The Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards Announce 2018 Shortlist

Posted on January 11, 2018 by Tracy Baines

The Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards, in association with luxury tailor made travel specialist Hayes & Jarvis, has announced its shortlist for 2018. The Awards celebrate the best travel writing and travel writers in the world.

With 43 titles whisking readers to over 150 countries across seven categories, these awards celebrate both multi-award-winning authors and inspirational debuts from over 15 countries. These awards recognise the escapist, ingenious and inspirational qualities of travel writing in all its forms, including fiction, nonfiction and memoir, children’s books, cookery books illustrated adult nonfiction and Travel blogs.

The award categories are:

Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year, in partnership with The Authors’ Club
Hayes & Jarvis Fiction, with a Sense of Place
Wanderlust Adventure Travel Book of the Year
Food and Travel Magazine Travel Cookery Book of the Year
Destinations Show Photography & Illustrated Travel Book of the Year
Marco Polo Outstanding General Travel Themed Book of the Year
London Book Fair Children’s Travel Book of the Year
Bradt Travel Guides New Travel Writer of the Year
Lonely Planet Pathfinders Travel Blog of the Year

In addition to the above, the awards also include the Outstanding Contribution to Travel Writing award. Six of these categories are open to a public vote which, combined with the judges’ verdict, will determine the 2018 winners. These include: Fiction, with a Sense of Place, Adventure Travel Book of the Year, Travel Cookery Book of the Year, Illustrated & Photography Travel Book of the Year, Outstanding Travel Themed Book of the Year and Children’s Travel Book of the Year. Readers can cast their vote here edwardstanfordawards.com/vote, and two voters will be in with the chance to win a set of 10 travel books.

The winners will be announced at a star-studded dinner on 1st February 2018 during the Stanfords Travel Writers Festival at Destinations: The Holiday and Travel Show at Olympia.

The winner of the Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year (in partnership with The Authors’ Club) receives £5,000 and all winners receive an antique globe trophy, to be presented at the awards ceremony.

The first Edward Stanford Award for Outstanding Contribution to Travel Writing was awarded to Bill Bryson and last year the award was presented to Michael Palin by Levison Wood who also won an award for his book Walking the Himalayas.

The full shortlist can be found at www.edwardstanfordawards.com

My Local Temple Time by Alex Bannard Bangkok Correspondent

Posted on July 5, 2016 by Margaret Graham

A bicycle ride to a local temple provides the perfect respite from modern day annoyances for Alex.

I have a friend who is a practicing Buddhist. It has helped her through some traumatic times and she shares the benefits, techniques and insights of shamatha with me and a few others in a weekly meditation class. I love it. I find the style of meditation too prescriptive sometimes, but to spend 2 hours every week consciously coming back to oneself, focusing on the breathe, the senses or emotions before allowing the mind some freedom to just be is simply liberating. I have yet to encounter one of those life changing insights and feel a long way from enlightenment but I really believe in the therapeutic benefits of meditation and mindfulness.

When we first met we agreed we would head off on our bikes to explore a local temple. Of course life takes over and the months went by and then suddenly opportunity presented itself and off we headed. We came out of our Moobaan and snuck through a little entrance, carrying our bikes along a mud path scattered with litter alongside an algae and no doubt mosquito-infested swamp with wooden and corrugated iron roofed shacks perched on its banks. I knew this was going to be fun.

You see living as we do in a gated community alongside other Farang and the more affluent of Thai society with housekeeper and driver assisting to our daily needs it is easy to forget the real side of Thailand. As we cycled along the path alongside the stinking Klong (canal) you cannot escape it. And I love that. It makes life here so much more real. Because for the vast majority in Thailand life is dirty, gritty and hard. Many people even in Bangkok live in small wooden huts some on stilts others alongside main roads, under over-passes, alongside the waterways. You cannot escape their lives as you pass: 3 generations hunched over noodle soup on wooden stools having their lunch with the TV blaring.

In other homes, women swing in their hammocks and nod or cheerfully say ‘Sawadee’ with bare-footed children scampering at their feet. Because that’s the other thing, the Thais are extremely friendly and very non judgemental. They are fascinated, especially the kids, to see 2 Farang on their bikes, teetering along the narrow path alongside the Klong. Seeing the waterway underneath swimming with plastic bottles and other rubbish it crossed my mind that we are only months away from what is being forecast as the wettest rainy season in decades. How many of these homes resting so precariously close to the water’s edge would be washed away in the floods? It is ironic, that the country is in the depths of drought and on the back of the hottest summer for years, and this monsoon season people’s livesare likely to be destroyed by the water they so badly desire.

As we came off the path and cycled along the back streets, the houses became more substantial, some were concrete rather than wood. There were even cars parked outside some and gardens. And it is obvious the pride people have in their homes keeping despite the poverty. We cycled through a Muslim area and passed the school which was based in the mosque. We cycled further along the Klong, carrying our bikes up the steps and over the bridges until we came to the temple complex.

Thai temples are ornate and spectacular and this was no exception. We walked clockwise around the complex – three times – bringing good luck. We ventured into the Ordination Hall where seven monks were leading some kind of devotion whilst worshippers ate their lunch, sitting on the floor feet tucked away from the saffron robed monks.

One of the monks approached us to say hello and tell us about a 3 day festival celebrating the re-gilding of the Buddha. He escorted us outside to see the actually Buddha which would be restored to its golden glory and then took us to the back corner of the complex where women were preparing food, eating and also loading wood into the kiln to keep a sauna going which the monks and nuns use daily.

It was fascinating: the monk’s openness and willingness to share insights into their daily lives and rituals; seeing the nuns in their white robes and shaved heads which previously I hadn’t seen; and being privy to the real sense of community within the temple’s complex. It was such a serene and calm place that my previous slightly frustrated mood evaporated eased. It was the kind of serenity and soul the popular tourist temples somehow fail to deliver. But then without a sea of selfie sticks and hoards of noisy tourists it is no wonder really.

We cycled home mostly through the back streets hoping the threatened downpour would evade us at least until we were close by. We emerged on a different approach to our moonbaan perhaps reflective of the different approach we would be embracing during the afternoon: one of gratitude, serenity and inner calm as so often a journey off the beaten track induces.

Another week of back to back diverse but delightful experiences by Alex Bannard – Bangkok correspondent

Posted on May 31, 2016 by Margaret Graham

When we came to Bangkok I really thought I would achieve so much. Nine months in I realize if you achieve one thing a day you are doing well. So when I have a week of back to back opportunities in which to experience the weird and the wonderful of Bangkok, I utterly relish it.

It all started with 2 nights retreat on the river in Amphawa – home of the original authentic floating market and many a temple. It was literally sunset yoga on the river; merit-making with monks in boats at sunrise, a completely beautifully serene and peaceful way to start the day; post-merits yoga on the pontoon on the river; spa treatments including acupuncture, a needle literally inserted in my third eye, hot herbal bath, probably my first and last bath in Thailand because it was SO hot and a Thai massage.

Later, a soaking in fizz, closely followed by a drenching in river water (in my remaining clean outfit so I travelled home smelling like a Thai drain puddle) and some rather spectacular firefly demonstrations on the river bank. The trees were lit up like Christmas trees. And a finale of sunrise om floating on the river and reiki. The whole experience was complete zen.

On returning home it was a back to back birthday extravaganza…first a 5 year old’s birthday welcomed us back to our Moobaan, more fizz, more fun, no soakings. Then my birthday: kids made fabulous cards and Mr P excelled himself on the present front; brunch with my BKK-Bessie’s and another amaze-balls gift; rooftop bar drinks with Mr P and a delish Indian tandoori dinner…lots of time to reflect that getting older is really getting more fun.

The following day my friend, Meghan and I headed off to Chinatown on the hunt for fabric. Despite better and wiser advise, that the last Friday before the Thai schools went back was a bad day to go, off we set. Bts, tuk tuk & taxi with intermittent footwork and we arrived in Little India. We were scouting through the rolls of fabric before 11am in Indian Emporium – a result in itself. Made a purchase: some cool linens for 100bht/m. Next stall…linen 50bht/m…fatal school girl error. Much friendlier proprietors so to compensate I went mad on a colour palette reminiscent of the river: khaki, slate, Air Force blue, ocra…I do love colour but my skin tone suits, well pond water shades.

On Saturday one of my 4 birthday twins invited me to a Grease night to celebrate her 40th. Once I realized the Mr’s weren’t invited it was game on for me. 50’s skirts and fitted tops were sourced. A pink wig was secured. I was good to go.

What a night. Slick smooth and stylish it was not. Fun, raucous and silly it most definitely was. We laughed, sang loudly, danced hysterically and it was fabulous. Never in a million years had I even anticipated the previous, as our look see in Bangkok came to an end, that a year later my birthday week would be ending like this. And I think that unpredictability is what I love most about Bangkok. Anything is possible and anything goes.

Afterwards we went to Titanium. I was totally expecting a mega club, but instead it is a small bar with a live band. We looked rather like a hen do, all dressed same and so unfortunately attracted attention in that vein. I had to keep myself in check as there were more than a few fat ugly Farang with their trophy Thai gals, a side to Thailand that challenges my non-judgemental yoga principles and my face muscles – I am completely transparent and you can tell exactly how I am feeling by the look on my face. The all girl live band were awesome. The bonkers Ozzie and his scary ‘tash, not so much. But we danced some more, drank some more and laughed a lot more. Then I journeyed all the way home, itchy ghastly wig still in situ if not a little wonky, with possibly the jolliest taxi driver ever – a real life happy Buddha.

And that’s how life is sometimes in Bangkok. Back to back experiences, sense overload, a fun-fest. And I love it, I absolutely love that life flits between the sublime and the ridiculous so effortlessly!and so regularly.

The Golden Mount & Baan Bat by Alex Bannard | Bangkok Correspondent

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Margaret Graham

I was delighted, soon after arriving in Bangkok, to meet a fabulous and inspiring neighbour who is a practicing Buddhist. This is a philosophy I have enormous respect for and a fascinated interest in, but she was also planning on starting a meditation course which had been on my Bangkok bucket list from the start.

Being a huge fan of yoga and mindfulness I was intrigued to learn the spiritual art of real life Buddhist meditation. As our guru has the most enchanting French accent, I felt that if it all proved a bit much, her voice would be like a meditation on its own.

She suggested we visit the area where the monks’ alms bowls are made. I am a traveller at heart and have backpacked clutching my Lonely Planet many times. I was all in.

We took the water taxi for Bang Sapi pier near our Moobaan. This is an adventure in itself. For 20bht we went all the way from Bang Sapi up to the temple at the Golden Mount, Wat Saket, changing only once. I love the people watching opportunities this kind of adventure affords.

The boat was packed, yet at every stop as people disembarked, yet more people embarked. The only person wearing a lift jacket, predictably was the girl taking the money and dispensing the tickets – you must protect the assets after all. The sights of local people living their lives alongside the river were extraordinary and the smells were…well it’s Bangkok I don’t need to elaborate. I loved it.

When we got to Wat Saket as it was Loi Krathong week, there was a fun fair and collection of stalls. This happens every year and there is a wonderful carnival energy surrounding the streets. The temple sits on a small man made hill up 300 steps which circle the mount, revealing fabulous views of the city.

The Mount itself during Loi Krathong is shrouded in red cloth and is a popular pilgrimage for local people who write on the cloth. I wrote a message for a friend who badly needed better karma…I hope it worked.

After some time at the top soaking in the atmosphere and appreciating seeing the city from above, we headed off to Baan Bat. Almost all Buddhist monks have alms bowls and begin the day collecting offerings from the local community, a custom that dates back 2,500 years. Nowadays almost all the bowls are manufactured but there remains in the alleys surrounding The Golden Mount, one last soi dedicated to the ancient art of alms bowl making.

The bowls are hand made by battering steel into shape and decorating it and the community remains and functions in exactly the same place, albeit in a slightly different fashion (I did see a surprising number of tablets of the electronic variety keeping the children entertained) and in much smaller numbers.

Over the years a thriving industry has been reduced leaving just one family making the traditional bowls although the surrounding area still functions in some way to support the monks with various temple supply shops. The whole area is worth exploring and like everywhere in Thailand the people are welcoming and friendly.

Before long it was time to return to the water taxi and head home for pick up, alms bowl under arm after some nifty bargaining. I should donate it to the faithful monks but I like it too much.

A Weekend In Rome: Fall For The The Eternal City In 48 Hours

Posted on July 18, 2015 by Holly Thomas

by Holly Thomas. All images copyright Holly Thomas [Twitter, Instagram: @HolstaT]

Rome might not have been built in a day, but with enough pizza bianca under your belt you can sure fall for it in one. Here are a few unmissables you should squeeze in between slices…

The Walk up the Via dei Fori Imperiali

[Make this your route to the Colloseum, and in ten minutes you’ll see enough of Ancient Rome to make your trip worthwhile]

Start early at the Piazza Venezia. Avoid the overpriced ice cream (tends to be better when found down a side street), and start down the Via dei Fori. On your right you’ll pass the Altar of the Fatherland, which looms massively over the square, a fantastic titan-scale monument honouring the city’s fallen soldiers.

Trot a little further and on your left, you’ll see the Foro di Augusto, the ruins of a forum which once served both as a temple to Mars, and space for legal proceedings. It’s classic Ancient Rome, slick efficiency coupled with due deference to conquest. If it’s dry, you can head down the steps below street level and wander through the remains.

[I never cease to be impressed by the gumption of national heritage sites which allow this – tourist footfall must be eroding the SHIT out of everything, surely?]

A little further up on your right, past the Julius Caesar statue, you’ll see the Roman Forum. It’s architectural excavation on a huge scale – like a valley of ruins overlooked on all sides by 2000-year-old temples, government buildings, and palaces. Get a guide to explain all this to you properly (on which more later).

Next on your right is the beautiful Basilica SS Cosma e Damiano. A very lovely building, but by this point you’ll be having trouble tearing your eyes away from the main event…

The Colosseum

It’s staggering, no hyperbole. This was my favourite thing in the city. See the Colloseum, and you’ll understand why the Romans thought so very much of themselves for 500 years. Even beyond the scale and majesty of the building itself, it encapsulates an idea of Rome (my apologies to Ridley Scott), that no number of churches can match. It’s brutal, imperial, clever, showbusiness, business business, it’s everything you want it to be.

Book a tour

Give yourself up to the socks and sandals legions. Ruins are very lovely to look at, but they take on such greater significance when someone explains what exactly you’re seeing, and this is history. A good guide can tell you how the cunning Romans drained their valley-straddling city, where the centre mile is (all roads lead to…), where the citizens had to apply for planning permission, and how one vestal “virgin” evaded being buried alive when she discovered she was pregnant. Go to the top of the hill where the orange trees grow for a stunning panoramic view of the old city, and don’t be shy to ask your guide to pause while you take the pictures it deserves.

Make sure that your tour includes both the under-stage level of the colosseum and the third tier. It’s a little more expensive, but a worthwhile education. Stand on the lights in the tunnels and imagine yourself one of hundreds of slaves preparing hundreds of desperate, dangerous animals for their moment in the spotlight. Then when you’ve climbed to the top, you can better imagine the view of the gladiators – the most expensive beasts in the Colosseum – making their bloody names on the stage.

Go to lunch at Al Cardello, which is tucked away behind the guide office. It’s small and sweet, with the modest seating open onto the kitchen. Diners speak softly to preserve the peace just a stone’s throw away from the busiest tourist area in the city. It helps that the food (the traditional menu you’ll see everywhere – grilled vegetables, pesce, carne, pasta) is prepared with great care, and quite delicious enough to command your full attention.

After eating, you can nip around the corner to see Michelangelo’s Moses at Basilica di San Pietro in Vincoli.

Take a wander towards the Spanish Steps. If you’re parched for green space, continue beyond the steps and into the park behind. Aim yourself at the Temple of Asceplius for photos opps. Be sure to get back to the top of the steps in time for sunset, though…

The Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

Well, obviously, but might as well if you’re in the neighbourhood, right? It’s €16 for the museum and chapel. Give it a good half day – if you were to attempt to look at everything in the Vatican you’d be camping there a month, but a few hours will give you a good sense of the place, and get you comfortably to saturation point on the fresco-and-sculpture front.

Of course, you’ll also drop into The Basilica of St Paul. If you’d rather do so without buying the full Vatican ticket, you can enter via the Roman square, but get their early (before eight) to avoid the staggering queue. Bear in mind that the Pope likes to swing by without forewarning sometimes, and when he does, the church is closed to the public.

If you have some time to kill…

… and are in the mood for a little educational Schadenfreude, head to the Museo Criminologico. This former prison now houses the most satisfyingly macabre collection you could wish to lose an hour or so gawping at. Observe, the spiked iron collar placed on “chattering” women in the seventeenth century! The skeleton of some poor bastard left to die suspended in a metal cage! The torture seat which had a fire lit underneath! I loved every minute in this place.

Toulouse City Guide | Travel

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Catherine Balavage

Sometimes it is hard being a writer and editor, especially one with their own magazine. Going to the South of France to review Toulouse was not one of those times. In fact, it is now one of my favourite places in the entire world and I will definitely be returning. The Pink City of Haut-Garonne is called the pink city because of the brickwork of the buildings. It is the 4th largest city in France with 437,000 inhabitants and it is beautiful, dynamic and friendly.

We flew with BMI Regional via Birmingham. We also had a great time in the No.1 Traveller lounge at Birmingham Airport before flying to Toulouse Business Class. The flight was incredibly enjoyable and included free food and drink. The service on-board was also great. Our air steward, Michael Love, seemed to know what we wanted before we did and kept us happy with Gin & Tonics and brilliant, yes it is possible, plane food.

Toulouse is the birthplace of Concorde, the Ariane Rocket and the home of Airbus.Toulouse has also had a 100-year love affair with rugby. Stade Toulousain are one of the Northern Hemispheres best teams. 7 million passengers are transported via Toulouse Blagnac Airport every year.

Toulouse has more than 2000 hours of sun a year and more than 1000 restaurants. Sold yet? Whether the answer is yes or no, read on….

We arrived in Toulouse via Toulouse Blagnac Airport, a beautiful and stylish airport and made our way to our hotel, the Citiz Hotel, a modern four star hotel in the heart of Toulouse. It opened in 2010. The hotel has air-conditioning, free wifi and a car park near the hotel entrance. The hotel faces Wilson square and is only a 15 minute drive from Blagnac airport. My hotel room was incredibly stylish, the bed was large and comfy, the bathroom was elegant and the shower powerful. There was a minibar, safe and a flatscreen TV. I also had a balcony and a wardrobe. The hotel also does a great breakfast spread and the staff are very helpful.

Rio Loco, the world music festival that happens every year on the 21st of June to get all of France partying, happened while we were there. We had lots of fun listening to all of the different music and went to bed in the early hours.It was like one huge street party. Definitely recommended.

We went on a walking tour offered by the Toulouse Tourist Board.This was informative and very enjoyable, a great way to see the city. Great things to see include The Capitole (the City Hall), Saint-Sernin Basilica, The Jacobins Convent, The Hotel d’Assezat (built by Nicholas Bachelier for Pierre d’Assezat who made his fortune from Woad, a plant used in dyeing. More of which later), the river Garonne and The Augustins Museum, an amazing fine arts museum with beautiful pieces. It has a lot of 19th century sculptures.

J’Go, 16 Place Victor Hugo, 31000 Toulouse. Tel: 05 61 23 02 03. They accommodate people regardless of importance and budget and have authentic cuisine from the love of Gascon culture. The fruit and vegetables are grown by farmers in the South West and is in season. They also buy the whole carcass of animals from farmers in their region. The food we had was amazing and a brass band started playing outside while we were eating. The waiter also really knew his stuff. Check the pictures out here.

Cite de L’Espace. Avenue Jean Gonord – BP 25855 – 31506 Toulouse cedex 5. This wonderful space adventure theme park is dedicated to space. We went to Mars (Almost), walked on the moon thanks to the Moonrunner (I was six times less than my usual weight, which was great!), and saw a documentary on the Hubble Telescope in their glorious IMAX Big Screen 3D cinema. The theme park covers 5 hectares and receives 270,000 visitor a year, but it should be more, Globally, 50 million Euro has been invested into the Cite de L’Espace and it shows in the quality. They do tours in English in the summer and have had over 4 million visitors.

There is also a 53 meter high Ariane rocket, I am now one of the privileged few to go into Soyuz Vessel, the indestructible Russian spacecraft. There was authentic Moon Rock on loan from NASA which was brought back by astronauts during the Apollo 15 landing, rock from Mars, great photos which show how the earth looks from up close, to outer space, there is also exhibitions, a children’s area, a planetarium, restaurant and lots of experiments to test yourself on. Do not go to Toulouse and not go to the Cite de L’Espace. It is a must visit.

Cite de L’Espace is accessible to disabled people.

Le Chai Saint-Sauveur, 30 rue Bernard-Mule- 31400 Toulouse. Tel: 05 61 54 27 20

This was a brilliant restaurant with a rustic, country feel. The food was amazing and so were the staff. Highly recommended. See the food here.

Terre de Pastel is a museum, boutique, spa and restaurant opened in June 2013 in Toulouse-Labege. The spa is amazing, with lots of different treatments, an idyllic swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath, jacuzzi, herbal tea shop and a gym. The museum is informative, telling the story of the woad plant which is responsible for the pastel, the wonderful blue colour. You will learn about the history of blue, the symbol of blue, traditional applications and all about the woad plant, which grows in a field and looks like a rapeseed field; pretty and yellow. Sandrine Banessy, the owner and also author of books on woad, showed us how the woad dyes fabric. It was incredibly interesting and the woad will continue to dye the fabric blue until the fabric is dry.

The shop at Terre de Pastel made me want to spend all of my euros and go over my luggage allowance. There is a great selection of homeware, cosmetics, food, haberdashery and books. It is almost all blue. There is also a restaurant with great food and wine.

Le Py-R. 19 descente de la Halle aux Poissons – 31000 Toulouse. Tel: 05 61 25 51 52. Chef Pierre Lambinon has won many awards and it was easy to see why, the food in his small gastronomic restaurant was amazing and unique. Pictures here.

The Victor Hugo Marketplace. This is the most prestigious marketplace in all of France. It has 5 small restaurants on its upper floor. I bought some great cheese here.

All of the above places are where you should go if you visit Toulouse. It is a wonderful city and everyone I know loves it. Frost loves….

For more pictures check out Toulouse in Instagram Pictures Part 1, 2 and 3.

Get the Toulouse en Liberte City Card at the Tourism Office to get more than 250 discounts on hotels, restaurants, museums, shops and tours.You can also explore by boat.

www.toulouse-tourisme.com

www.toulouse-visit.com

www.tourisme-midi-pyrenees.com

www.uk.toulouse-tourisme.com

Have you ever been to Toulouse? Make recommendations below.

About No.1 Traveller – fast facts

· No.1 Traveller specialises in premium hospitality and provides a complete ‘driveway to runway’ service – smart Chauffeur-driven airport transfers, express train tickets, airport parking, airport meet-and-greet and airport lounges (No.1 Traveller’s own collection, plus associate lounges abroad)

· It works with airlines, businesses and individuals to offer a convenient and comfortable service to take the stress out of going to and through airports – the smart traveller’s choice

· No.1 Traveller can be booked by anyone at www.No1Traveller.com or passengers can make their way to the reception of the airport lounge on the day

Airport lounge: Birmingham

· Opened October 2012; the first of No.1 Traveller’s lounges outside London

· Accessible to all passengers travelling through the airport

· Open daily from 0430hrs – 2030hrs; facilities include a range of seating areas across two levels, fully-tended bar, bistro area serving complimentary hot and cold dishes, complimentary newspapers, magazines and internet access

· Entry £27.50 per adult at reception, for up to three hours access (children £17.50 each), £22.50 if booked in advance (children £15)

BMI regional operates over 450 flights a week throughout the UK and Europe with one way prices starting from £59. bmi regional flies from Aberdeen, Antwerp, Bristol, Bremen, Billund, Birmingham, Bristol, Brussels, Copenhagen, Glasgow, Gothenburg, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Esbjerg, Frankfurt, Hannover, Hamburg, Lyon, Milan, Munich, Norwich, Manchester, Toulouse and Zurich. All flights include complimentary food & drink on-board, free 20kg hold baggage allowance and 30 minute check-in. bmi regional is the world’s most punctual airline having recently been crowned the title for the 8^th consecutive year. For more information, visit www.bmiregional.com.

Paris In Instagram Pictures Part 1

Posted on July 14, 2013 by Catherine Balavage

Paris is a beautiful and wonderful city. I took thousands of pictures while I was there but here is just a taste. We went on the Eurostar which should be done at least once in your life. From top bottom: the Arc De Triomphe, the view from the top, the Siene, the Louvre, posing with the Mona Lisa, the power of art as crowds go mad for the Mona Lisa, posing with the Venus De Milo, touristy but has to be done, Venus draws a crowd. Part 2 is here.

Have you been to Paris? Put your recommendations below.

Toulouse in Instagram Pictures Part 3: Food | Travel.

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Catherine Balavage

Following on from Part 1 and Part 2 here is the part people have really been asking for: food! French food really is amazing and I had some amazing meals. As you can see from the pictures. Our Toulouse Travel Guide is here.

Breakfast at the Citiz Hotel. They had a great buffet spread.

Dinner at J’GO Toulouse. The best pork and chips I have ever had in my life. While we were having dinner a brass band started up outside and played ‘Funky Town’ and other classic songs.

Pate, bread and salad.

Pork and chips. This was the best pork and chips I have ever had in my life.

Chocolate fondant.

We had an amazing Lunch at La Chai Saint-Sauveur. Their veal was superb, followed by strawberry pie and a cute strawberry macaroon. The second picture is Esme’s vegetarian meal.

Salmon with pate and beetroot sauce. The salmon was marinated and divine. Esme’s vegetarian dish. Asparagus and onion on pastry. Veal and Asparagus with onion and pastry. Strawberry Pie with a cute strawberry macaroon.

Py-R Restaurant, Toulouse. The food was absolutely divine.

Bread and bread stick. I love the dish.

The starters. Yummy.

Poached egg, pork knuckle baked broth, cantal paste, peas just creamed, vegetable tray: red shell onions, sprouts, broken hazelnut shortbread.

Peas just creamed.

Hake, Avocado guacamole, celery paste cooked in a sugar, fennel, cherries, Pedro Ximenez, Jerez Almonds, leeks vinaigrette, beans, chorizo bellota, crunchy noughat nuts.

Chouchou, red fruits, Vanilla cream, Air Pepper.

All of the restaurants were amazing. The food was out of this world. I highly recommend a visit to all if possible, at least one if not.

Have you ever been to Toulouse? Make recommendations below.

Frost Magazine

Books and Lifestyle

Tag Archives: travel writing

The Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards Announce 2018 Shortlist

My Local Temple Time by Alex Bannard Bangkok Correspondent

Another week of back to back diverse but delightful experiences by Alex Bannard – Bangkok correspondent

The Golden Mount & Baan Bat by Alex Bannard | Bangkok Correspondent

A Weekend In Rome: Fall For The The Eternal City In 48 Hours

The Walk up the Via dei Fori Imperiali

The Colosseum

Book a tour

The Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

If you have some time to kill…

Toulouse City Guide | Travel

Paris In Instagram Pictures Part 1

Toulouse in Instagram Pictures Part 3: Food | Travel.

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The Walk up the Via dei Fori Imperiali

The Colosseum

Book a tour

The Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

If you have some time to kill…

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