Sharing Travel Experiences

Serendipity London

Travel takes planning. At least when the destination is a major city like London and the time is limited. Know when the museums are open, what is available at the half price ticket booth, where the latest hot spots are for dining. As a totally obsessive organization freak, that’s what I’ve always done. But his time, other than booking the hotel, my planning started by listening to our friendly American Airlines steward between New York and Heathrow. My travel companion and I appreciated his advice—and the nice glass of wine he brought us from first class.

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Bath: England’s Loveliest Town?

One of my friends is headed to London this summer and wanted tips for sightseeing outside of his trip to London. I told him he had to go to Bath, a lovely little town, and then I realised we’ve never talked about it here! So here are my top Bath Sightseeing tips and must-do experiences – whether you’re just here for a daytrip from London, or plan on making it a long weekend here in this idyllic getaway.

Pay Thanks to the Romans

We can thank the Romans for their strong influence here in Bath; if you visit, you cannot leave without visiting the Roman Baths.  They’re the best baths I have ever seen – that includes baths I have visited in both France and Italy.   This is where the Bath sightseeing trade got its start, as a tourist town in the Roman era for those that wanted to come here and experience the hot springs.  You can’t (and wouldn’t) want to get wet here at the Roman baths, but at the Thermae baths across the street you can enjoy the healing properties.

Once you’ve finished at the Baths, be sure to check out the adjacent Bath Abbey.  The view from the top is fantastic, and as most English abbeys go, you’ll find beautiful stained glass windows and architectural marvels.

Georgian Architecture

As mentioned in our architectural tourism suggestions, Bath is home to some of the world’s best architecture, and you can look no further than the incredible Royal Crecent as well as Bath Circus.  Maybe it’s just me and my soft spot for Georgian architecture, but these spotless terrace homes are simply gorgeous.  If you only see one thing in your Bath sightseeing adventures, this is it.  It’s several blocks from the city centre, but well worth it; many if not all of the bus tour companies will let you stop here for the obligatory photo stop and jaw-drop.

Pulteney Bridge

Again, if you’re in Bath, sightseeing on your own or with a group, you will not miss the Pulteney Bridge & Pulteney Weir. The weir is that weird, boomerang-shaped thing in the water – it was built in the 1970’s to help stop flooring into the city centre.  The bridge above it,  was opened in 1773 and is one of four bridges in the world with shops across the façade.  Be sure to walk around to see the opposite side of the bridge – not as majestic as the view above, but still quite unique.

Prior Park Gardens

Prior Park is another must-see Bath sightseeing stop.  You’ll have a chance to walk across one of the few remaining Palladian Bridges (pictured above) in the world – a beautiful covered bridge style designed by renaissance architect Andrea Palladio.  The park has some spectacular views over the valley; top tip is to walk the six-mile “Bath Skyline,” a circular route that stops all the historic attractions in the park.

As parks go, there are also other fine options: Parade Gardens (small fee for non-locals), Victoria Park, and Sydney Gardens.

Got Buns?

Many say that Bath isn’t necessarily a culinary hot spot, and I’m not sure I would agree.  Yes, the city does not have a wild diversity of restaurant choice, but what they do have is quite tasty.  You can’t end your Bath sightseeing days without getting some buns.  And by that, I mean either a Sally Lunn bun or a Bath bun.  Sally Lunn is part-museum and part-cafe/bakery, and it’s the oldest house in Bath – so why not check it out.  Sally Lunn buns are a yeasty treat, where as the Bath bun is a sugar sensation:  baked with lumps of sugar in the bottom, with sultanas inside and a dusting of sugar on top.  If you have a sweet tooth, you need a Bath bun.

One Last Tip

Don’t miss our recommended Bath sightseeing travel guide below – it’s a Jane Austin walking tour guide, and it’s brilliant!  Includes cafe, restaurant recommendations and other insights.

Photo Credits:  Nigel, ell brown, Boobooo, chilihead

London: Love It or Hate It

The world is full of “those types of places” – you know the ones – that people either love or hate.  Melbourne might be one.  Tijuana too.  But the one city in the world that is move take-it-or-leave-it than any other must be, without a doubt, the UK’s capital city and bustling metropolis, London.

I can’t decide whether I love London or hate it.  Probably a bit of both.  It is a huge place with so many things to see and do, but it’s also crowded and sometimes dirty and oh-so-inordinately expensive.  But there’s no where in the world like it, so here’s some thoughts.  I’ll let you make up your own mind.

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Drunk on Tea & Scones in the UK's Favourite City, York

I went to York, a reasonably sized village in the north of England, with high expectations. It’s been voted one of the UK’s most favourite cities many a time and most people I know who have been rave about it. Nonetheless, I wasn’t disappointed; with charm and grace, York welcomed me with open arms. Here’s a few excerpts from my adventure.

Walls, Bars, and Gates

A lot of people will tell you this and I’d be remiss not to: you must walk the York city walls. They’re some of the most well intact in Great Britain and except for a small section, you can nearly walk in a full circle. Most choose to walk the narrow, crowded bit just behind York Minster, which is a must because of the excellent views of the cathedral. However, do a full lap. You get a good appreciation for the architecture throughout the city and a bird’s eye view of some sights. Most don’t tend to venture far along the walls so you might even have it to yourself.

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Peace and Tranquility in Durham City

I was recently invited to Durham City in Northeast England for their UK Peace and Tranquility Week event. While I did leave feeling peaceful and more tranquil, I also left reflecting on the wonders of the Durham experience. I think no one better describes it than urban planner Thomas Sharp in his vision for Durham entitled “Cathedral City – a plan for Durham:”

“Nature has presented Durham with a site which makes it one of the guide-book features of Western Europe. Were Durham nothing but a site, it would still deserve to be a show piece: but it is still much more, a cathedral city, a university and a County town”

A rower on the river just off the city centre

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Seven Amazing Places to See the Summer Solstice

Summer Solstice.  You know, the longest days of the year.  They provide fascinating backdrops for some of the world’s most enigmatic sighting spots.  Here are seven spots where, on the day of a summer solstice, you can see the work and legacy of people (sometimes long gone) really shine…

Stonhenge – England

Summer solstice at Stonehenge is a party!

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Inspired by Water

When I first saw a huge expanse of water, I screamed and ran the other way – at least that’s the way my parents tell it. It wasn’t the best start for the water baby I later became. For me, nothing beats being close to the water, whether it’s to swim in it, look at it or enjoy the sound it makes. Whether it’s burbling or crashing, I find the sound of running water not only soothing, but inspirational. It encourages reflection, calms the mind and just makes me feel good. Here are a few of my favorite watering holes.

Concord Falls, Grenada

by Kambiz Kamrani

I don’t remember how long it took me to walk up the hill to Concord Falls. I was staying in the village of Concord and we set out one morning after breakfast to make the trek into the hills. I have no idea how what the distance was – but we seemed to be walking for miles, first up the winding road then through the bushes until I thought my legs would give out. Finally we rounded a corner and there was a small waterfall, splashing into what looked like a cool, green pool. I dived straight in, and almost immediately shot out again – it was freezing! Up in the mountains, the temperatures were more like a cool spring evening than a Caribbean summer day. I soon got used to it and relaxed, enjoying the constant splashing. This is just one of the many things to do in Grenada; it’s on the list of places I’d like to return to one day.

The Mediterranean, Nice, Cannes, France

The Med is not typically what you think of as a restful place. For someone used to Caribbean beaches, the beach at Nice isn’t even that great (too many rocks, ugh!). But you can’t beat it for sheer grandeur. Being able to stare across the ocean and see nothing else in front of you, or gaze into the murky blue depths, has its attractions. The first time I visited Nice (in the middle of a year in France), it was early in the year, before the tourist hordes had descended. It was relatively quiet and I was able to sit in the sun and stare out towards the horizon.

Attenborough Nature Reserve, Nottingham, England

by stoneflower

This is one natural attraction on my doorstep that I actually appreciated. The Attenborough Nature Reserve stretches for several miles through Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, near the River Trent. It looks like a large lake, but isn’t, and the tops of trees rise from the middle of the water. A winding path takes you all along the reserve, where you can see ducks, swans and other birds – lots of them.

Dotted around the reserve are wooden benches that blend in with the scenery – those were my favorite place to sit and think. One of my strongest memories of the place, though, was not at all restful. We were walking our dog, Jodie, who was getting on a bit and turning a bit deaf, when, as always she jumped into the water. The only problem was, she was heading for the trees in the middle and couldn’t hear us calling her back. It seemed the louder we called, the harder she swam – and we were just thinking about a rescue operation when, to our relief, she turned around and headed back to shore. Phew!

Browne’s Beach, Barbados

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by carolynhack

Forget about Sandy Lane – this is the best beach in Barbados, in my book. A few miles of pristine white sand, clear blue water and a few trees. What I like about this location, apart from the water, is that it’s a beach that the locals use. Go early in the morning and you will see people from the area standing around in the sea chatting with their neighbors. Go a little later and the exercise buffs come out to walk or run before taking a refreshing dip. Even when there are lots of people there, the beach is hardly ever crowded, so it’s easy to find a quiet spot to sit and people watch. Life doesn’t get much better.

Great Places to Take Your Difficult-to-Please Teenager

Taking small children on holiday can be a hassle but the frustrations usually arise from the fusses and practicalities of planning for little ones, rather than resistance from the children themselves. That all changes as they veer into teendom, when suddenly the idea of going on a family holiday with their parents just doesn’t cut it. It’s natural but how can you combat the lethargy and get them excited at the prospect of a holiday with you? At Globalista we’ve put together a list of bonding boltholes that we think are likely to keep even the most difficult-to-please of teenagers satisfied:

Glaciers in Patagonia

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