As soon as I arrive in Paris my olfactory senses kick into action. I know I am surrounded by old European culture. It’s a fragrance distinct to Paris, just as so many other cities have their own unique scent. They say that smell is the sense with the strongest powers of producing nostalgia. The ability to reignite our memories. Read More
Responsible travel is all about helping to share some of the benefits of tourism with local people without causing negative effects on either the environment or their culture.
I’m in favour of this and hence this post all about it.
It’s vital so that local communities can share the creation of positive employment, better working conditions and increased standards of living from our visit rather than be detrimentally affected. Read More
It was a very special encounter dating back to a decision I made in 2002.
It touched me more than all of Ecuador’s beauty and diversity. My decision changed a life for a cute, shy little girl in Quito, then aged 6. Read More
We were keen to support a local Peruvian company that took great care of it’s porters. For us the satisfaction of having completed the trek and arriving at the spectacular Inca ruins of Machu Picchu was hard to beat.
However one of the things we could not have done without is the porters and the feeling was even better knowing the porters have been well looked after and treated with the respect and dignity that they deserve. Read More
Our Cusco history lessons end with the Colourful Festival of the Sun Inti Raymi.
This festival or pageant originates from the Incas who worshipped the sun.
We have timed our trip so that we are here during the Winter Solstice. This means that we get to witness the wonderful celebrations of Corpus Christ and Int Raymi. Read More
Everyone knows a French baguette.
If you are very French, you buy one from the boulangerie and walk down the streets of Paris ripping chunks off to eat. We join them in doing so and feel a wee bit French ourselves.
We find varying qualities of French baguette from different boulangeries and the result is that we become actually quite fussy about this french tradition. Read More
Picture this, we have just hiked the arduous 4 days in the Inca Trail and now we get to lax out on a 10 hour luxury ride to Puno, aboard the Andean Explorer. Is there such a thing as luxury train travel Peru? Sure is, our route to Puno and Lake Titicaca is riding the luxurious Andean Explorer.
Long before the Spanish discovered South America, the native populations knew how to cultivate an incredible array of plants. They developed elaborate irrigation systems, and terraced the steep Andean mountain slopes to make them more suitable for growing food.They acclimatised their seed to grow at high altitude and grew corn, lima beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, chilli peppers, avocados, peanuts, chocolate, and raised llamas and guinea pigs. Read More
When in Rome…? Well, when in France eat what the French eat.
French cuisine is a mixture of sophisticated refined gourmet a la carte dining and hearty rustic fare.
We have a habit of buying “deux baguettes” each day, one for lunch and one for nibbles with cheese and wine…soo French and soo nice. Read More
