Italy
A Taste of Italy on a Food Tour of Rome
There is a new kid on the block when it comes to travel! It's called food tourism. Well eating and travelling aren't new concepts by any stretch, but the idea of actually offering an organised and guided gastronomic experience is something that has taken off globally only in the last decade. You would be hard pressed now not to find a food tour in just about any major city across the world. ... Full story
Skiing in the Delightful Dolomites!
The Dolomites are nestled in the Trentino-Alto Adige region and the neighbouring Venito close to the Austrian border. The range is divided into two main regions, the eastern and western Dolomites. The mountain range offers some of the most breathtaking views in the Alps which can be enjoyed from just about anywhere. ... Full story
A Taste of Florence
The kitchen produces one of the four ‘F's’ (food) for which Tuscany is renowned throughout the world, the others being Fiorentina, females and factories (leather). Each city has its own specialties and those of Florence are many in number. This is why knowing how to choose a menu with many dishes, sometimes unknown to even Italians, can be anything but easy. ... Full story
Florence's Top Ten Attractions
Florence, “the cradle of Renaissance”, is nestled in the valley of the Arno River, squeezed between the hills that made it famous. If its centre is full of works of art and buildings of great historical and architectural value, covering a period of time ranging from the early Middle Ages to the late twentieth century, the surrounding area is no different. The beauty of the landscape is characterised by villas, churches, monasteries and picturesque small towns. ... Full story
Keep rolling, rolling, rolling: Moving Montepulciano
Staring down a barrel is usually something to be avoided, however for the Tuscan town of Montepulciano the Bravio delle Botti is one of the highlights of the social calendar. ... Full story
Venice - Always Special
A trip to Venice is always special but it doesn't have to cost the price of a small mortgage to be truly memorable. On a recent visit we stayed in a hotel across the lagoon in Mestre which whilst lacking the inspirational views and atmosphere was a relaxing alternative to the over-priced accommodation on the Islands. ... Full story
A Wedding in the Fair City of Verona
Getting married for the second time, the last thing I wanted was a big, expensive wedding, but I still wanted to share a special and memorable experience with my beautiful wife-to-be so where better to get married then the fair city of Verona in Italy. Keeping the invites to a manageable twenty, I liaised with my friendly Italian supplier, Giovanni, who was superbly attentive to every detail. ... Full story
Basilicata - the sole of Italy
Hidden in the foot of Italy is an area that encapsulates elements of the Mediterranean and North Africa and is full of rich historical artefacts. The region is arid and mountainous with two coastlines, one on the Tyrrhenian Sea and the other on the Gulf of Taranto in the Ionian Sea. ... Full story
Berlusconi Tours To Take off?
Enterprising Italian group specialist - IGS - is offering group packages in Milan to experience the sure to be electric media atmosphere during Berlusconi's proposed trial in April. Italy's flamboyant Prime Minister Silvio Berlosconi is due to stand trial on various charges in what will no doubt be the country's media event of the decade and visitors are invited to immerse themselves in a more modern cultural experience than Italy's ancient cities generally offer. ... Full story
Italy's Spectacular 'Other' Carnival
Carnival season is upon us yet again and nobody embraces the spirit of carnival more than the passionate and gregarious population of the Italian peninsula. Whilst Venice, with its grand masked balls and theatrical splendour stands alone as the Queen of carnival (in Europe), the politically satirical carnival parade offered up by Viareggio in Tuscany is a unique and spectacular experience. ... Full story
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Huntsville - a touch of southern comfort.
The city of Huntsville, nestled amongst the hills of north Alabama, is certainly not the backwater southern town that I perhaps expected. It manages to combine a delightful historical old-town with a state of the art high-tech modern city built around the U.S. space programme. ... Full story
Featured author
Susie Kelly
"Susie Kelly was born in grey post-war London, and spent much of her childhood and young adulthood in the beautiful country of Kenya. She is passionate about animal welfare, and lives in south-west France with a menagerie of dogs, cats, pygmy goats, chickens and a parrot. Her first book "Best Foot Forward" was published by Transworld Publishers in 2003, followed by "Two Steps Backward" in 2004, and "A Perfect Circle" in 2006. Since 2011 Susie's books have been published by Blackbird Digital Books, whose theme is strong, adventurous women living life to the full. Blackbird Digital Book people love birds and animals, travel, history, romance, natural health and environment, resourcefulness, humour, the surreal and magic. If her house caught fire and she could only save three things (apart from her animals, of course), they would be courage, compassion and a sense of humour."- A visit to Loire chateaux of Chenonceau
- A Picnic To Remember At Nouaillé Maupertuis
- A Lucky Star - guiding a path across France