Sand dunes in East Sussex

The only place you will find sand dunes in East Sussex is along the south coast in Camber Sands .. known for it's miles of sandy beaches and used for countless photo shoots and filming.  I have done my share of fashion shoots down there but not for a few years so when there was an invitation to a beach party I was happy to have a different reason to revisit!  Our friends own a property right on the beach and it is available for rent year round so even they have to book well in advance to use it! They were lucky they got a good week of warmth and sunshine, but on the day of the party torrential rain was forecast so in between the sunshine and clouds, we were treated to a good old thunder and lightning storm to go with the spit roast pig and birthday cake!

Camber is just 3 miles east of the medieval town of Rye. "Rye was once surrounded on three sides by the sea and its maritime heritage dates back to Norman times. To defend it against frequent attacks from the French, Rye became an ‘antient town’ of the powerful Cinque Ports Confederation."  We stayed at The George in Rye hotel .. located right in the centre of town.  It's a relatively small hotel and boasts that it is the most luxurious in Rye.  It was really lovely but the downside was being woken by squawking seagulls at 3am!  Rye is full of quaint little shops and there's plenty to see and do in the area. It's under 2 hours drive away from London making it very doable even for a day trip!

It's always nice to get away for a weekend but if you fancy a longer stay down there you could always check the availability of the beach house .. it would be a gorgeous winter break too if you like to be by the sea no matter what the weather.

 

Travel inspiration

My friend Francesca has a blog call 'Running Girl' which is a nice little mix of running, food and travel.  She and her husband are upping sticks and moving to Dubai in the Middle East.  It's always exciting to learn more about living in another country other than the one you grew up in. I should know, I've done it!

I would love to have her guest blog for me once she gets settled and I have a sneaky suspicion that I will be frequenting that area in the not too distant future too .. for an entirely different reason but it will be a fascinating part of the world to see and experience.

Have a look at her blog http://runninggirlblog.com .. hopefully it will inspire you in many different ways! 

Finding a taste of summer in Crete

Al Fresco by the sea

The largest of the Greek Islands, Crete, is my new 'must go again' place to visit and it really was a welcome escape from the unseasonally cool damp shores of England.  I hadn't been to Greece for a number of years so it was lovely to go back and be reminded how warm and friendly the people are. The food was fabulously fresh and surprisingly cheap given the financial troubles that have plagued the country in the last couple of years.

Macaris Suites and Spa

We flew Easyjet from Gatwick to Heraklion and then transferred from there to Rethymnon, an old 16th century Venetian town which was about an hour's drive away. We stayed just outside in the foothills at the Macaris Suites and Spa. It was a perfect spot, peaceful and quiet and just 10 minutes walk from the centre of town. It was a nice time of year to go .. a week after the half term school holidays but not yet at peak season. The weather too was also my idea of perfection.  Sunny and warm (around 28C max 18C min) but not as hot as it would definitely be in high summer! 

The spa

The spa at the hotel is special, a beautiful welcoming indoor plunge pool and jacuzzi is what you see from the other side of the glass facade. Once inside you notice the calm and serene atmosphere and there are many treatments available. The hammam is a gorgeous mosaic room perfect for a cleanse after a workout at the gym upstairs.

Most of our time was spent lazing around the pool as well as little jaunts into the beautiful old town which has lovely restaurants and shops. We also took an excursion to the far south west side of the island to visit the small island of Elafonisi. It is a protected nature reserve and to access it you have to walk or swim the short distance through the shallow turquoise blue water. The tour was a three hour trip each way (with a stop for refreshments) but so worth it! We spent four hours at the beach making it a long but very enjoyable day. Our guide was exceptionally good and had a vast knowledge of the whole of Crete and especially this region.

Elefonisi

As we approached the first thing you notice is how unspoiled it is.  There are no resorts or permanent structures (yet!) although there is a kiosk selling drinks and light snacks. There are also toilets and showers but virtually nothing else.  You can rent sun loungers under umbrellas for 7 Euros per pair but there is absolutely nothing of the kind on Elefonisi itself and never will be. We waded over to the island (a good workout for the legs) and were stunned by the beauty of it. The waters are myriad blues ranging from the lightest turquoise to indigo and the sand ivory with pink tinges caused by the coral reef nearby. As you walk further down the beach black rocks emerge from the shallows and the larger grains of sand are black so blend in with the beach to give an unusual hue. Be aware though in high season we were informed up to 10,000 people visit per day!!

There is so much more to Crete and I want to go back and explore again, taking in the magnificent gorges, architecture and beaches on other parts of the island. 

Four seasons in one week

Mother Nature has been cruelly teasing us again .. with summer supposedly just around the corner we are treated to the odd beautiful sunny day where we are lulled into a false sense of security then she whips it away again by throwing the wind, rain, hailstones and cold at us!  Oh well, there's not a lot we can do about it except to either grin and bear it or hop on a plane to take us to places where the sun is guaranteed to shine and infuse us with that much needed Vitamin D.

Rethymnon Old Town

In a week's time I will be packing for just such a trip to the island of Crete, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean. I will be going with 3 girlfriends and staying in Rethymnon on the north coast.  As well as relaxing by the sea/pool I want to make time to explore the old fortresses and monastaries in the area. We should have a blast and I look forward to telling you all about it when I get back! 

http://www.hellas-guide.com/crete/heraklion.html

Holiday Queen is two years old today!!

I attended a superblogger's masterclass tonight and got some great insights and advice from people who have been doing this successfully for a long time. Mine started off as a sort of on-line diary with no expectations other than to share my experiences and inspire you to get out there and see the world, even if it's just in your own country. Travel really does broaden your horizons and allow you to appreciate other cultures.

I can't believe I started my blog two years ago now!  It started as a suggestion from a photographer friend who said I should write one as I always seemed to be out of the country (I think it was supposed to be a bit of a joke!) I guess I do travel quite a bit and usually post a selection of my holiday snaps on facebook for my friends and family to see.

Who knew that once the seed had been planted in my mind it wasn't going to go away? I've noticed that when I get an idea that I like, I stick with it and it constantly evolves and excites me. I love to write and it's absolutely true too that my flip flops have been on every single trip from the white sandy beaches of the Caribbean to the hurricane flooded practice courts at Flushing Meadows for the US Open Tennis.

My next jaunt is to the mediterranean island of Crete next month so I look forward to sharing that trip with you. After the wintery weather we've been having here over the past few days it will be great to get away!

I now have a facebook page to coincide with my blog! Please feel free to join!
https://www.facebook.com/TravelsWithMyFlipFlops 

Day trip to the Atlas Mountains

Making Argan Oil

We had almost a whole day to fill after our check out of the hotel so we decided to take a trip to Ourika valley at the foot of the Atlas Mountains.  We didn't have time to do any trekking (that's definitely for next time!) but we walked through the souk which takes place every Monday.  There they have freshly killed meat, plants, herbs and spices and everything else you could want to buy. From there our driver took us to see Berber women making Argan oil. You get shown all the cosmetic products made from the oil and taken to the shop .. there was no pressure selling but seeing how these women work makes you want to buy something or at least put a small donation in the dish in front of them.   

The Hammam

We were also taken to a traditional Berber house beside a river where they use the power of the water to drive the mill to grind flour. They also had their own hammam which is a steam room - this is where they cleanse their bodies at least once a week. It was quite small and looked a little claustrophobic to me!

Of course there is a shop there too but again no pressure to buy.  What I did notice was that the prices quoted were considerably lower than those in the souk in Marrakesh so of course I had to buy a couple of pieces of Berber jewellery! *happy face*

Valley and snow capped peaks

Afterwards we had a late lunch overlooking the beautiful valley .. again sampling the local wine and Moroccan salad before heading back to collect our luggage and reluctantly heading to the airport and home.

Next time I visit Marrakech I definitely want to do another trip to the Atlas Mountains, going over the top and experiencing the magnificent Sahara desert in true romantic style. There are many tours offering various types of trips from one day hiking to camel treks, quad biking and 4-WD safaris.


My next jaunt will be to the island of Crete in the Mediterranean in a few weeks .. can't stop me .. variety is the spice of life!

A little taste of food Moroccan style

Going to Marrakech for a long weekend was amazing but there just wasn't enough time to go to all the fab foodie places recommended to us!  So we chose what we deemed a good cross section and were not disappointed! 

Orange segments with cinnamon

Our first restaurant experience (apart from our hotel - which was very good) was to Le Comptoir Darna situated in the Hivernage area where there are a number of restaurants and night clubs. We arrived at 8pm (the opening time) and were surprised how empty it seemed. However within a half an hour or so the place filled to capacity while a four piece band sat on the large staircase and played Morrocan music. We had their special mojito cocktail for our aperitif - I don't know how they made it but it was arguably one of the best I've tasted! The atmosphere was fantastic as was the food. Of course the dish of choice had to be the Tagine! The locally produced wine was suprisingly good too! I had sliced oranges with cinnamon for dessert, a tasty combo which they also serve at breakfast that I will easily recreate at home! 

Le Comptoir Darna

At 10.30 the music cranked up and a troupe of silver clad belly dancers - including two dancing with less vigour and a tray of candles balanced on their heads - appeared and entertained us all. They danced on tables and the crowd loved them! There was a disco upstairs after midnight which we did not stay for, but I imagine a fun time would be had - a great place to go with a group of friends!

Roof terrace La Sultana

The other two places we tried were equally good for the food and wine .. we lunched at La Sultana on the roof terrace which was a lovely respite from the hustle and bustle of the streets outside. A haven of calm. This would also be an amazing place to stay if you want a real treat! Our other dinner outing was to Le Jardins de la Medina another luxury hotel situated in the Kasbah. The restaurant was overlooking the small pool and gardens. The food was also very good and the pièce de résistance was the pumpkin souffle we had for dessert! Not something I would normally choose but it looked so interesting it had to be sampled! It was gorgeous! Light and fluffy with a scoop of jasmine ice cream on the side - pure ambrosia! 

Marrakech - getting to grips with the Souks

I travelled to Morocco way back in the day when I took a 'gap' 6 months which turned into 2 years! (But that's another story!) My friends from school and I had bought an old VW camper van and drove all the way from London via France, Portugal and Spain before boarding the ferry to North Africa. Our route took us from Tangier to Tetouan, Fez, Meknes and Rabat before heading back up the coast and continuing our European adventure. We never got to Marrakech and I knew that one day I would go there. I'm sort of glad it took so long as it turned out to be everything and more of what I thought it would be and although I loved and appreciated Morocco back then, I now have a much greater understanding of the culture. Obviously things have moved on substantially in the 20 plus years it's been but take away the mod cons and everything is essentially as it was centuries ago.

My friend and I flew Easyjet from Stansted direct to Marrakech - a journey time of 3 hours 20 minutes away making it a very do-able long weekend jaunt. We opted to stay outside of the confines of the walled city at a lovely small resort called Sirayane located a few kilometers south west of the Medina.  It's far from the madding crowd but only a 15 minute shuttle ride away, which the hotel provides free of charge six times a day. Perfect if you want a quiet oasis of calm after a day's shopping in the souk! The only sounds you'll hear are those of the birds and the chilled out lounge music around the bar and pool.
  
If you have never been to a souk before, it's an idea to get a guide to take you

Medersa Ben Youssef

around and show you the different parts of the Medina, visit a museum and learn some history about the place. Marrakech is a labyrinth of alleys and can get very confusing if you don't know where you're going. It could be like getting lost in a maze but we didn't have to worry about that thankfully. We trusted that our guide would get us out of there when we were ready. It's a given that you will be shown things you may like to buy but there is not too much pressure selling here. Just be aware that the price they initially quote is not the price you should pay. They love to barter so pay what you think it's worth.  

Not only are they catering to tourists .. we witnessed the auctioning of leather pelts to the locals for the artisans to make shoes, bags, wallets etc.  Head down another side alley and this is also the place where you can see everything being made pretty much in the same way it has always been done .. their craft being passed down through the generations.

  
We didn't get hassled because we had a guide but I did get a proposal of marriage from one of the shopkeepers!! The girl still has it (laughs out loud)!! Oh, and I almost forgot to mention .. be aware of the iron carts and mopeds weaving in and out of the narrow streets - they are potentially lethal!


In my next post I will fill you in on our day trip to the Atlas mountains and the fab places we ate in the Kasbah and Gueliz .. see you soon! نراكم قريبا

Dealing with post holiday flaking skin

lotion

It was almost inevitable after having a week in the warmth and sunshine (or even the shade) and coming back to arctic conditions my body practically went into shock! Central heating also plays havoc with the skin and even when I am not on holiday I moisturize everyday with my favourite product Kiehl's Creme de Corps lotion and occasionally the body butter when my skin feels drier than normal.  

body butter

Four days back to my normal life brought flaking and peeling skin. Even after applying the Kiehl's my skin continued to flake which is not the most attractive thing, especially when I'm working on someone's face! Although my skin felt rehydrated, I could not hide the evidence!
 

We have a product in the make up room that we recommend to people with dry skin, eczema and dermatitis called Doublebase. It can also be used as a cleanser. At around £10 for 500ml it's good value for money.
As a last resort I decided to give it a try on my exposed arms and I can't praise it highly enough. The results were amazing. It immediately soaked into my skin and the appearance of dry flakes disappeared completely! It's actually halted the peeling action and I have now gone back to my daily regime and soft, healthy looking skin. 


Product description below :- 

Doublebase gel, shower gel and wash gel all contain two active ingredients, liquid paraffin and isopropyl myristate, both of which have moisturising properties.
Liquid paraffin and isopropyl myristate work by replacing lost water within the skin, and by forming a waterproof barrier over the skin surface. This prevents water within the skin from evaporating and keeps the underlying skin hydrated.
Doublebase is useful for dry skin conditions, such as eczema and dermatitis, which get worse when the skin is allowed to dry out. Used regularly, it helps restore the skin's smoothness, softness and flexibility by replacing lost moisture and helping the skin retain moisture. This helps reduce scaling, redness and itching.
Doublebase gel can be applied directly to dry areas of skin. It can also be used before, during and after showering or having a bath as this helps to stop further drying of the skin. After showering the skin should be patted dry using a soft towel before applying Doublebase gel as a moisturiser.
In dry skin conditions such as eczema, using moisturisers and moisturising shower gels regularly, even once the skin has improved, can help prevent flare-ups.

Read more: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/skin-and-hair/medicines/doublebase-gel.html#ixzz2OkJQUEVr

Barbados .. all about the beach!

Amaryllis Beach resort

I have just returned from a fabulous week's vacation on the island of Barbados.  If you've read my past blog posts you'll know I've been there before so I kind of knew what to expect.  This particular week was all about relaxation and recharging flat batteries after weeks of the cold dark winter. One thing you can rely on with the Caribbean is that you are pretty much guaranteed great weather at this time of year - copious amounts of sunshine and consistent temperatures - and virtually no threat of hurricanes. We stayed at the Amaryllis Beach Resort which was lovely but could do with a make over. We were told more than once that it isn't what it used to be. However the staff were great and it's location is perfect - the beach more than makes up for it with it's mature coconut palms giving shade, beauty and atmosphere.
 

Each day was the same routine .. up early, coffee on the balcony then off to the gym or a walk on the beach before breakfast at the beach side restaurant. Then it was grabbing a lounger and parking it under a palm tree, settling down with the ipod on and a book in hand. Intermittent swimming in the crystal clear warm sea followed by lunch at the beach side cafe and more of the same in the afternoon.  
The sun set around 6pm every evening and graced us with spectacular displays of colour and light over the sea.  A truly blissful way to end a perfect day.

Every night we went out to eat and we were never disappointed.  We went back to our favourite restaurant Champers which overlooks Accra Beach on the south coast. The food is consistently good and the service impeccable.  Another restaurant which I would highly recommend is Daphne's which is on the west coast also located beach side so while you eat you are serenaded by gently rolling waves crashing on to the shore.

The pièce de résistance of the dining experience though was going to The Cliff just down the coast from Daphne's. It's not always easy to get the reservation you want, but if you book well enough in advance you should be able to get your preferred date. The cost per person is BDS$245.00 incl. VAT for a two course meal (starter/main or main/dessert) and BDS$285.00 incl. VAT for a three course meal, and you will be required to leave your credit card details when you book. You need to give them 24 hours notice of cancellation or reduction of numbers or you will be charged! Good to know this as you don't want to get caught out. Everything about The Cliff is fabulous - the cliff top location with crashing waves against the rocks, the food and service are second to none.  A lovely romantic setting which would be ideal for a wedding or special occasion.  Looking over the railings on the night we went, we spotted shoals of barracuda coming in to feed .. they are rather large menacing looking fish, but boy they taste good!!

All in all a fantastic week - sun, sea and seafood and plenty of sleep too .. we've come back ready to take on the next slog of work in preparation for the next one!!

As usual, we flew direct from London Gatwick with Virgin Atlantic.

Next month I will be taking a long weekend break to Marrakech in Morocco .. something quite exotic to look forward to! Excited or what!!