Zurich, Zermatt, Milan and Colmar - whirlwind week

The wonderful thing about being in Europe is the ability to travel to another country relatively stress free. At the beginning of March I flew into Zurich, Switzerland from London City Airport and was blessed with early spring sunshine. All Covid PCR tests are now not required for us so getting through border control was a breeze. Apart from having to wear a face covering on the flight, it has all started to feel 'normal' again.

My best friend has lived in Zurich for a number of years and it's always best to be guided by a 'local' who knows the city well. My first couple of days were spent walking around the city centre getting a feel for the place. I had been there once before about 5 years ago but it was only a day either side of a trip to Italy for a long weekend, so can't say I really saw that much of it.

This time though we had planned a number of day trips, the first being a train journey to Zermatt in the south of the country near the Italian/French borders. This meant getting up at 6am to catch the 7am train in order to get the maximum hours from the day. Zermatt lies just below the iconic Matterhorn peak and we were lucky to get such a beautiful day to enjoy walking around this picturesque village with it's boutiques, cafe's and restaurants. We stopped for a drink on the sun terrace of The Omnia Hotel with a prime view of the mountain and the surrounding area. It was a beautiful day and there were a number of people paragliding over the nearby slopes. What a spectacular view that must have been!

Our next day trip was to Milan in Italy. Since the pandemic, the rules have changed and you must now book a reserved seat on the train which was a direct run through to Milano Centrale. The stop at the Italian border took a little longer than usual as all health passports were checked as well as whether we had the correct masks. It's mandatory to wear one indoors and on all public transport. All of the people complied with this rule which surprised me and I didn't see one person in breach of this law.

Milan has always been a favourite of ours and it was lovely to be back after almost 3 years. The weather stayed sunny and mild and we had a great day shopping and enjoying lunch al fresco. All that pavement pounding was tiring so we finished our day with a glass of prosecco before catching the train back to Zurich.

Since we were definitely on a roll, the following day we met with a friend and embarked on a road trip into France to Colmar in the Alsace region. The journey only took about an hour and a half from Zurich, skirting around Basel before entering France.

Colmar is well known for it's preserved old town and beautiful architectural landmarks. Again we were blessed with a stunningly beautiful spring day and walked through the town admiring building after building, each more picturesque than the next. It has a lovely array of shops and restaurants each sympathetically blended into the shop fronts. We ate lunch at the Restaurant Bartholdi which serves French cuisine with Alsacienne and fish specialities. 

We spent about 2 hours in total enjoying 3 courses and a bottle of Crémant which is the local sparking wine from this region. 

It was leisurely and relaxed with time to digest between courses. In my opinion, the best way to eat - if you have the time of course. 

I had white asparagus for starters and the main course of river trout with toasted almonds was cooked to perfection. Not one for desserts as a rule, I just had to try the meringue with berries and ice cream. C'est magnifique! 

Bucket list for the week's day trips well and truly ticked, we spent the next few days in Zurich mainly walking to different districts for food and sight seeing. We took a walk along the lake on the Sunday and it was brimming with people. 

Families enjoying the sunshine, people walking dogs, and even budding street artists honing their talents at the Rote Fabrik art and cultural centre.

You'd be forgiven for thinking that Zurich is all about banking and being one of the most expensive cities in the world, and you'd be right in one respect, but it has so much more to offer.  Needless to say, I'll be back here again very soon!

Fun fact - did you know? Zurich is avant-garde: it was not only home to Dada, but also the place where the Freitag bag and world-renowned Helvetica typeface originated. SWISS TOURISM

If you want to travel around the city by train, tram or bus get yourself a Zurich Card, where you can enjoy Zurich in all its diversity and save time and money. The card can be purchased in the Zurich City Guide App. where all the information about discounts are to hand on your phone.

Cost - CHR 27 for 24 hours and CHF 53 for 72 hours

 

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Back to Barbados after almost 5 years ...

I've just had a wonderful week in Barbados with my best buddy after an absence of almost 5 years. It felt so great to go back as it is one of my favourite places in the world. Friends have often asked me 'what's so great about Barbados over any of the other Caribbean islands?' and I would say it's all about the culture, but mainly the people and the fact that the temperatures are pretty much consistent all year round. It is such a chilled out place, feels really safe and the people are so friendly and hospitable.

The fact that this was my eighth visit means that I have gotten to know different parts of the island and seen quite a bit although of course there is always more to see and experience.

Our accommodation was at the Beach View Hotel in Paynes Bay on the West Coast. I have stayed there a couple of times before and it will be my first choice again when I next go back. The location is perfect and it has such a laid back chilled atmosphere, it feels like a home from home. They have a choice of apartment style suites or spacious hotel rooms with small kitchenettes. There is also now a restaurant/bar in the newly extended part of the property called the Sugar Apple Cafe which offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

The beach is right across the road and there's lots to do within walking distance or even a bus ride away if you don't have access to a car. 

We saved a lot on cabs this trip, opting to take the local reggae bus with the locals. The cost was minimal .. Bajan $3.50, around US$1.75 or £1.30 for each trip. Be prepared though if you ride with them - they play loud music and no-one batts an eyelid. We loved the vibe and really enjoyed taking those buses.

One day there was a traffic jam and the driver asked if anyone was getting off. The answer was 'no' so he detoured through the back streets and bypassed the block. Problem solved.

Our first venture on the buses was nearly to the top of the island. We were on our way to one of our fave restaurants The Fish Pot for lunch. After a morning walk along the beach we hopped on the bus and when we reached Speightstown we discovered we would have to get another smaller bus from there. People were so helpful in directing us to the right one and even after we inadvertently passed our stop, they turned the van around and took us back. Nothing was too much trouble.

We were lucky to get in at the restaurant as they were
really busy that day so it was fortuitous that we had allowed the extra time as we had no idea how long it would take us to get there. I've only ever been there at night so it was lovely to see it in the light of day, and the food and wine just as good as I had remembered it. 

Most of our time during the week was spent at the beach in the morning before having a late lunch as a main meal. This suited us better as we could then go out for a drink in the evenings without the heaviness of another meal which we realised was too much after the first couple of days. 

On our first day we had a flying fish sandwich for lunch
from the local street vendor next to the fish market. It was so delicious and made even better eating it on the beach under the shade of a tree.

The first few days the sea was a bit rough but got better as the week went on. Walking along the beach to the next bay was quite treacherous as the ebbing and flowing waves would drag quite sizeable rocks into the water. I got whacked a couple of times on my ankles which was not pleasant.

I won't go into details of what we got up to every day as it was pretty much the same pattern apart from lunching at different restaurants. We would normally head to the beach in the mornings, have a swim and bask in the turquoise sea for at least an hour then go out for lunch. Afterwards we would go back to the beach for another swim and sometimes stay on to watch the sun set. Every evening it was different and always stunningly beautiful.

We went back to The Lone Star which I return to on every trip. I love it there and this was the first time going for lunch in the daylight. The food and wine selection is always top notch and of course the sea view is to die for. It's always worth booking in advance to ensure you get a table, especially at this time of year in high season.

We had dinner, lunch with drinks in the evenings at
Quattro Passi Bistro which was just across the road from the hotel. Previously known as The Cliff Beachclub it has had a revamp and an extension with a gorgeous lounge bar facing the sea. We regarded it affectionately as 'our local' and got to know the staff who were ever attentive and helpful.

We also tried Positano (previously Daphne's) which was a 5 minute walk north from our hotel. Right on the beach it's a perfect location for beach side dining and the Italian dishes were very good.

We took a walk towards Bridgetown one day and discovered yet another beach side restaurant Il Tempio in a gorgeous location. We had lunch there but as it was Election Day no alcohol was permitted to be sold or served until 6pm that evening. We were more than happy to have water with our meal but it seemed very quiet everywhere, with people understandably opting to wait until the evening when they could imbibe their favourite tipple.

We continued our walk towards Bridgetown after lunch and stumbled across another fab restaurant Cala Roca - its previous incarnation was Cin Cin by the Sea another former favourite. We went in for a coffee but ended up with a mocktail instead (no alcohol allowed till 6pm). It was the best Virgin Mary I have ever tasted. Lots of spice and so delicious, there was no need for the vodka.

With only 2 days left of our vacation we made a reservation to have lunch at the same place the next day.

I had a fabulous fresh fennel and grapefruit salad to start and a truffle mac and cheese pie. Usually I would choose a fish dish as it's always freshly caught but I just had to sample the pie as it's an island staple.

It was nice to be able to get French Provence rosé Minuty at most of the restaurants that we visited. It is always my choice to drink wines from this region so I was very happy.

Our last day was spent swimming and hanging out at the beach again followed by a late checkout and a lovely bon voyage lunch at Quattro Passi. Nothing nicer than having good food and a sea view imprinted in our minds before setting off for Grantley Adams International airport and our flight home to cold, grey London.

I have so many photos and memories I would love to share but it's impossible to do in this blog post so I hope I have been able to give you a flavour of our wonderful week on this beautiful tropical island. There's so much more to do and it's also worth doing a trip around the island to see the wild Atlantic coast and more beautiful beaches on the south coast. Until next time ...

Hotel and flights from London Gatwick was booked through British Airways

Happy New Year 2022!

Late to the table but Happy New Year 2022! I hope this year brings you joy, good health and prosperity.

Wow, it's strange how fast time flies even when you're just getting on with your regular life. I had intended to write more about my trip to Dubai but life and day job got in the way and you know what, in the big scheme of things it doesn't really matter. There'll always be something to fill my pages in the future if I so wish.

The pandemic has meant less travel and less posts for me. I really need to up my game this year otherwise this blog will end up on the virtual shelf.

I haven't planned any trips past the next one I am taking in just a week's time .. and that's all being well with PCR testing etc. When I am safely there I will post some pics on my instagram page. I cannot wait!

Thanks to all who have followed and taken the time to read my blog. I'll try to be more proactive about it this year!

Happy travels!

Dubai

After an awesome start to my vacation in Ras Al Khaimah, it was back to Dubai to stay with my best buddy for a couple of days at the Park Hyatt, a five star luxury resort in Dubai Creek. We have stayed there before and it's a great location if you want to be near the airport but also within a metro ride to the Dubai Mall and beyond. It is right beside the 18 hole championship Dubai Creek Golf Course and Dubai Yacht Club.

There is also an exclusive spa, considered among the finest in the UAE, which I would love to try if I was to stay there again.

I love the layout and design of the hotel complex. With Moorish 

and Mediterranean influences and the sandy beach and adult infinity pool, it's a place you wouldn't have to leave if you don't want to. It feels spacious and despite it's proximity to the airport, is peacefully quiet. There are a number of good restaurants to choose from of varying cuisines from Spanish Tapas, Thai, New England and Nikkei, and a new beach club, Twiggy by La Cantine. 'Internationally inspired with South of France soul', there's something for everyone.

The breakfast choice at The Brasserie du Park is one of the best I have had with a buffet of fresh fruits, pastries, Middle Eastern dishes, eggs done in any style imaginable and much more. If you choose to sit outside, you also get an amazing view of the marina, the Creek and the Burj Khalifa in the distance.

We were nearby the Textile Souk in the historic Bur Dubai on the Creek so went searching for good fabrics to buy. There is a myriad choice and we found some lovely bargains. If you have the luxury of time, you can even get one of the tailors to make you something while you are there. I'm not sure yet what I will make from my fabric finds, but something will come to mind I am sure! 

On our first evening we went to The Pointe on the Palm. All the restaurants are located on the waterfront but being a very hot and humid night we wanted somewhere to eat inside with air con. We chose Saya with it's signature pink decor and creative cocktails. It's a fun place and of course a good location for any Instagram shots if you're that way inclined. 

Moving on from there we walked along the waterfront and watched the new Palm fountain show - set to the song 'I Will Survive' with the illuminated Atlantis Hotel as the backdrop.

On our last night there, we opted to eat at the hotel's Thai Kitchen restaurant. It was the perfect choice - fresh authentically prepared food at the end of a long day of shopping and walking. 

After dinner we walked outside into the warm night air as it was much milder and less hot and humid. On a whim we decided not to go straight back to our room and have a night cap instead.

We sat by the fire pits in the courtyard enjoying a couple of glasses of our favourite Provence rosé, listening to some great tunes played by the resident DJ and hatching plans for next year's travel.

The next day was our last at the Hyatt as we prepared to move on to an apartment in a more residential part of the city.

The rest of our stay was taken up meeting up with friends, pool days, beach visits and EXPO 2020.  

  

Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

I recently made it back to Dubai in the UAE after an absence of more than 2 years thanks to the pandemic. October is a good time to go as the extreme heat of summer has passed although it can still be very hot during the day, and it certainly was! 

I went for the specific reason to meet up with family and friends and it was so good to be reunited again after so long. What better way to spend quality time together than by doing a staycation in a beautiful setting away from the hustle and bustle of a big city like Dubai. 

The day after my arrival, we set off from Dubai on a road trip  about an hour north of the city through the desert to a beach resort of the Waldorf Astoria, Ras Al Khaimah. What an amazing sight it was in the drive up to the entrance of this iconic hotel architecturally inspired by the grand palaces of Arabia. We had suites on the ninth floor with sea views and the most beautiful sunset and golden silence to match to begin our stay. 

It was about 3 degrees cooler there and daytime temperatures were around 33C with low humidity so not too hot to be by the pool or on the beach. I rarely sunbathe so am usually to be found under an umbrella unless of course I'm in the water. 

This location was the perfect spot for some real rest and relaxation. The adult pool was a haven with a DJ pumping out some great chill out tunes and efficient pool service with food and cocktails at the ready. The white sandy beach was vast with sun beds spaced well apart and the crystal clear sea was like entering a warm bath. It was just so blissful to float about endlessly without getting cold, until the skin on your fingers wrinkled from the water.

Of course, I had to have a Piña Colada or two. It's a must have refreshing cocktail for any beach holiday!

The food we chose was excellent. After early evening drinks on the outdoor terrace, we had dinner at Umi on our first night with Teppanyaki cooked at our table. We underestimated the amount of food we had to consume. 6 courses of delicious fresh Japanese food. By the time we got to the dessert course we were struggling to finish! It was though, an absolute treat.

The second evening we ate at the Lexington Grill and Bar, sampling their newly created plant based menu with food sourced from local farmers. Although it's essentially a steak house, they offer some very good alternatives to meat and I thoroughly enjoyed my roasted cauliflower dish.

We departed for Dubai wonderfully relaxed after our 2 night mini beach holiday ready for staycation number 2. Look out for the next post for more on my Dubai vacation.

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If you're looking for a break away from Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah is a good option and only 45 mins drive from Dubai International Airport. 

Ras Al Khaimah has a rich history dating back some 7,000 years. In the 13th and 14th centuries, a prosperous port arose in the area we now know as Ras Al Khaimah. Then named Julfar, it became one of the most prominent trading posts in the Arabian Gulf and was widely known for its exquisite pearls. The discovery of rare Chinese pottery in 2019 in this area points to the extent of trade that occurred in the erstwhile Julfar. 

Ras Al Khaimah has about 1,000 archaeological sites, four of which have been added to the ‘UNESCO Tentative List for World Heritage’. The emirate is also home to one of the best-preserved traditional fishing villages in the Arabian Gulf, Al Jazirah Al Hamra, and the only hilltop fort still in existence in the UAE, the 18th century Dhayah Fort. 

 

The emirate is noted for its varied topography, from the Hajar mountains, to rolling sand dunes to 64 kms of beaches, as well as its adventure tourism attractions.

Info from the Official Portal of the UAE Government.

Corfu .. we finally made it!!

Every year in the month of June since 2013, I and 3 of my girlfriends have gone on holiday to an island. The only criteria was that it had to be reachable within 4 hours of flying time, so mainly the Mediterranean or Atlantic. 

Last year we had it all planned to go to Corfu and we all know how that turned out. We couldn't go anywhere due to the pandemic, and optimistically thought we could then go in September that year, but again not, unfortunately. We decided to wait it out patiently and this year we grabbed the bull by the horns in May and booked to go in September this year, opting for a no-fee cancellation just in case. Sadly, one of our group did not make it as she passed away earlier this year from an illness, but the remaining 3 of us decided to keep up the tradition in her honour and continue to go.

We stuck with the same accommodation as we had originally chosen, the beautiful Pictures Suites in Agios Stefanos, as it looked so beautiful. How lucky we were with the weather too. The week before we went it had rained and thankfully we had the most amazing week of temperatures in the high twenties.

The rules in place for travel meant that we had to keep checking government guidelines and keep updated to ensure we had all the correct paperwork in place. We did not have to do any covid testing before we went, but had to fill out a passenger locator form (PLF) and show evidence of double vaccination. The Greek form was simple, just 2 pages and the check in at the airport was relatively simple and quick. Once on the aircraft we actually felt that we were going. What a tremendous feeling that was!

Set into the hillside, the views from our hotel were amazing. Every night we saw a different sunset and we could always hear the sound of the sea. On day one, we took a wander along the beach toward the far end heading south and walked up into the village, stopping for a Greek coffee at Olympia bar/restaurant and a friendly chat with Stellios the owner. 

From there we walked back through the town which had a couple of gift shops, a boutique, supermarkets and a lovely array of restaurants all serving traditional Greek food. 

The beach stretched for quite a way in both directions with super soft clay sand and clay cliffs stretching towards the north of the island. We decided to hire a boat from Thomas at the San Stefanos hire company based right on the beach 100m from where we were staying, choosing to go to Cape Drastus and the surrounding area of Sidari, a popular tourist resort.

We set out in the morning on a beautiful cloudless warm day, a little choppy but so great to be out on the water again. Giannis our driver knew the area well, having grown up there and took us wherever we wanted to go, imparting his knowledge as we went. 

As we got closer to the most northern part of the island we could see the wonderfully sculpted by nature whitish clay cliffs, unspoiled and just stunning against the turquoise Ionian Sea. The only way to get there is by boat or by walking which if you have the inclination is supposed to be quite lovely for nature lovers. 

I would imagine though that the best views are from the water and we were not disappointed. Although Sidari seemed more crowded than San Stefanos, we did see seemingly secluded bays and people swimming and jumping from the rocks. 

We sailed past the tunnel of love, Canal d'amour, another popular attraction in this area. The tunnel is a natural formation eroded by the sea, and legend has it that if you swim through it with the one you love, you will stay together forever. 

After a couple of hours on the water we headed back again, sliding off the back of the boat into the sea and having a swim before a late lunch at the local beach bar.

Mid week we took the Green Bus public transport
into Corfu city. An hour and a half away, the cost was a mere €4.20 each way and the bus was actually an air conditioned coach. A very comfortable but sometimes treacherous ride through the hilly part of the island over some very narrow roads in need of a bit of TLC. 

It really was quite beautiful and a good way to see the landscape.

Corfu city is typically European in style and was bustling with people. Outdoor cafes and shops were busy and it was nice to feel that normality has returned to a lot of places. After a stop for a Greek Frappe (iced coffee) in the pedestrian precinct we walked through meandering cobbled streets towards the old part of town and the harbour.

Knowing that the last bus back was at 4.30pm, we found a great place for lunch overlooking the water and the Old Fortress which was constructed by the Venetians in the 15th Century.

It was just the perfect spot to sit and enjoy lunch with a view and a refreshing glass (or two even) of Greek Rosé which was surprisingly good. 

I think we could have sat there for ages as it was so peaceful and relaxing but the time came when we had to leave and we slowly sauntered back towards the bus station for our ride home.

Our return 'home' brought us in from the other side of town and we discovered another lovely hotel, Tereza's Sunset Hotel within minutes of where we were, with an outdoor terrace where we could have dinner later in the week. If you time it right, you get to see the setting sun dip over the horizon. What could be more beautiful?

San Stefanos was the perfect location for us as all we wanted was a beach, a pool, good food and wine and of course good weather. We got all of these in abundance. We ate in quite a few different restaurants, some we visited twice for lunch and dinner. The beach bar food was good and all the wines on offer were Greek. I have to say there has been a vast improvement in the quality of the wines since my first experience way back when I first visited the islands many moons ago.

We had to do our Covid tests for travel on our penultimate day and that was all very easy at the local doctors surgery. They did a rapid antigen test for €30 and provided a certificate of proof of a negative test. The only bugbear was the UK PLF which was 4 pages long and had documents to upload which can at times be challenging and stressful on a smart phone. The hotel was very helpful and printed them out for us as that's how they wanted the documents to be presented at the airport.

Our flight out wasn't until 23.40 on our last day, so we had a lovely relaxing few hours by the pool and were able to keep our rooms until the evening. We had a gorgeous fresh fish dinner by the main pool and the last sunset to see us on our way.

The staff at Pictures Suites, Laura and Christopher were wonderful and so helpful and friendly. We could not have asked for more. I hope our paths cross again at some point.

Places we ate - * for quality of food

Havana Beach Bar - lunch ***

Waves Beach Bar - lunch ***

Olympia - lunch and dinner *****

Zorba's - dinner ***

Spiros and Maria's - lunch and dinner ****

Tereza's Sunset Hotel - lunch and dinner *****

Delphin Blu - dinner *****

and of course the fabulous Pictures - breakfast and dinner *****

The Best Things in Life are Free

Bloom Paradise
Jun T Lai

One of the things I miss about travelling is exploring and discovering an alternative way of life. Even on the most sedate of vacations things are different to what they are at home and I suppose that is the point of it. Getting away from the everyday routines and being somewhere else.

Since the lockdown was introduced over a year ago, we were unable to go out exploring as we had to stay home and local. And definitely a NO to travel. Once we were allowed to venture out, we discovered we had a so much on our doorstep that in the past we had taken for granted. We started to appreciate the parks, canals and waterways, wildlife, wildflowers, architecture, art .. the list goes on. That's the one positive thing for me that has come out of this pandemic.

Harlequin Four by Mark
Handforth

I have definitely developed more of an appreciation for London and value what it has to offer. Thanks to social media, we are more aware of what is around us and if we never left the city again we would never run out of things to see and do. Much of it can be seen for free or at least the price of a day travel card.

I had to work this weekend, and due to engineering works my station was closed so I've had to find alternative ways to travel there and back. On my way home today I decided to get off the tube at Monument station and being a Sunday the City is almost deserted. 

St Dunstan in the East

I walked for about 5 minutes to the beautiful ruins of St Dunstan in the East. This 900 year old church has quite a history surviving the Great Fire of London in 1666, and was pretty much destroyed in the Blitz of the second world war. All that survives is the north and south walls and the steeple built by Sir Christopher Wren. It is now a wonderful public 'secret garden' tucked away between the modern buildings of the city.

It was an overcast day and the gardens were not busy although there were a couple of instagrammers posing for pictures in the beautiful window arches that remain. I had to wait quite a while for them to move on so that I could get my own photos.

I walked to Tower Hill Underground station where I saw the distinctive style of Julian Opie's 
'Walking in the City' at the CitizenM hotel. I always love stumbling across his work.

The train I wanted to get was severely delayed so I decided instead to walk to Liverpool Street through the quiet streets and there I found even more treasures. 

Confetti Rain

Colourful sculptures, part of Sculpture in the City tucked down the side streets and a massive glass installation 'Confetti Rain' by architectural stained glass artist Alexander Beleschenko, on a relatively new office block on Bishopsgate.

These simple things of beauty make me happy as I come across them, and as I walked towards the bus stop at Liverpool Street station, my day felt complete.

On the bus ride home I saw more street art from Alo the Artist. It's so nice to be able to recognise an artist's work based on their unique style. I managed to snap a couple of quick shots from the window as we drove past.

Alo the artist

I enjoyed a lovely solitary couple of hours wandering the streets, all for free. An afternoon of old and new culture, I've learned a little bit more about the city I call home. 

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