. The sauce is a homemade ketchup. It's so simple and proves you don't need fancy, unusual and pretty. A simple sandwich can be absolutely delicious.

The other thing you should know is that the donuts at St John are amazing. These sell out too.

This is their website: 

• https://stjohnrestaurant.com

Who knew that waking up early and going out for breakfast could be so much fun?! If you've not tried the best bacon  sandwich in London, make plans to go now and if you've had it, you probably deserve a treat and should go get another one - bon appetit!

Eating Holidays - Turin and Genoa in Italy

Does it get any more perfect than an eating holiday in Italy? In Turin and Genoa, the sun is shining, the wine is flowing and you have the charm of a small city while you eat and eat and eat. 

Genoa
Trofie pesto is  the specialty in this region. I tried it at Trattoria di Santiago which is down the street  from Piazza de Ferrari. I was actually attempting to go to Trattoria Maria which I had heard from a local has very typical Genovese food, both reasonably priced and very good. Sadly it was closed and only open at certain times.

One of the highlights of my holiday so far has been Trattoria Rosmarino's prawn canelloni with cinnamon. I was so blown away that I am determined  to recreate it when I go home. Bookings are essential and they turned away numerous people whilst I was there. They have English menus on tablets and the staff are multilingual. It is just off Piazza de Ferrari. It has a great atmosphere with great attention to detail, as well as being very affordable.

It's not just about pizza and pasta in Genoa. Focaccia is the food of the day. You must try the focaccia with cheese from Recco, which is a 'gastronomic experience'. Focaccia shops are like the McDonalds of Genoa, but infinitesimally better tasting. Focacceria Genovese in Piazza Fossatello in the historical part of the city sells it by weight and is highly rated on Tripadvisor.

The most famous restaurant in Genoa is Zefferino's. Popes, Sinatra and Celine Dion are just a few of their famous customers. Unlike most restaurants in Italy, it is open from 12pm to 12am so it might make life a bit easier if you've not adopted the late dinner schedule (8pm in Turin and 7.30 in Genoa). It's expensive but then you might want to try it.

Fresh fish is very popular too. I tried a local white fish which was tasty but full of bones. Such is the delight with fish!

Turin
Around Piazza Vittorio Veneto, Pizzeria da Michele and Porto di Savona are both very good and have lovely views of the Piazza.

I enjoyed the €30 tasting menu at Porto di Savona - vitello tonnato (veal in tuna mayonnaise), agnolotti (meat ravioli which is a specialty in Turin), braised beef and bonet (a traditional dessert which is like a chocolate creme caramel).

Rabbit and beef cheeks are also very popular in Turin. Hams and meat are more prevalent in Turin.

I had amazing pizza. Italian tomatoes are so full of flavour and it goes so well with the cheese and thin crust base.

You can save a little by not having the bread which is charged at €2 and brought to your table at the beginning of the meal. Wine by the glass is around €3. Overall eating in Italy is very decently priced.

Dessert
Of course there is gelato. Did you know that you can now get it in violet?! Creamy and divine. The sun shines and the gelato beckons.

Chocolate, biscuits and cakes galore. Bars and cafes sell them in abundance and they are sweet treats.

Italy is a foodlover's paradise. Enjoy it. Both Genoa and Turin are exemplary culinary experiences that will make your holiday that much more memorable.

Prawn Canelloni with Cinnamon

Wild boar pasta

Duck pasta

London's Waterways - the Thames River and the canals

London's Thames River and canals make me smile. From seeing a ship called The Tolkien to watching a bird taking a bath.

The river is 346 km and features throughout english literature. The clay deposits suggest it may be as old as 50 to 60 million years old!

Taking a walk along the southbank, crossing over one of London's magnificent bridges, you can't help but feel proud of one of London's greatest treasures.

You shouldn't swim in the river, though some people do and then need rescuing. The river is not just home to sea life but raw sewage finds its way in there too.

Keep an eye out when you're by the river. You never know what you might see. In 2006, there was a whale which sadly died. Its remains went to the natural history museum for research.

This spring, take some time to discover London's Thames River and canals.

London Book Fair 2014 - Indie writers, social media and words of wisdom for aspriing writers

On Day 1 of the London Book Fair 2014, Indie Writers talked about making millions, publishers defended the longevity of print content and book sellers talked about reduced shelf space.

The exhibitor stands were busy. All the big publishing houses - Harper Collins, Penguin and Random House looked glossy.

Non-fiction, educational and international publishers were all there. Earl's Court was brimming with networking, deal making and seminars.



According to the indie writers, word counts are coming down as reader's attention spans become shorter. They crow about all the money they are making, that they don't want or need the traditional publishing route. They call themselves CEOs and are proud they retain control of book covers and pricing.

Self-published NY Times best seller, Bella Andre, talked about making business decisions. She's an authority on the book market, but also a woman who struggles with the challenges of balancing marketing and writing.

Social media was lauded for creating communities, helping marketing campaigns and a critical tool for all writers.

There was lots of wisdom sharing. Helen Dunmore who has successfully written poetry, children's and young adult fiction, talked about the trappings of researching. "It's easier to be a writer who researches than a writer who does a first draft," she says.

Usborne Deputy Fiction Director Annie Finnis says for children's books, they are looking for good writing and a set of characters the audience will identify with.

Deputy Editor of the Word Factory, Paul McVeigh's final words to aspiring writers is to write like you'll never write again, as if you'll die tomorrow. It could happen, he adds.

On that note, if you're a writer, get writing. If you're interested in the book industry, go to the London Book Fair 2014 which is from 8 April to 10 April this year.

The Hidden Talent in London's Local Music Scene

Tucked away behind busy Limehouse's Commercial Rd is a local London music spot in Cable Street Studios. I wasn't expecting much from the Jamboree Collective (www.jamboreevenue.co.uk/), but to my surprise thought this is the sort of place I could happily spend a Friday night.

I've gone to over a hundred music events in London and around the world. New Orleans is still one of my favourite places for brilliant music. Rio for Carnivale has the most amazing vibe. Word on the street these days though, is that London's local music scene is pretty awesome.

So people tell me about Dalston which is a hub of activity. I hear that for years Adele performed in her locals in south London. A friend mentioned this place called Jamboree and we thought we'd take a look.

What impressed me was the intimate surroundings and it was a change from the typical bars, pubs and clubs which litter the street. It was a great place to go for a drink and a bit of decent music. 

One artist in particular caught my attention. That night Josienne Clark shone briefly in her floral print dress. She was part of an ensemble country group. This girl, her voice was magic. 

In fact, the BBC think so too. According to her website, she is BBC Radio 2 Folk Award 2014 Nominees ‐ Best Newcomer (Horizon) and Best Duo.

Josienne Clarke is the sort of singer you stop and listen to. When you hear her singing live, you simply want more. Check her out. she has tge potential to be a star one day. Her website is - http://josienneclarke.co.uk/. 

Incidentally, there's all sorts of history and shenanigans at Cable Street Studios, where Jamboree resides. Timeout has written all about it. If you are interested,  take a look at - Time Out - Limehouse's Cable Street

London's local music scene is a change from the pubs, bars and clubs littered on every street. They're off the beaten track and they're usually by word of mouth. Whether you live in London or here on holiday, it's worth a night out in a local music spot.  Who knows what you might discover.

For other live London gigs, take a look at

• The Man That Makes Women Go Hmmm - Michael Buble O2 London 10 concerts 

• London loves the Black Eyed Peas – Hyde Park 

• Kings of Leon - Hyde Park 

Amsterdam - a European city to revisit and love

I didn't expect to love Amsterdam, afterall I had been there before and my memory from more than 10 years ago was a seedy cold place that was like most other European cities. However, visiting in the middle of Winter doesn't really allow you to explore and appreciate Amsterdam in quite the same way that a few relaxing days in Spring does.

The canals are lovely and it has a very different feel to Venice, though you do derive the same delight in getting lost as you cross bridge after bridge.

The street art above shop fronts and on market sheds was fascinating. Bright splashes of paint compliment the charm of the vibrant city. .

One boat owner decided to construct his own art with bottles. The Dutch aren't just clog wearing, cheese eating bicycle riders. They have flair, treasure their gardens and enjoy simply sitting on a bench outside their apartment to watch the world go by.

The flower market is extraordinary and full of colour. You can pick up trinkets, seeds, bulbs or just go to marvel at all the different flowers that you can buy there.

Several stalls are set up and I confess that I couldn't help but spend a small fortune on bulbs. I was inspired. Sadly only a handful of my bulbs actually rewarded me with plants, and I am yet to see any flowers. It is possibly my own ineptitude as a gardener. It was fun to bring home a small piece of Amsterdam in any case.

Rembrandt's house was worth a visit. You step back in time to see how the artist and people of his time lived. I spent several hours wandering through the house.

My top tips for Amsterdam:

• do not go in Winter! It's cold, grey and miserable.
• Visit the flower market and Rembrandt's house. I previously had been to Anne Frank's house and that is definitely a must see, though you should plan ahead as it can be very crowded.
• Spend a few hours wandering around the canals. Get lost in Amsterdam and enjoy it.
• I didn't visit any sex shows, the red light district or try any of the other recreational legal activities that Amsterdam is also well known for. If you do, just remember to be careful.
• I stayed near the new museum and spent some time walking around a beautiful park, It was a very safe area and I even passed my a hotel that Justin Bieber was allegedly staying in. (There were teenage girls screaming outside a building at 10pm at night.)

Amsterdam is a remarkable city. It has a character that you can easily be charmed by so that you may be tempted to revisit it again.

London's Covent Garden - a top ten hotspot

London's Covent Garden - is it a tourist trap or the place to be?

London v Paris - battle of the cultural meccas

London is a cultural magnet with opportunities and scope for artists and creative types. I met a Parisian photographer today. Imagine my surprise when she said 'London is much better than Paris.'

M&M World London - The Magic of Chocolate

The guys at M&M World London bring fun and magic to London's Leicester Sqaure. All aboard the M&M bus to go on the M&M road to discover your M&M mood.

Winter in London

It's not all grey skies and miserable cold in London in the Winter. Throw on a gorgeous scarf and hat. Don't forget super warm socks. Stop and explore all the beauty and wonder that London has to offer.

Amazing Peru - Go Back in Time to the Magic of the Incas

 

Peru is  one of the world's most amazing holiday destinations. Memorable, magical and an absolute must.

Explore the natural beauty and history of Lake Titicaca, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. The journey itself will blow you away and the altitude, well that's another high that you will not be able to imagine! You'll walk, you'll climb, you'll sit and wonder why you are doing it, but at the end of each day, you'll be so glad that you have had the experience of a life time.



Cusco, Sacred Valley & Lake Titicaca

Nothing can prepare you for the experience-

the camaraderie of fellow travellers, the enthusiasm of the locals, the endurance, perseverance and character you will discover within yourself.

So much to see, so much unexpected pleasure and surprises. One traveller had gone for days crawling through blizzards to see Machu Picchu. Many endured hours of rain and fog whilst exploring the site and were rewarded by afternoon sunshine.

See the amazing crafts - alpaca and wood carvings inspired by the culture and history.

 

Check out the flowers - so many varieties and from all over the world. And there is corn galore and cooked so well. Cancha - omg! Lima was gastronomical, the beach and sunset simply stunning.

I love London - even in the winter (see Winter in London), but Peru was a wonderful adventure which I want to hold on to. I've even started trying to create the flavours of Peru (Peruvian inspired Corn Pancake with Guacamole and Chili Chocolate). Peru, it's a journey for young and old. Machu Picchu is truly one of the greatest wonders of the world, and Peru has so much to offer.

 

London Olympics July 2012

The tube will drive you insane, the crowds, the tourists, road closures and so much more - but the sight of the Olympic Rings above Tower Bridge does bring on a smile and a bit of pride. May be, just may be it will be great. London knows how to throw a great a party, the atmosphere will be brilliant and it will be sure to create many wonderful memories.

If you're in London, don't let the rain get you down. There's lots on, as always. Buy yourself an awesome umbrella - because you'll be using it loads - and get out there.

Here's a few things you might want to add to your to do list:

• The music festivals are all on. Wellies are an absolute must.
• The Royal Academy of Arts has a French impressionism exhibition 
• See a play or musical. Danny Devito is incredibly funny in the Sunshine Boys.
• Take a day trip and find a really good pub to shelter in.

You may also be interested in:

Why London is Better than New York

Battle of the London Tourist Attractions

London Royal Wedding

How to be frugal in London

Chocaholics Heaven - M&M world London

Heston's Dinner

Kings of Leon - Hyde Park

Chocaholics Heaven - M&M world London

 

M&M world London in Leicester Square is four floors chocaholic heaven. It's fun for kids and adults too, and free unless you end up spending a small fortune shopping.

Kings of Leon - Hyde Park June 2011

The music festivals are a real treat in London. And tonight there was relief from the rain, that has plagued virtually every day of the last 3 weeks. The sun was out to welcome Kings of Leon to Hyde Park. It started at 8.30pm. Three encore songs ended the show at around 10.15pm. They ended with Use Somebody and had a small fireworks show. So get your cameras ready.

Food and drinks - There's KFC, McD and Pret near tube exit 1 of Marble Arch tube. In the venue they have donut stands, beer (of course) and plenty of other great concert food but you'll have to queue. At the entrance (closest to exit 3 of Marble Arch tube), they are searching bags to make people throw out water bottles and alcohol. Inside they remove caps from any bottles of soft drink / water you buy.

Memorabilia - The memorabilia stand has a few decent t-shirts for around £20. The credit card machine wasn't working, so bring cash if you want anything in case you do want to grab anything.

What to Wear? - It was cold so bring woolen socks, scarves, a wind proof coat and you might want to dance if you want to keep warm. Ponchos / raincoats might be handy too given the unpredictable and rainy  summer that we are having. Wellies are also a great investment (I heard Primark sold out) and if not, definitely flats. If it's been raining, the grass is super muddy and slippery. There's lots of discarded food on the ground and beer being spilt so be prepared to get your shoes and clothes dirty. Some guys unzipping and going to the toilet - totally uncool. 

Some girls were braving the cold in shorts and summer dresses. Lots of butt cracks, guys - buy a belt!  Mostly, people were casual, comfortable and dressing fairly warm.

There were a few big screens too so if you didn't want to be close to the stage, you could chill out, dance, have a picnic, sit and make a quick n easy get away for the tube at the end of the night. 

See also the Black Eyed Peas in Hyde Park. This time I was up near the stage and it was crazy! July 2011 Black Eyed Peas Hyde Park

Read How to be frugal - eating out and seeing the  real London, Battle of the London Tourist Attractions or Why London is Better than New York if you are visiting London.

See photoes and read - Special Prince William and Kate Middleton London Royal Wedding

Want to be healthy? Read Forget your personal trainer, try zumba, Top 5 tips to get stared on weight loss or Losing my detox virginity.

You may also be interested in Why we should all worry about the economy and what it mean for you

Enjoy Hyde Park if you are heading there to check out some of this summer's cool artists. Kings of Leon were brilliant and I'm sure that there will be much more fun to be had.