Travel and Lifestyle Blog
A Bahamas holiday usually sees all our attention turn to the beach, understandably, but lets get to know the Bahamas a bit better shall we, after all – it has personality and character as well as glossy magazine good looks! In a short space of time I came to admire the Bahamas as an industrious, […]
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Calm, relaxed and at peace, that’s how I feel when I’m near the sea, hearing the waves, feasting on an infinite ocean view, my mind is clearer and thoughts come to me more easily. The sea seems charged with emotion, sometimes it’s still, unassuming and beckoning, then within hours, minutes even, it develops an almighty […]
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I’d been meaning to drop by for a while now, sorry I took so long. It was quite something to be engulfed in your sweet spicy air and terracotta backdrop. I must say though, your medina in Marrakech was a bit scary as I span around in a whirlwind of music, animals, prayer chants, snake […]
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People who have had aMorocco holiday seem to have quite strong opinions about the place, I guess that’s because it’s such a distinct country and culturally rich experience (certainly not a predictable and run of the mill holiday destination). Should you believe all the hype about Morocco? Here are a few of my ‘before and […]
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On our way to the Sahara desert we stopped off at Morocco’s well known High Atlas Mountain Hollywood territory, the Red Citadel of Morocco, Citadel of Ait Benhaddou in the town of Ouarzazate. Caravans of camels used to used to stop here whilst heading to Marrakech from the Sahara. It’s also a very popular stand […]
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“Berber peopleย live simple lives and make the most of the resources they have”. In the big cities like Casablanca and Marrakech however, “people are always running, rushing around, they have everything the need but they’re never happy, they’re always wanting more” namely money, said one of our guides. Berber Life in the Atlas Mountains […]
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Another Moroccan tourist highlight is the quaint ‘Maison Tiskiwin’ which houses an impressive collection of Moroccan art work, and artefacts from Bert Flint’s art collection. There are strong Berber/African/Saharan themes running through the collection and the riad style house is built around small decorative courtyard.
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Yes, Bahai Palace is one of the most commonly talked about tourist attractions in Marrakech and it seems like absolutely everyone goes there in droves, but I actually found Bahai Palace to be quite impressive and worth the whistle stop visit. Everywhere you look there are ornate arches, exquisite ceilings, handsome doors and colourful mosaics, […]
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When you visit Morocco, you’ll probably end up buying a bottle or argan oil – you’ll see it for sale pretty much everywhere. Hand made items and the opportunity to see local people making and producing them is always a real privilege to witness when visiting another country. It takes a lot of nimble fingers […]
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The goats in trees phenomenon is something you have to see for yourself to truly beleive it, even after you’ve seen countless social media pictures. But first let me tell you about the endless platters of food that kept coming to the table during a dinner at a Marrakech riad. I think this might just […]
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You will never be underwhelmed by Marrakech, it lives up to it’s reputation and has you in a trance the moment you arrive. Marrakesh is the centre point of Moroccan tourism, bursting with colour, movement, smells and sounds to make you forget the world you left behind when you stepped of the plane. I enjoyed […]
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So you want to camp with Moroccan nomads in the sand dunes of the Sahara desert, ride camels for transport with a camp fire warm you up and the stars to keep you entertained at night. Well you can in Zagora, Morocco
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Dear Mauritius I had anticipated meeting you for a very long time, your beaches, cuisine and tropical beauty. I am truly grateful to have had that pleasure – you were just as beautiful as your pictures, no filters needed, you did not disappoint. I was mesmerised by your ebony forests, those trees take so long […]
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Imagine feeling like you’re on a deserted island, wading through shallow waters that sweep round a huge curve before leading into the most dazzling sapphire blue ocean….that’s what you’ll experience if you take a boat trip to Ile Aux Cerfs in Mauritius, it was truly stunning, with a beautiful contrast between the two waters. This […]
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A few more snapshots. Mont Choisy Beach A more low key version of Flic en Flac beach. Views from the highest point on the island… Just around the corner – a craft and specialist cashmere outlet.
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I’m not going to bore you with all the predictable information that you get in the guide books – nope. I’ll bore you with some of my random holiday chatter instead – over a cuppa’ of course, so lets get the kettle on. Shattered Yep, that’s how I felt when I finally landed in Mauritius […]
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What a fabulous place, a tropical hideaway. Even if you’re not interested in animals, you’ll enjoy the rainforest ambience, the walking trails through the lush fog of trees, and the music from various exotic bird calls. La Vanille Nature Park in Mauritius is home to some very old tortoises and various other animals, including farm […]
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In Mauritius, the south of the island hosts the protected ebony rainforest, which also happens to be in the Chamarel region, it’s incredible to think that almost all the island used to be covered with ebony trees, before the Dutch exploited it in the 17th century. It was a cloudy, rainy day, misty in places, […]
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Shopping, markets, museums, presidential buildings and places of worship –ย you’ll find it all in Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, situated in the north of the island. All around, there seemed to be new buildings being constructed and a general sense that there is a lot of visible investment and regeneration underway. The fruit […]
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The Coin De Mire Attitude isย a boutique hotel set in garden style plot, just a stones throw away from a beach that offers views of Coin De Mire Island. On arrival you’ll receive a very warm and personal welcome, which extends throughout the stay as it seems the staff can’t do enough to make […]
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Next, a quick visit to one of the best sugar factories I’ve see on my travels so far,ย (well actually it wasn’t quick, itย was a pretty long visit given the size of the factory and outside grounds) an interesting tour at theย LโAventure du Sucreย (Sugar Adventure), in Pamplemousse Mauritius. You’ll learn some of the history behind […]
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All this sightseeing works up quite an appetite, so it’s time for some lunch, followed by a bit of rum and jam tasting in Chamarel. The jam was more my thing, I couldn’t resist coming home with a few jars – the guava jam was really really good!
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More sightseeing in the south western region of Mauritius, enjoying the views from the popular Black River Gorges National Park, with it’s vast expanse of rainforest before taking in the wonder of the seven coloured earth, at Chamarel. Seven Coloured Earth, Chamarel. Black River Gorges National Park
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What a beautifully written story, a true story. The author of ‘The Amazing Story of the Man who Travelled to India for Love’ uses such rich and vivid description that I felt like ‘I was there’ with the characters right from the opening chapter, absorbing the sounds, their sights, tastes, thoughts and feelings throughout. The […]
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Well all the guide books, blogs, reviews and word of mouth echo the same thing reallyย – ‘when in Mauritius, Flic en Flac is the beach of choice’, it’s on the west coast and rated as one of the best beaches in Mauritius and a must on your list of places to go whilst on […]
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First stop, first impressions – beautiful, and a welcome sight after an 18 hour haul. The Veranda Grand Baie in Mauritius is set amongst lush green surroundings and giant palm trees. Rooms look like little cottages (reminiscent of the Veranda Resort & Spa in Antigua). A huge selling point with this hotel is it’s proximity […]
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This small fish market on the mauritian sea front of Grand Baie caught my eye with the dazzling rainbow of colours laid out beautifully for sale, local fishermen gather here most afternoons to display and sell their day’s catch.
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So you’re thinking about a holiday to Mauritius? Who can blame you, it’s a little slice of irresistible paradise. Lets start with Grand Baie, probably one of the most talked about shopping hubs for tourists. Grand Baie is very touristy, yes that much is true but it still feels very down to earth with plenty […]
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On my last leg of exploring Wales, I paused to remember the fact that although Wales is part of the United Kingdom, Wales is still a separate country and not part of Great Britain, despite welsh land being joined to mainland Britain. ย Wales has a language of its own, along with a unique flag and […]
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Thirteenth century Laugharne Castle offers yet another snippet of historic Welsh ruins and somewhat sombre scenery. SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave
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When in Wales, you never get tired of castles, so here’s another magnificent beauty,ย Carreg Cennen Castle, in Carmarthenshire near the River Cennen. ย Building began around the fourth century, yet it’s ruins are incredibly well preserved, and majestic. It’s a steep walk, great for the legs and the views are worth every step. “One of the […]
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Adventure junkies, beach bums, sun seekers….whoever you are, how do you cope with the lull when there’s no trip in sight?
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More insights from the beautiful island and people of Cuba. Cienfuegos actually means ‘one hundred fires’. Cienfuegos is where theย revolutionary uprising against Fulgencio Batista took place.
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A few snapshots taken while wondering around the Santa Maria, the main tourist hub in Sal, Cape Verde. SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave
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