Archive For The “Travel” Category
Drawn from life 12 Oct 2019 – 19 Jan 2020 The exhibition Drawn from life features many seldom exhibited drawings, pastels and watercolours from the collection of the Kröller-Müller Museum. The works provide an insight into life in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The collection of the Kröller-Müller Museum is famed worldwide for…
Nestled in the historic streets of Maastricht is the Bisschopsmolen or, in English, the Bishop’s Mill. It truly was once a mill and its reputation grinds on in the guise of its bakery and restaurant. The mill was built in the 7th century and has had different roles since its construction. In the 11th century…
First exhibition of Kollwitz’s work in nearly 25 years comes to London following successful UK tour 12 September 2019 – 12 January 2020 Room 90. Free Supported by Cockayne – Grants for the Arts and the London Community Foundation Organised in partnership with Ikon Gallery, Birmingham After a successful tour in which almost 90,000…
Kruisherenhotel Maastricht is one of the most noteworthy hotels in which I have stayed in the Netherlands. Perhaps it’s one of the most memorable hotels I have ever visited anywhere. It’s a unique marriage of 15th century architecture and ultra-modern design. It truly is a matter of taste, but Kruisherenhotel was, for me, heavenly in…
Outrigger Beach Resort in Mauritius is an oasis of luxury with plenty to do. Food is always a big part of any trip and Outrigger offers a wealth of options. The high-end dining venue is The Plantation Club with its colonial architecture. There is the intimate dining room as well as a verandah and paved…
Holidays in the UK are becoming more popular. The shrinking pound has perhaps encouraged people to look at what England has to offer. The Lake District is beautiful, mostly tranquil, and perfect for outdoor pursuits. Those who have already visited will return year after year. It must have something special! Marco Polo Guides has a…
Things to do at Outrigger Mauritius This hotel makes a wonderful relaxing retreat, and it can also act as a hub from which to visit other parts of the Island. But there are lots to do within the resort for all the family. The lagoon location will give both children and adults the opportunity to…
PortaScent is exactly what it says. It’s a small refillable spray and perfect for one’s handbag, manbag, bathroom bag or travel bag. It makes a wonderful and affordable gift for both men and women. This little spray bottle is so convenient, but I would counsel any girl with a social life to buy two. It’s…
It’s true – one hardly expects to find castles in The Netherlands! But they do exist and there are many of them, along with stately homes of grace and beauty. Few historic buildings in The Netherlands can equal De Haar for its representation of a fairy-tale castle. It is among the top twenty most-visited Dutch…
Pieter Bruegel produced unique works which are still easily recognised today. They reflect the reality of the 16th Century in northern Europe – and that was often brutal. Brussels and Bruegel will forever be associated. He undertook some of his most important works there and he is buried in the city. He had needed to…
Mauritius is a beautiful island but there is still that temptation to stay within the confines of one’s luxury and well-appointed resort. That would be a shame as there is so much to see here. There is history aplenty and also celebrated rhum. No that’s not a spelling mistake but rather an indication that this…
It’s that season when a young (or not so young) person’s fancy turns to festivals. We have great hopes for weather, music, good food (only kidding) and good times. But we do need a few accessories, and one in particular will make life more pleasant for the festival-goer and those around them. I introduce Alexander…
Middachten Castle or Kasteel Middachten in Dutch, is a significant and beautiful manor house, located on the Middachten estate, De Steeg, Netherlands. The building we see today dates from 1698. Since 2004 the castle has been a rijksmonument which is a register of Dutch sites of interest. Middachten Castle is part of the Top 100…
Edvard Munch Love and Angst British Museum from 11th April – 21st July 2019 “We do not want pretty pictures to be hung on drawing-room walls. We want… an art that arrests and engages. An art of one’s innermost heart.” – Edvard Munch The creator of art’s most haunting and iconic face. A radical father…
This is said to be the most famous castle in the Netherlands. That will come as a surprise to most tourists, who will likely not have realised that Holland even had any castles. Loevestein Castle will intrigue and delight and have visitors wanting to learn more about the history of this relatively undiscovered region of…
OK, I had not heard of Lambic and that’s mainly because I am not a big beer drinker, but this was something of a revelation …and a delicious one. Lambic is a style of beer brewed mainly in the Pajottenland region of Belgium. These beers include gueuze and kriek lambic, which are both striking and…
A guided tour of Blandy’s 17th century Wine Lodge and its associated Wine Museum, in the centre of Funchal, will reveal some of the art and science that generations of producers have developed, to make a range of delicious, rich and long-lasting wines out of the grapes grown here. There are several excellent table wines,…
From 1 June to 29 September 2019 at The Kröller-Müller The summer exhibition The Beginning of a New World The development of modern sculpture is the perfect occasion to visit the Kröller-Müller. For the first time ever, the museum tells the story of the modern sculpture collection, seen through the eyes of Bram Hammacher, director…
Gaasbeek Castle for a Feast of Fools: Bruegel Rediscovered 6 April 2019 – 28 July 2019 Gaasbeek Castle isn’t far from the thronging city of Brussels, but it is a million miles away with its calming ambiance and leafy location. It’s a former stately home of charm and architectural beauty, and serves as a venue…
Funchal in Madeira is one of my favourite cities and Quinta da Casa Branca has one of my favourite restaurants. That is surely a recipe for delicious contentment and a very happy reviewer. I have not actually stayed at Quinta da Casa Branca but dream of doing so. It is perhaps one of the most…