barefootcontessa

you need to get your picture in front of the acropolis now, don’t you? and i think it is important to get a perspective and feeling on a non-Roman ancient European culture. A lot of tourists but it has to be done.

I spent a wonderful August bank holiday camping weekend here a couple of years ago with one of my best friends… wandering around the bookstores on a search for Mary Stewart (and other) books, meandering through the little print galleries, eating fabulously healthy food, dining at the bottom of the garden of one of the town’s lovely restaurants, kayaking down the Wye River (and falling in!), and walking walking walking through the gorgeous fields. Well worth the visit, whether or not the festival is on. There are a tonne of things to do if you love books, nature and good food!

I’m sure plenty of people have… It was the wonderful 1980s TV mini series which was shown at my Aussie primary school during rainy lunches which led me down this path… I remember the boys squirming with boredom, itching to be outside running around like the little terrors they were, or swinging a cricket bat, whilst the girls sat quietly, enthralled with the turn of the century period clothing, rather large round hair and the rather lurvely Gilbert Blyth (Jonathan Crombie was the actor I believe). The mini series led me to discover the wonderful stories of LM Montgomery – so much more satisfying that the Sweet Valley High stories also in vogue in the 80s (although I have to confess I did enjoy chatting over the wheres and whyfores of the Wakefield twins with friends!)

Stunning… and I made the trip b/c a penfriend had sent me a postcard of the place when she visited there a few years before I did. Friends have raved about it since. Did not get to see the dolphin, whose name I forget, because it was unfortunately overcast when I drove through it.

No Nessie in sight, but did see a lone bagpiper by the wayside, bedecked in kilt and sporran, providing a lurverly and apt soundtrack to the majestic vastness of the loch. It was amazingly cold (but he did have thick wool knee high socks on). Scotland also turned out one of its rare sunny days for my vist and the loch’s deep dark freezing waters looked almost welcoming.

Shame about the highway right next to it, and the fact you can’t get v close to it. But still pretty amazing.

I want to see a Moomintroll!

Is one of the best places EVER to see a band. I saw Radiohead there in the Summer of 2003 – on a balmy 30 degree evening… one of the best nights of my life.

Bloody flipping amazing.

waaaay too many burger joints… but 10 mins of the city proper and you’re in hills and wonderful wonderful countryside!