As an alternative, apartments and apart hotels can offer an immediate sense of homeliness, combining the convenience of a hotel with the space and amenities of an apartment. So, if you’ve decided this might be for you, here are some key factors to consider when booking:

Consider your location needs early

Before you book anything it helps to think about how close your accommodation is to the places you will need to visit because long commutes can make a business trip feel twice as tiring as it needs to be. Proximity to key attractions, public transportation, and essential services like grocery stores and pharmacies can greatly enhance your stay. And you don’t need to only choose an apartment for work trips close to home, for US travel there are plenty of options. When visiting Ohio a long-term apartment hotel in Cleveland offers convenience and comfort without the stress of navigating unfamiliar routes each morning.

Think about security

You’re in a strange town, in a strange building, and you don’t know anybody within miles – so, ensuring that your accommodation is going to provide you with a feeling of security will help make your trip a much nicer one. Consider the neighbourhood’s safety and ambiance to ensure a pleasant experience. Ask if the apartment has a 24-hour reception or concierge services or what help is on hand if you needed it?

Think about what kind of space you need

Everyone relaxes better in a space that matches their taste which is why looking at photos of the apartment is so important. A space that feels cosy and uplifting will help you settle in faster and you will find it easier to switch between work mode and rest mode without feeling drained or uncomfortable in your surroundings.

Check the size and layout of the rooms to ensure they meet your needs, especially if you’re traveling with family or planning a longer stay. Does it have the number of bedrooms you need or will someone have to make up a bed in the lounge? How many bathrooms are there?

Consider where you will work in the apartment

Always ask if there is a convenient workspace and good wifi? An apartment should give you enough room to work without feeling cramped, and it helps to check whether there is a proper desk as well as enough natural light. Working from a cramped dining table or balancing a laptop on your knee for hours can make your entire trip feel ten times harder than it needs to be.

Remember it’s not all work

If you’re travelling for business then it’s very likely you’ll be spending a considerable amount of time in your apartment working, and if you’ve chosen a space that’s dull, bleak, and small, then you’re going to struggle to do your best work.

Why not choose one with a view or a balcony so that you’re able to sit out and gain as much inspiration as possible for your work? Or at least be able to relax at the end of the day. If you’re staying for days and sometimes weeks it’s important to think about what kind of environment you will feel happiest in.

Think also about your need for amenities such as a fully equipped kitchen, laundry facilities, gym, pool, or on-site restaurant that can make your stay more comfortable.

Banner image: Photo by Aquillion Property on Unsplash

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There is so much to choose from, be it sailing on a great lake, geting active at a surfing beach, hiking round a rural coastline or a relaxing on a remote island. And if you are still in need of a little extra magic, here are even more reasons why water can be the ultimate travel incentive:

Great Seafood

If food is a big motivator for your travels, staying near the ocean can be the ultimate for enjoying a foodie break with the freshest of ingredients. You’re going to find the fish is brought in very early in the morning, meaning it’s packed with flavour. Moreover, it’s usually cooked by people who have been doing the job for generations, so the quality is pretty much guaranteed and the recipes are kept basic to let the ingredients shine.

Trying local specialties is a must here, too. It’s hard to beat sitting outside with a plate of shellfish while smelling the salty air, as the atmosphere adds just as much flavor as the seasoning does. You also won’t need to visit the more celebrated places on social media to get the good stuff either, since the shacks on the beach are usually fantastic as well.

Fresh Air & Peace

Escaping the city smog is necessary now and then to keep your sanity intact. The air is the freshest it can be when you’re near the water, feeling cleaner and lighter in your lungs, which also makes sleeping at night much easier. You’ll probably find yourself waking up feeling more rested than you have in months, and it’s nice to start the day without needing three coffees first.

Listening to the water is naturally calming for most people, especially if you don’t usually have that. It’s always nice to just sit and take in the surroundings of the ocean but not feel stuck with sirens or traffic, letting the natural sounds reset your stress levels. Sure you’ll have to deal with the squawking of gulls, but that’s okay. In general, this is the perfect setting to clear the head and forget about the emails piling up back at the office.

Water Sports

Lying on the beach is fine, but getting active is fun too if you have the energy. You have endless options like surfing or paddleboarding if staying dry isn’t a priority for the trip. Swimming is also one of the best ways to move the body and stretch it at the same time, which is always a bonus on vacation since nobody wants to think about exercise routines while away.

There are a few ways to enjoy this, such as renting a kayak to explore the caves along the coast. or just swimming out past the breakers to float for a while (be sure to stay safe, though)!

Boating Trips

Seeing the land from the water offers a unique perspective on the place you’re visiting and the shape of the land, which can look fantastic and even magical in places. You can hop on a local fishing boat or a scenic tour to see the cliffs and beaches from the other side. There’s a comfort in feeling the boat rocking beneath you while the sun beats down, making it very easy to doze off for a peaceful afternoon nap.

If you want to feel a bit more luxurious, checking out the yachts in the marina is fun, or you could charter a smaller vessel to explore hidden coves, which is a more memorable way to spend the day. You likely don’t need us to convince you to begin drifting along with a cold drink in hand and nowhere to be. People have written books about that feeling.

Water has the power to attract and inspire travelers in countless ways. So, whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or a deeper connection with nature, we hope we’ve given you some inspiration to see that water-based destinations offer something for everyone.

Banner image: Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/green-hill-near-body-of-water-462162/

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As our family’s connection to Portugal has grown, so has our fascination with the country’s rich history. Since our daughter and her husband relocated to Lisbon in 2021, we’ve spent the past four years exploring the beautiful landscapes and uncovering the deep-rooted relationship between Portugal and England. Most recently, our journey took us aboard the Maiden Voyage of Cunard’s Queen Anne, where we were thrilled to see Lisbon on the itinerary.

While fellow passengers set off on their excursions, I couldn’t help but wonder how many would visit the ancient Castelo de São Jorge, perched high above the city. For those curious enough to check, they would discover that the castle is named after none other than St. George, England’s Patron Saint. But how did he come to lend his name to this fortress in Portugal?

A Royal Union and the Treaty of Windsor

The answer lies in a remarkable alliance cemented over six centuries ago. In 1386, Philippa of Lancaster, daughter of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, married King João I of Portugal. This union not only marked a royal marriage but also solidified the Treaty of Windsor, the oldest enduring diplomatic alliance in the world. Notably Charles III and The President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, celebrated the 650th anniversary of the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance.in 2023.

Philippa, known as “the English rose of Portugal,” brought her heritage and influence to her new home. Visitors to  her marriage strengthened the political and military bonds between the two nations. This was particularly evident the following year when Portugal decisively defeated the Castilians at the Battle of Aljubarrota, fought near the field of São Jorge. The victory was attributed to the divine intervention of St. George, who subsequently became Portugal’s Patron Saint.

A Shared Crusading Heritage

The celebration of St. George in Portugal also stems from the era of the Crusades. During the Reconquest, Christian armies sought to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors. In 1147, King Afonso Henriques seized Lisbon with the aid of English crusaders. Their devotion to St. George undoubtedly played a role in his veneration across Portugal.

By 1385, King João I adopted St. George’s image for the annual Corpus Christi procession, symbolising the saint’s protection. Portuguese troops carried his flag into battle,  “Portugal and St. George!” became their rallying cry — a tradition still echoed today while the Portuguese navy prefer “Saint George!”   

The Influence of Philippa and the Order of Christ

Philippa and King João I’s children, famously known as the “Illustrious Generation,” played pivotal roles in shaping Portugal’s Golden Age of Exploration. Among them was Prince Henry the Navigator, Grand Master of the Order of Christ, a successor to the Knights Templar.

The Order of Christ, with its Templar-inspired expertise in navigation and trade, propelled Portugal to the forefront of maritime discovery. Explorers like Vasco da Gama and Bartolomeu Dias, both members of the Order, carried Portugal’s influence across the globe. From the islands of the Azores to the forts of Elmina in Ghana, tributes to St. George emerged along their routes.

St. George’s Global Legacy

St. George’s presence is now felt worldwide, thanks to Portugal’s maritime reach. In Brazil, he is not only the Patron Saint of São Jorge dos Ilhéus but also shares patronage of Rio de Janeiro with St. Sebastian. Remarkably, in Afro-Brazilian religions like Umbanda, St. George is identified with the spirit deity Ogum, symbolising strength and protection.

Even today, traces of St. George remain prominent in Portuguese culture. The emblem of the Order of Christ, a red cross on a white background, is featured on the flag of Madeira and the insignia of the Portuguese Air Force.

A Timeless Alliance

From the medieval battlefields of Portugal to the vibrant streets of Rio, the legacy of St. George continues to endure. And as you stand at the ancient Castelo de São Jorge, gazing over the rooftops of Lisbon, remember the saint whose name and spirit unite the histories of Portugal and England — a friendship forged in faith, fortified in battle, and celebrated to this day.

Next time you find yourself in Lisbon, make the climb to the castle and immerse yourself in the stories that echo through its walls. After all, every stone has a tale to tell.

Banner image: St George in the City of London Image by Mariusz Matuszewski

The post The Enduring Legacy of St. George – in Portugal appeared first on Quays Life.

Beach Check UK is a new free app that gives live updates to help you beat the crowds when heading to the coast. Users can see how busy a beach is, how many car parking spaces are available and what facilities are available nearby.

The app, launched by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council, currently covers much of the south coast and uses a traffic-light system showing beaches as red (crowded), amber (less congested) and green (lots of space), so that users can see at a glance if their chosen spot is busy and if there are any quieter spots nearby. There is a beach for everyone in its guide. Here are some of our favourites:

Minehead, Somerset

Known for a combination of charm and space, Minehead’s beaches make an ideal family day trip destination. A mile-long beach curves around to a historic harbour framed by hills. It is great for rock pooling and there are lovely views across to Wales and Weston-super-Mare. You can hire deck chairs and windbreakers at the beach. There are public WCs and plenty of cafés and restaurants nearby, as well as an amusement arcade and a promenade to stroll along.

Westward Ho! Devon

Surfers and swimmers look no further than Westward Ho! Stretching across two miles of golden sandy beach backed by a unique pebble ridge, this popular spot on the North Devon coast is life-guarded and has plenty of space for families to play beach Olympics this summer. The beach has WCs, it is dog-friendly in permitted areas, and BBQs are allowed after 6pm. Parking is available in the town which also has lots to entertain kids, including Northam Country Park nature reserve with its newly-renovated visitor centre, Pebble Ridge Adventure Golf and Go Karts, and the Big Sheep family farm attraction with rides.

Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate

This section of the Kent coast is wonderful choice for little explorers. Families visiting these beaches this summer can hire a Coastal Explorer Pack for just £5, plus proof of ID, which include a range of activities from beach games to making a sun dial, naming cloud formations to identifying some of the marine life while rock pooling. Whilst the packs contain information specific to each of the main beaches and bays, most of the activities can be done anywhere along this coastline. Continue the adventure with a trip to the Shell Grotto, a magical cave, decorated with 4.6m shells.

Camber Sands, East Sussex

Wildlife enthusiasts will be drawn to this vast and unspoiled golden sand beach. The two miles of Camber Sands are home to the only sand dune system in East Sussex, a natural habitat for many animals and plants – and an ideal spot for budding young bird and wildlife-watchers. The life-guarded beach has WCs and several cafés An easy 20-minute cycling route connects Camber Sands with Rye via the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, which has a new visitor centre.

Worthing, West Sussex

The sloping sandy and shingle beach at Worthing makes for the quintessential English seaside experience. It is ideal for children keen to explore rock pools at low tide. There are zoned areas for water and paddle sports, and an iconic pier and Splash Point. The spot is great for adults too with beachfront cafés selling freshly-caught seafood and several local arts and crafts studios on East Beach. The local town is also home to one of the oldest independent cinemas in the country, The Dome, which is right on the seafront.

Hayling Island, Hampshire

Windsurfing was first developed on Hayling Island in 1958 and since then the area has become renowned for many water sports. As well as water sports galore, the beautiful coastline is is a haven for a wide range of plants and wildlife and its fine beaches are a long-standing Blue Flag award winner. The island is a well-established and well-loved seaside destination where visitors will find ample parking and WC facilities along the length of the shore.

Sandbanks, Poole

Another winner of a Blue Flag award for over 30 years, Sandbanks beach is an excellent choice for families. The soft golden sands are ideal for building sandcastles, and the life-guarded bathing waters are ideal for a range of water sports with equipment hire available, including volleyball nets, slackline and table tennis. The leisurely promenade offers cafés, shops, plenty of parking (including a park and ride option), and there are WC facilities along the beach.

Beach Check UK is downloadable from Google Play and the Apple App store with no in-app purchases necessary. The National Coastal Tourism Academy is encouraging resorts nationwide to adopt it. Those who have already downloaded the app will find it updates automatically to the national version.

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I was lucky enough to join a virtual tour of Berlin, provided through Globetrotter VR.  Not only is the tour possible in the comfort of your own home, visiting places by the means of Virtual Reality, but you also get to have a conversation with your very own tour guide, via Zoom.  Our guide was Dr Finn Ballard, a trans man and exceptionally knowledgeable about the LGBTQ+ history of Berlin, having lived there since 2008.

The tour starts off as a conventional zoom meeting, but then the guide shares their screen, which provides a 360-degree panorama using high resolution imagery of the different locations it is possible to visit.  You can have access to this VR panorama after the tour, and navigate yourself around Berlin, where there are useful bits of information provided at different locations if you want to read more about the location or its history.

During the virtual tour, Finn took us to different locations and provided a verbal explanation of what each location represented in terms of LGBTQ activities – past and present.  As with a normal walking tour, this was a two-way process, where we were encouraged to ask questions which Finn was able to answer.

We visited different locations throughout West Berlin.  Finn pointed out the magnificent pre-1900 buildings that remained in the city, which is itself remarkable since 80% of buildings in Berlin were destroyed during WW2.  As we travelled around to different locations, we got an overview of why they were important from the LGBTQ+ point of view – discussing developments in gay literature and publishing, gay cinema and theatre, to where current Prides are held throughout the year and the best current clubs to go to.

For example, we learnt that the first ever gay magazine, “Der Eigene,” was published in Germany in 1896.  In 1897 in Berlin, the publishers of “Der Eigene,” Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld and Adolf Brand, went on to form the world’s first gay liberation movement. The “Scientific Humanitarian Committee” was a political group that lobbied the German parliament to abolish the law forbidding homosexuality known as “Paragraph 175,” which had been on the books since 1871.

The gay subculture flourished in Berlin in the era between World War I and the rise of the Nazis, when there were nightclubs and cabarets that catered to a gay clientele, gay-themed theatre and films and gay-oriented publications that were sold at kiosks.  Berlin become a haven and refuge for gays and lesbians from all over the world. There are 170 clubs, bars and pubs for gays and lesbians, and well as riotous nightlife and a gay neighbourhood. Much of the gay nightlife was centred around Nollendorfplatz in the Schöneberg district of Berlin, and still is today.

Partly driving this new era of tolerance were the doctors and scientists who started looking at homosexuality and “transvestism” (a word of that era that encompassed transgender people) as a natural characteristic with which some were born, and not a “derangement”.  In 1919, Hirschfeld founded the ‘Institute for Sexual Science’, with which he aimed to make people conscious of their sexuality and allow people to live their sexual lives as they wanted, not just according to rules that were dictated by society.” The story of Lili Elbe and the first modern sex change made famous in the recent film “The Danish Girl,” reflected these trends.

For Germany’s gay men and lesbians, Berlin represented promise. Its gay scenes offered exciting places to hunt for love and happiness. Christopher Isherwood, whose short stories based on his stay in Berlin eventually became the basis for the 1972 film Cabaret, with Liza Minnelli, put it simply enough: “Berlin meant boys.”  There were larger clubs that offered singing, cabaret, and theatre, whereas smaller ones focused more on giving men a chance to mingle among themselves, perhaps providing a piano player to offer entertainment. One of the most famous nightclubs in the 1920’s was the Eldorado, which featured several transvestite performers.

However, this gay utopia was suddenly threatened one day in May 1933, when pristine white-shirted students marched in front of Berlin’s Institute for Sexual Research – that safe haven for LGBTQ people – calling it “Un-German.” Later, a riot ensued, and the mob hauled out its library to be burned. 

The Nazis’ rise to power spells the death knell for this diversity in Berlin. Within just weeks of Hitler’s appointment as chancellor on January 30, 1933, the subsequent raids and crackdown throughout the year marked a stark turning point in the Nazi persecution of homosexuals. After Hitler’s regime took control, all gay and lesbian bars and meeting places in Germany were closed. 

The Gestapo opened a special anti-gay branch. During the following year alone, the Gestapo arrested more than 8,500 gay men, quite possibly using a list of names and addresses seized at the Institute for Sexual Research. Not only was Paragraph 175 not erased, as a parliamentary committee had recommended just a few years before, it was amended to be more expansive and punitive.

Between 1933 and 1945, an estimated 100,000 men were arrested as homosexuals, of whom some 50,000 were officially sentenced. Most of these men served time in regular prisons, and an estimated 5,000 to 15,000 of those sentenced were incarcerated in Nazi concentration camps, although many argue that these figures were significantly higher. Gay men in the camps had to wear a pink triangle on their clothes, and often suffered an unusual degree of cruelty by their captors.

After WW2, Paragraph 17, the law criminalising male homosexuality was retained in democratic West Germany, which convicted some 50,000 men between 1949 and 1969.  Homosexuality was eventually decriminalised in 1969 but the legislation wasn’t taken off the books entirely until 1994, a few years after German reunification. 

After the suppression of the entire gay and lesbian community and subculture by the Nazis, it wasn’t really until 1971 that the homosexual scene started to recover again – which is when the gay movement Homosexuelle Aktion Westberlin (Homosexual Action West Berlin) was founded.

The first Christopher Street Day (CSD) (gay pride parade) took place in Berlin in 1979. The community got a whole new lease of life with the founding of the Berliner Lesbenwoche (Berlin Lesbian Week) and the oldest and largest gay and lesbian city magazine Siegessäule in 1984.  Since 1993, the gay/lesbian city festival has been celebrated every year – it is the largest of its kind worldwide and ensures to this day that Berlin is home to the most diverse, vibrant and popular gay/lesbian scenes in Europe.

These days, up to 750,000 people celebrate the CSD in Berlin in the streets of the city – no matter whether you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, heterosexual, transgender or another sexual orientation. More than 50 floats make their way through the city and towards the Brandenburg Gate.  The Berlin nightlife is now famous again for its gay clubs – the most notable is the Berghain at Ostbahnhof and the KitKatClub in Mitte.   Berlin now has rainbow neighbourhoods in Kreuzberg, Mitte, Schöneberg and Prenzlauer Berg.

Having experienced the hour-long virtual tour, Berlin is now well and truly on my list of places to visit once this pandemic is over. The clubs sound great but I also want to drink in the history and visit the various locations on the tour myself to pay respect to those who did not live through the more tolerant times that we enjoy in Europe today.

To find out more or to book a tour visit globetrotter-vr.com

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As an avid traveller and seeker of information near and far, I have always shied away from virtual city tours, and have preferred to investigate first hand and to research en route.

When I was invited by Virtual Travel Platform, GlobetrotterVR to experience a virtual travel city tour, on behalf of Quayslife, from the comfort of my own desk, I was intrigued. I did not expect to learn very much from the guide, as the destination was Barcelona, a city I have visited many times. A further ‘put off’ for me, as a technophobe, had been the worry of how I would actually view the tour. I was exceedingly glad to be assured that I didn’t require any special hardware in order to join the tour.

I am always prepared not only to be amazed but to be proven wrong! Following the experience of having a professional guide walk me around one of my favourite cities, I have learned so much and cannot wait to return to Barcelona. I yearn to stand where I have seen my guide stand when she was telling us about Gaudi’s last days of his life, the revolving door where children of the poor were placed at night, the Vampire of Rabal, the fact we walk upon the work of artist Joan Miró every time we walk down La Ramblas… I could go on!

Perhaps I should not have been too surprised that the virtual tour, is definitely the way forward for future travellers.

In this pivotal moment in history, we are asked to redefine the future of the tourism industry due to travel restrictions around the world. Technology is taking a leading role when it comes to exploring top tourism destinations and satisfying our natural curiosity to discover the world.

I also learned that the first virtual tour hosting platform of its kind, Globetrotter VR offers the opportunity for everyone from every part of the world, to enjoy a city tour from the comfort of their own home or office and from any type of device

My fellow travellers on the tour were from various parts of the UK and Europe, and as far as the USA. We were all united in the wonder of the experience, certainly made extra special by our expert local tour guide, Catalonian, Jordana. Some of us, like me, viewed on our laptops, some of us viewed on mobile phones and some I believe on virtual headsets.

The platform does not only offer on-demand experiences that you can watch at your convenience, but also live virtual walking tours, led by top professional tour guides, like Jordana. The guides are all experts in their cities and territories.

Our tour, like all the tours on offer, was fully interactive and included 3D models, archival photos and videos which made the tour unique in the current market and afforded me the opportunity to ask lots of questions! Well, there is always one isn’t there?! I loved that each of us were invited to choose a place to visit from the golden balloons perched across the city. I chose Plaça del Rei, and we were immediately transported there, where we could see Jordana standing waiting to tell us all about it, with the added bonus of Jordana live on screen from her desk (how clever is that!) ready to answer any questions.
I imagine that these tours would make a perfect gift to friends and family, or for a company to host a great online team building event, but not everyone wants to share their tour with others and there is also the opportunity to book private live tours.

Anastasia Pash, the Founder of Globetrotter VR said: “We aren’t trying to replicate physical walking tours, we are creating online travel experiences in their own right.”

A spokesperson for GlobetrotterVR added: “As a company with an ethical and sustainable mindset, Globetrotter VR aims to create virtual tours that make exploring the world enjoyable, accessible, affordable and secure. The team is committed to protecting the natural world for future generations by ensuring the smallest amount of environmental impact in its production, while partnering up with local talents and organizations, to ensure that the tours provide economic benefit to the local communities in the destinations.”

My travel writing is usually based upon sharing my experiences on the beauty, culture, people and secrets of a destination so it is an anathema to me not to do so after my immersive city tour of Barcelona, the Capital of Catalonia, but on this occasion that is not my job, that role belongs to GlobetrotterVR.

I am now a convert to immersive travel, and after Barcelona, I am now looking forward to joining a tour of Paris, Edinburgh, Milan and Dubai, all of these cities I have visited many times, but now I know I have missed a huge number of their secrets!

To find out more or to book a tour visit globetrotter-vr.com

Drinking in the sights at Freixenet House of Cava

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Although England is famous for its traditional fish and chips, a UK coastal break provides the perfect opportunity for foodies to enjoy a huge variety of locally sourced seafood.

“England’s Seafood Coast offers some of the best produce in the world. Passionate chefs are transforming fresh and local ingredients into fantastic dishes all around our coastline,” says Samantha Richardson, Director National Coastal Tourism Academy.

“Many of our food producers use traditional and sustainable methods, while fish markets, boat trips and cooking experiences are on offer all over the coast. This is the perfect year for a foodie break and discovering the excellent cuisine and seafood this country offers.”

Here are some ideas for a perfect foodie break on England’s Seafood Coast.

Oysters:

The traditional food of love, oysters have been grown in the creeks off Mersea Island in Essex since Roman times, when they were a food staple and a vital resource. It’s said that the Romans loved oysters so much that they used to tow them in nets behind their boats all the way back to Rome. There are two varieties of oyster; the Colchester Rock Oyster, available all year round and living naturally on the seabed and the Colchester Native Oyster, harvested from September to May in the shallow creeks off Mersea Island. 

You can get onto the water with Lady Grace Boat Trips and enjoy a Two-Hour Picnic Trip, gently cruising along Salcot Creek, where you’ll hear distant curlew calling and find egrets wading along the shoreline and oystercatchers flying overhead. Pre-order your picnic platter from the West Mersea Oyster Bar and tuck into native oysters and a variety of locally-sourced seafood. 

Herring:

In Yorkshire, herring are transformed into kippers in smokeries that have changed very little in hundreds of years. In Whitby, Fortune’s Kippers smokehouse and shop is famous for its tasty kippers which land on the breakfast plate for a low calorie, high protein start to the day.

The aroma of oak wood smoke fills the air as you reach the smokehouse, located on the picturesque east-side of Whitby and nestled beneath the ancient cliffs. For over 150 years this authentic smokehouse has been run by the Fortune family and kippers are made in the same way, by hand-gutting fish which are then smoked over a series of fires made from a mixture of oak, beech and softwood, the fragrant oak and beech smoke gently permeates the fish to add flavour and to colour them naturally. It usually takes about three fires and 18 hours to complete the smoking process in order to achieve the delectable oaky smoked flavour and the distinctive golden-brown colour of a Fortune’s kipper.

Cromer Crab:

Head to the northern coast of Norfolk to find the flavoursome, meaty and tender Cromer crab found in the nutrient-rich waters.

Cromer crab is in demand around the world, famous for its delicate flavour. These delicious brown crabs have been caught in the region for centuries and crabbing is still done in a traditional and sustainable way today, using pots to catch live crabs, checking them for size and throwing any back that don’t meet legal requirements, thereby none go to waste.

The annual Crab and Lobster Festival, which celebrates the seaside destinations of Cromer & Sheringham, will next take place in May 2022. Eat at Wells Crab House and enjoy a changing monthly menu, including garlic buttered lobster and cockles with cider vinegar, washed down with Callooh Coastal Gin with Seaweed

Food foraging:

Food foraging is all about finding wild food for free and Dorset provides the perfect environment for it. As a past time foraging is a great way to get outside and connect with nature during the pandemic, allowing us to slow down and open our eyes to seek out the nutritious food that is growing around us.

Kayaking and wild food organisation Fore/Adventure offer courses including seashore foraging and bushcraft skills to turn the foraged finds into a feast. Their half-day Coastal Foraging Course, based on the beach in Studland includes a seashore foraging walk where you can investigate and learn about sea vegetables, sea weeds, crabs and cockles. You’ll learn how to identify and prepare wild foods, and how to make the most of nature’s very own larder, whether in the sea or on the shore.

Sand eels:

In the English Riviera of Devon the seafood experience is all about variety, with more than 40 different species auctioned at Plymouth and Brixham Fish Markets alone, while Teignmouth is the only place in the country where you can try sand eels, brought ashore by one lone fisherman in his boat.

The region is also home to the world-famous Brixham Fish Market where more than £40 million worth of 40 species of seafood is landed annually including lobster, crab, scallops, hake, brill, sea bass and much more. Brixham Fish Market’s auction – the largest in the UK – attracts buyers from all around the UK and Europe due to Brixham’s unmatched reputation for landing high-quality fresh fish and shellfish.

The fish ends up on plates in some of the finest restaurants in the UK, including Mitch Tonks’ Rockfish seafood restaurant, which sits in the market and overlooks the boats as they land their catch. Alfresco diners can sit on the terrace and look directly down to the fishing fleet, and from 5pm you can see the boats come in with their haul of fish of all shapes and sizes coming ashore.

England’s Coast website makes it easy to find out more about the range of seafood dining options in its coastal guide www.englandscoast.com, which lists seafront restaurants, and foodie experiences all around the English coastline.

Discovering Fleetwood’s Heritage with a Fisherman’s Friend

The post Ideas for a perfect foodie break on England’s Seafood Coast appeared first on Quays Life.

You don’t have to give up on the idea of having a break during 2021, but you may have to get used to the fact that your holidays will be a little different, for the next few months at least.

So, if you’re thinking of booking a getaway, here are 6 ways travel will look different in Summer 2021.

1. Staycations will be popular
   No-one can predict how international travel will work this year and perhaps even further into the future. This means that if you want a holiday, you will need to look closer to home. As many people experienced last year, a staycation can be an excellent choice for a summer break. And this is certain to be the case for 2021. Expect campsites to welcome lots of first-time campers, and an increase in people looking for cottages and holiday villas to rent during the summer months.
   
   Ross Grieve, Managing Director of the 5 star spa resort, Seaham Hall in County Durham says: “The desire to holiday at home has never been stronger and, in 2021, there will be a thirst to explore the UK and all it has to offer.
   
   “At Seaham Hall we have the luxury of space – 37 glorious acres – and being situated right on the Durham Heritage Coast (Seaham Beach is just a five-minute walk away) means that our guests benefit from the sea air, with effortless social distancing. 2021 will see more guests exploring our blissful rural surroundings, whether experiencing one of the many local cycle routes, or pulling on their hiking boots to enjoy the coastal footpath, an 11-mile stretch through spectacular grasslands and magical denes, from Seaham to Crimdon”.
   
   It is expected that people will travel further for staycations and stay longer than in previous years, allowing guests to enjoy more of the local area surrounding hotels and holiday lets.
   

2. Working from home gives option of a workation
As much as we appreciate the comforts of our own homes, living and working within the same four walls, week in, week out, can leave people with a sense of living at work, rather than working from home. Matt Brayley, Marketing Director of holidaycottages.co.uk explains: “Almost 47% of those in employment are working from home, at least in part, according to the Office for National Statistics. And, as long as people are able to do their jobs remotely, many employers, in line with guidance, are happy for this to continue.

“A change of scenery is, to many, more welcome than ever. Blending work with a proper break – a coastal walk at lunchtime, a morning run in the countryside, or perhaps splitting a week away between work time and holiday time – is now a viable option that can keep spirits high and leave people feeling refreshed.”

3. Bookings will be more flexible
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that our plans can change, and quite dramatically, at the last minute. This is especially true when it comes to any holiday plans that we may have. To help overcome some of the uncertainty experienced in the last year, travellers have come to expect more flexibility when booking holidays. This can be anything from facilitating changes to the date of travel to allowing people to cancel their break altogether — all without having to lose a deposit or make an extra payment.

4. Last-minute holidays will be the norm
While uncertainty is increasing the need to cancel holidays last minute, it is also leading to more people choosing to book holidays last minute too. Last bookings leave little time for planning. So as specialist tour operators who can offer expert advice, tailored itineraries and reassurance on flexibility and refunds should the trip have to be cancelled.

5. Covid passports are possible
We need to do whatever we can to stop the spread of Covid-19, and whilst some of us may not entirely agree with the idea that you have to prove you are Covid free or that you have had your vaccination in order to travel, there is a good chance that this is going to happen. As all countries struggle to get the pandemic under control we need to be prepared that travel outside of our home country will mean that we can show we are not going to cause the outbreak to worsen.

6. Social distancing sparks desire to exploring the great outdoors and reconnect with nature
After being cooped up at home on and off for the past 12 months, it makes sense that one thing we are all going to want to try and do more is to explore the outside world. We don’t expect Covid to curb people’s sense of adventure but we can expect that an increased desire to seek those adventures in the great outdoors. So expect to see holidays in rural areas, those in the countryside and those close to the sea, rise in popularity. If you are thinking of booking into national parks, then this is the year for it!

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When I have mentioned to friends and colleagues that we were about to spend a weekend in Boulogne -sur-Mer, in Northern France, I received one of two replies, “Oh yes the booze run!” or “Agh! Brings back memories of the school trip!”

For my part, however I am sticking with Charles Dicken’s view of Boulogne -sur- Mer: “It is the most elegant, the most colourful and the best I know…. its promenade on ramparts which surround the upper town is charming. Walks outside are delicious. This is the best mix of city and countryside, with the sea air moreover, I know!”

It is well known that Dickens was a fan of France. He once signed a letter, “Charles Dickens, Francais naturalise, et Citoyen de Paris.” I might just pen this on my email signature! The famous author lived in Boulogne for three years with his family and his time in the town is commemorated with a street which bears his name “Rue Charles Dickens.” Should I have had more time I should have loved to have met with members of the active branch of the Dickens Fellowship Organisation.

Our weekend was a gift from our youngest daughter and our son-in-law. We four arrived via the Eurotunnel from Kent – a journey of some 45 minutes. We headed to Wissant – known as ‘the last village on the coast’. The whole stretch of coast is known as ‘Côte d’Opale’ – the Opal Coast.

We parked in Place de Verdun in the heart of Wissant and we took a bracing stroll along the beach, miles of white sand, bombarded by the rolling waves of the English Channel. As I surveyed this wild and windy coastline, I imagined what this area would look like in the summer months, when the beach would be packed and how, decades ago, these beaches would have been packed with armed forces. On the roads around the area it is hard not to spot the War cemeteries, with neat row after row of white head stones marking the lives given and lost.

Our next stop was the Hotel Normandie in the Place de Verdun where some of our party sampled fish which had been caught in the traditional way and presented to perfection, washed down with a sherry glass size of vin rosé

Leaving this coastal village, we drove on to Wimereaux with its gorgeous sea front and I am told that beach huts, in colourful splendour, adorn the promenade in the summer. February was obviously not the month to leave those precious beach huts out however the colourful houses bravely facing the sea, have happily done so for years.

After another bracing beach walk, we needed cake and we were not disappointed in the gorgeous array of cakes awaiting us at Patisserie BUCAMP on Rue Carnot. We clutched our beautifully boxed precious patisserie, as we moved on, in readiness for reason for coming…. Boulogne-sur-Mer.

We were booked to stay at the IBIS Styles with its rather grand title of ‘Boulogne-sur-Mer Centre Cathedrale.’ Having stayed at IBIS Styles in other European cities I knew we would not be disappointed. The hotel has recently been refurbished with lots of quirky artistic touches, for me, this small hotel is more like a boutique hotel but at very favourable prices. As the name suggests it is directly opposite a medieval archway which leads to the old town and the beautiful basilica, La Cathédrale Notre Dame de Boulogne- sur- Mer.

Following cake and tea sustenance, it was off to explore the medieval town. Boulogne -sur-Mer, like many other towns and cities, comprises of almost two towns – a medieval and a modern – ‘sisters not twins.’ For the purposes of our trip, we were concentrating on Charles Dicken’s Boulogne-sur-Mer. The main street, Rue de Lille, just off from the Cathedral has many bars and restaurants along its cobbled way. We chose La Cave de Monsieur Guy for a glass of wine, a very cool Cave indeed, where, we read that on certain evenings, you could even take your own Motown LP’s to be played during the evening.

Sustained by the grape, we followed in Charles Dicken’s footsteps and walked along the Promenade Ramparts, where we watched the sunset, we also spied a fabulous chateau complete with a water filled moat! A rarity these days. We learned that the chateau housed the Musee Boulogne-sur-Mer and were delighted when we found that it opened on Sundays, so we planned to visit the following morning.

We returned to the main street and took an early evening meal at Restaurant La Pierre Chaude, an intimate place with check table cloths and a welcoming ‘mine host’ offering a lovely menu with typically French food, at deliciously competitive prices and an atmosphere that was warm and inviting. The restaurant was soon full of hungry locals, as everyone happily devoured their choice of steaming bowls of French onion soup with hunks of bread, moules frites, steak blu and divine chocolate puddings and crème caramel. There was an excellent Vegetarian menu for me too!

Returning to our rooms it was time to draw the curtains on the lovely view of the Cathedral – lit against the night sky and we looked forward to our morning of culture at Musee Boulogne-sur-Mer.

The fabulous 13th century chateau that holds the Musee Boulogne-sur-Mer is listed as an Historic Medieval Monument. There are three floors of exhibits and a subterranean floor, which is worth an explore just to see some of the underground architecture of this lovely building. From Egyptian collections, including an anonymous mummy, the floors are home to many statuettes, primarily used in funeral rites and religious ceremonies right across the Mediterranean. There are Alaskan artefacts, brought back by Boulogne-born ethnographer, Alphonese Pinart in 1872 together with fine and decorative arts from 15th century onwards and Northern France’s largest collections of conserved Oceania.

While the ‘strap’ line of the exhibitions on offer is ‘From one culture to another’ we were disappointed that the local history department, retracing the town’s rich heritage had been temporarily removed. This will mean a definite diary date for a future visit, at which time we will no doubt explore the modern Boulogne-Sur-Mer too.

Our adventure almost over, we made our stop at one of the huge wine emporiums and we marvelled at the reasonable prices and we happily made our purchases. As we returned to the Eurotunnel for our journey home, we felt as if we were buccaneers with smuggled alcohol, boxed in the boot of our car. Fortunately, we were assured that, if you want to import wine from France into the UK, for personal consumption, then you do not have to pay an Excise duty on the first 90 litres of wine. This fact made our ‘contraband’ look positively meagre!

Certainly, for me, this area is so much more than a ‘booze run’ and I can’t wait to explore more of the delights of the Opal Coast.

Lorraine Worsley Carter spends 48 hours in Sweden’s cool capital, Stockholm

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One person’s ‘cool’ is another person’s eye roll, perception is no doubt the key.
Our idea of cool culture on our 48-hour visit to Stockholm, was as diverse as can be. A visit to Abba Museum in the morning and a visit to the Vasa Museum in the afternoon. Never heard of the latter. Await to be amazed!

We arrived at midnight at Arlandia Airport after a pleasant two-hour SAS Airline economy flight from Manchester – the free tea and coffee on board was a welcome addition. We had booked our Arlanda Express train tickets in advance and it must be said, even though I knew the way, having visited Stockholm previously, I loved the ease of finding the railway station.

Those who kindly read about our trip to Milan and the search for the Malpensa Express from Milan airport, will no doubt remember our pain! To walk out of the airport arrival doors and see a pair of lift doors, emblazoned with a picture of the Arlanda Express is just what was required. Of course, the train left on time, was clean and bright and the conductor friendly and courteous, as she checked our tickets on our phones.

We had chosen to stay at the Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel and had paid for a superior room with a view of part of the harbour and some of Stockholm’s islands and inlets that are surrounded by the Baltic Sea. The view was as stunning at night as it was in the morning especially when we were greeted with snow fall as we opened the blinds.
After a hearty Scandi breakfast at the hotel we set forth to ABBA The Museum, where we were told, we would ‘walk in and dance out.’

Not so long ago I had been fortunate to attend the ‘ABBA Party’ in Stockholm, it was great fun and expertly fashioned, so that very soon guests to the ‘Party’ began to feel they really were part of the Mamma Mia! film. ABBA The Museum, we hoped, would provide us with the story of Björn, Benny, Frida and Agnetha from their childhoods to super stardom.

We had many questions, for instance, what were their lives like when they were growing up? When did music enter their lives? How did they meet? And how did they come together as the pop group ABBA? The Museum gave us the opportunity to explore all of this and more, while we walked in the footsteps of ABBA.

We found a cornucopia of exact replicas of places where ABBA had lived and worked during their career, featuring group members’ personal belongings and other memorabilia. Together with other visitors, we were even allowed to experience what it was like to be ABBA.

For visitors who wanted to know even more about each ABBA member there was a recently recorded audio guide, provided at a reasonable extra cost, where you could listen to the members’ own stories and memories from their amazing career.

We found the Mamma Mia! exhibition a delight, the actual costumes worn by the actors in the films are all there for viewing as are some of the scripts, and it is possible to try some of the costumes on, virtually, if you wish to rock your inner Meryl Streep or Colin Firth.

Undoubtedly, the best way to immerse yourself in the story of ABBA is to do so both in analogue and digital form. In the exhibition, you can also try on ABBA’s costumes (virtually), sing, play, mix original music and become a member of ABBA by performing on a large hologram stage, together with Björn, Benny, Frida and Agnetha. We took part in this and so, for one afternoon only, ABBA became six not four.

You can choose different instruments from the studio on an iPad and listen to how they sound on a recording when all the other instruments have been removed. You can also listen to Frida and Agnetha’s voices without the surrounding music. Some of the interactive features allow you to record your personal participation if you like and download the results to your computer with your personal ticket number. I assure you that the link to our appearance on stage with hologram ABBA will forever be for our eyes only!

After a fabulous morning at the museum, we certainly had danced out, and following a visit to the shop, stopped at the very lovely café/restaurant attached to the museum, for a lunch time glass of wine. Talking of wine, it might be a good point to warn those newbie visitors to Sweden about the licensing laws of the country. As Sweden is one of the most expensive countries to visit in Europe there might be those who would decide to buy a bottle of wine from a supermarket to consume in their hotel or lodgings, rather than pay bar/restaurant prices. Please be warned that should you try and do this after the clock strikes 3pm on a Saturday, you will be very disappointed, as no alcohol is sold over the counter anywhere until Monday. You can still buy a drink in a bar or hotel, so all is not lost, apart from quite a few of your Swedish Krona!

We had a pit stop for a snack and coffee at the lovely Sjöcafeet restaurant, the low glass building offers fabulous scenic views. We walked past the Nordic Museum (one for next time) past the Viking Museum (looks best for families) to the ‘Vasa Museet’ – the Vasa Museum. On my last visit to Stockholm, during a sightseeing boat ride (more on that to come) I had spied an enormous building glaring above our little boat and the guide explained to us that the building housed the ship called the Vasa which had sunk nearly 400 hundred years ago, in the very waters we were sailing through. I knew my husband would find a visit to the museum of interest, but I was not prepared to be so captivated also.

The Vasa set sail on her maiden voyage on 10 August 1628 and sank in Stockholm harbour. The Swedes could not bear to see the masts of this giant ship sticking out above the water line and so the masts were sawn off! Although the expensive guns were salvaged in 1660, the wreck was not salvaged until 1961, after 333 years under the sea.

The reconstructed vessel, 98% original, is splendidly adorned with hundreds of carved sculptures. Vasa is quite rightly, in my opinion, one of the world’s foremost tourist attractions. There are many virtual exhibitions to see and experience on the museum’s excellent website. For me, nothing can prepare you for your first glimpse of this beautifully preserved ship.

After a day of absorbing two very different museums, it was time for Swedish meatballs, and I couldn’t wait to take my husband to the restaurant I adored on my last trip. First, we needed to cross one of the many bridges to the cobbled streets of the Old Town on the lovely island of Gamla Stan. It is hard to imagine that most of the island was due to be flattened in the 1950’s as it was considered a slum, the fairy tale houses were decaying and ‘Modern’ was the order of the day. Thankfully, a Swedish author and journalist, Vera Siöcrona led a mighty and effective crusade and saved the day.

I was delighted to find that we were only third in the queue at Gästabud Restaurant, Österlånggatan 7, and we were able to fit snugly inside this small welcoming restaurant with its great menu of hearty traditional fayre.

For our second day of adventure, we were taking to water and had booked a ‘Stockholm Winter Tour.’ There was just time for a quick coffee in Berns. Having read about this iconic venue it was important to us to visit. Founded in 1863 this 19th Century gorgeous, enormous dining room is now all things to a lot of people! Lovely restaurant, coffee shop and bar and yet it is also a club and concert venue boasting top artists and DJs. There have been sympathetic modern additions and we were told there was even an outdoor terrace in the summer. As we meandered to the waterfront to find our boat, we noticed heaps of bikes, fencing, prams piled high on the pavement, there were divers of all ages retrieving the items from the harbour waters. Sadly, we were unable to understand the posters explaining what was happening, but it must have been a recycling initiative.

An entire summer would not be enough time to afford one the opportunity to explore all the gems of Stockholm’s archipelago. The city of Stockholm is situated on 14 islands and on the banks to the archipelago where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea. Over 21,000 islands make up Sweden, so a sail on the Baltic Sea had to be undertaken and there are many crafts available to take you on a variety of excursions

We boarded the 1909 Steamship, diesel-ice breaker ‘ANGANTAR’. There were around 50 tourists on board and there was room on the top deck for more people, although that would only appeal during the summer months!

The tour was to take us out of the city and around the archipelago island of Fjäderholmarna , which actually consists of four small islands. On the way we listened to a wonderful potted history of some of the buildings and islands that make up Stockholm city. Should we have wanted to, we could have purchased wine or hot drinks and snacks from the tiny galley on board.

We learned about the Swedish chemist, engineer and industrialist, Alfred Bernhard Nobel. Born in Stockholm in 1833, Nobel invented dynamite and other more powerful explosives and of course he also founded the Nobel Prizes and Stockholm is home to The Nobel Prize Museum.

Somehow, we didn’t expect to see a huge amusement park come into view, Grona Lund was founded in 1883, it has around 30 attractions and is the site of a huge concert venue. We were told Bob Marley and the Wailers played to an audience of 30,000 people there in 1976.

Some 30 years before that, Ivor Novello, born in Cardiff in 1893 as David Davies, travelled to Sweden in 1918. He had been posted there, while serving in the Royal Navy, to counter the popularity of German entertainers and he set up his own troupe to provide British music and song. He was discovered a year later and became a film star.

We glided past Junibacken, the story book museum, much of it dedicated to author, Astrid Lindgren’s books. Although I have never read any of the author’s books about her character Pippi Long stocking, I am now minded too. Apparently, Pippi was named by Lindgren’s daughter Karin, who asked her mother for a get well story when she was off school. Pippi is red-haired, freckled, unconventional and superhumanly strong – able to lift her horse one-handed. She is playful and unpredictable. She often makes fun of unreasonable adults, especially if they are pompous and condescending…she sounds good to me! The tour then took us to the green and pleasant island of Fjäderholmarna, populated by little wooden houses, and a world away from the city we had left behind.

Returning to the city, we cruised past the imposing and grand, royal palace, known as Stockholm Palace on Gamla Stan Island. It is the official residence and major royal palace of the Swedish monarch. The offices of the king and other members of the Swedish royal family, as well as the offices of the royal court of Sweden, are located there. The palace is used by the king as he performs his duties as head of state. We noted that on a future visit to Stockholm we would ensure that we watched the changing of the guard ceremony at Stockholm Palace. It takes place every day from the end of April until the end of August at 12:15pm, Sundays at 1:15pm, in front of the palace and lasts about 40 minutes. It is worth mentioning that in autumn and winter the schedule is different and the change of the guard doesn’t take place every day.

Talking of residences, we spied a beautiful ornate building which, our guide informed us, used to be a Semolina factory, but is now a retirement home. Sadly, it appears would be residents have to have their names down from birth, it is so popular!

We disembarked our trusty sea-worthy craft and headed for ‘PUB’ not ‘the Pub,’ I hasten to add. PUB has recently rebranded to the Haymarket Scandi Hotel, their grand entrance stands on Hotorget (Haymarket) Square and welcomes everyone to step into a 1920’s era of elegance. Many of the original features of the building have been woven in with a contemporary design. PUB was a department store, where film star, Greta Garbo worked in the millinery department. A cinematic vibe has been preserved with black and white stills and even a real film camera in the lobby!

Hotorget Square is very much a meeting place, there are flower and fresh produce stalls, and peering down on everyone is the fabulous statue of Orpheus, by sculpture, Carl Milles. The statue stands outside the Royal Concert Hall.

Our sojourn to Stockholm nearly over, there was just time to pop back over to Gamla Stan to buy a bag of cinnamon buns and locate Under Misteln Skafferi & Bar, a tiny underground bar at Kåkbrinken 1. It is very easy to miss, as the door is tiny, and there is a need to crouch down and take the stone steps down to the cave like bar, lit by fairy lights. Seated with our delicious tasting Irish coffee, we looked back on our visit to Stockholm, a curious and wonderful mix of the old and new.

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