My 8 easy no nonsense Christmastide Traditions for the busy and not overly spiritual

My 8 easy no nonsense Christmastide Traditions for the busy and not overly spiritual

This year, celebrating the “Rauhnaechte” spiritual practice appears to be massive all over the net and social media. Call me a bit cynical, but who actually has time for all this?  So, here are some  no nonsense Christmastide traditions you can follow even if you 

Organic French Wine of Gaillac: The Plateau Cordais

Organic French Wine of Gaillac: The Plateau Cordais

More Wine Touring! More organic French wine that you won’t find in your bio shop!  Last year, I visited some organic vineyards in the Gaillac wine region of South-Western France. When we finally managed to see my parents in law this year, we did not 

Souvenirs from Sicily: Easy Pasta alla Norma

Souvenirs from Sicily: Easy Pasta alla Norma

Here is my version of an easy pasta alla Norma that you can cook in under 30 minutes.  My way to make my Sicily holiday last longer.  Or put it on repeat a couple days a week! A real  Sicilian classic Pasta alla Norma is 

Is Filicudi the hottest Sicilian Island?

Is Filicudi the hottest Sicilian Island?

Looks like we  just visited a real  a hotspot, with Filicudi the hottest Sicilian Island or at least a contender,  travel restrictions and all. This year, we were happy to realise just the one holiday, a week in Sicily. A few days after returning from 

Shopping in Sicily

Shopping in Sicily

My Shopping in Sicily post will be relatively short.  But it’s not to say there aren’t many wonderful things you can bring home from Sicily. Despite the dreaded virus, I finally managed a weeks holiday this year! We went to Sicily. And, as usually, I 

Travel in Sicily in times of coronavirus – my socially distant summer holiday

Travel in Sicily in times of coronavirus – my socially distant summer holiday

When the main holiday season, here from the beginning of the school holiday in late June to some time in early September came, we were still at home, watching as our government suddenly offered free (!) COVID tests to all travellers.  Many went abroad for 

Flying in Europe during COVID-19

Flying in Europe during COVID-19

For someone who catches the travel bug easily, I have been travelling only a little this year. Flying in Europe during COVID-19 can’t be fun –  or is it not that big a deal? Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, I did travel a bit, including flying 

Fabric Shopping in Nuremberg, Germany

Fabric Shopping in Nuremberg, Germany

Fabric shopping in Nuremberg – a totally gratuitous post, you may ask? Is she scraping the bottom of the barrel now as she’s stuck at home with all the COVID-19 issues going on, sticking essential travel only (business, a funeral and visiting my in-laws)? Well, 

Hotel Review: Kerme Ottoman Palace Akyaka

Hotel Review: Kerme Ottoman Palace Akyaka

Between the large resorts of Bodrum and Marmaris lies a small village-like resort deep in a protected bay that really is not on the radar of most international tourists: Akyaka. It is yet another “Slow City” on Turkey’s Aegean Coast and a beautiful stop for 

Review: Hotel Aeginitiko Archontiko, Aegina: a small hotel with charme and history

Review: Hotel Aeginitiko Archontiko, Aegina: a small hotel with charme and history

Want to soak up the sun and enjoy a city but only got a few days? Go to Aegina, and stay at the Hotel Aeginitiko Archontiko. You could do worse than fly to Athens, take a bus to Piraeus, and be in Aegina and on 

Flying during the coronavirus pandemic – what can you expect?

Flying during the coronavirus pandemic – what can you expect?

Is flying during the coronavirus pandemic advisable? And if not, why on earth would I fly anyway? Well, let me tell you. While previous summers  saw me working, tending our garden and enjoying a bit of quiet, this summer kicked me in the guts real 

Coronavirus train travel in Germany  –  a critical journey

Coronavirus train travel in Germany – a critical journey

As of 15th June, we are free to travel to most countries in Europe again. I haven’t been anywhere but work since 25th of January since I returned from Jordan. Three cancelled trips later, I made my peace with the inability to travel for leisure 

A Visit to Studio Aalto, Helsinki

A Visit to Studio Aalto, Helsinki

When in Helsinki…. you can take a trip out to the islands, sweat in the sauna or… visit Studio Aalto! The entrance fee is fairly steep, so you may ask yourself: Is it worth visiting Studio Aalto? I think it is, and here is a 

Amsterdam in summer 2020:  Time to travel again

Amsterdam in summer 2020: Time to travel again

Slowly, slowly, I am dipping my toes back in the travel pool. I am going to travel to Amsterdam in summer 2020! But will it be safe and enjoyable? Hotels opened to tourists at the end of May here in Germany, the EU and Schengen 

Why I didn’t love Pamukkale  but why you should visit  anyway

Why I didn’t love Pamukkale but why you should visit anyway

Pamukkale! One of Turkeys top tourist sites is highly advertised and you can visit it from nearly any resort.  Its pictures of people bathing in gleaming white travertine terraces have mesmerized me since I was a teenager.  We finally had the opportunity to see them