My visit to Delhi

When you tell people that you are going to India they often ask Why?    I think a lot of people are nervous of the crowds, the dirt, the smells, of something so different to what we are used to in North America and Europe that it scares them.     But to me that is part of the attraction, the charm, the fascination.

However, I was a little nervous flying in Delhi for the first time myself.    As I boarded the plane for the 14-hour flight I was saying in my head why, why can’t you just go and sit on a beach like other people?   Why do you get these ideas of going on an adventure?   But the answer is, I want to experience the culture and the people for myself.

Landing in Delhi airport was quite disappointing, it looked like any other international airport, nothing different at all, even leaving the airport to get the taxi to the hotel was less intense than I had anticipated.  I had expected hoards of people, kind of like in the movie ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, but it was quite normal really, except that the lines on the highway and the traffic lights are more for decoration than rules to be obeyed.

Touring Old Delhi with our amazing guide was fascinating, an assault on the senses, absolute chaos, from every sort of mode of transport, going in every direction, to the chaotic maze of electrical wiring above your head, to the smells of spices, incense and food.

We were fortunate to visit the Salaam Baalak Trust, a non-profit organization which provides shelter to street kids.   We were shown around by a young 16 year old man who had been kidnapped as a 6 year old and taken to Delhi to beg on the streets.  Fortunately, he was able to get away from his captives, but then found him self alone, with no knowledge of where he came from and no way to get back.    He was helped and sheltered by the Trust and now gives back by giving tours and educating people about it.  It really gives you a different perspective on life.

http://www.salaambaalaktrust.com/

Check out my pics on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/littletravelco/

Maui - a lovely suprise!

As a world traveller, I’m not sure why Maui/Hawaii was never on my bucket list, but I had the opportunity to visit and was very pleasantly surprised.

For the cost of going to a 5 star resort in the Caribbean I was able to fly to this remote group of islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.   A group of islands with nothing to the north or south until you reach the artic/Antarctic regions.  A group of islands at the edge of the International date line where today becomes tomorrow.

I went with an open mind,  being part of the US I thought that it may be similar to going to other US states like Florida,  but Maui has managed to keep its cultural identity far more that I had thought it would.

Hawaii became the 50^th state only as recently as 1959,  but the history of Hawaii goes back over 1500 years when the Polynesians first arrived.   500 years later, settlers from Tahiti came bringing their beliefs and social hierarchy.   In 1778, Captain James Cook ‘discovered’ the islands opening them up to the West.

All the beaches,   of which there are many,  are open to the public; ‘they belong to no one and everyone’  Developers are required to provide public access and parking to residential/hotel areas which is a lovely idea and gives you the ability to visit some superb stretches of coastline.

In an 8 day visit,   I was able to take a helicopter flight over West Maui to the island of Molokai, rent a car to explore the whole island,   go whale watching,  drive up to the top of a 10,000 feet mountain to watch the sunset, hike through bamboo forests to see watherfalls,  snorkel,  watch Sea turtles come up onto the beach to sleep and wonder at the surfers as they ride the waves.   Or  I could have sat on a beach in the Caribbean – guess it depends on the type of vacation you are looking for.

Check out all my pics on https://www.instagram.com/littletravelco/   

Also, check out my pics from the trip - if only to watch the video of the whale encounter!!  It was fabulous. 
https://photos.app.goo.gl/yeLCChEyTG2dn9pl2  

Zanzibar!!!

Ok, I know, I’m reach stretching the ‘well I’m in the neighbourhood’ scenario, but really,  I am!!  I’ve climbed a mountain, I’ve gone on camping safari, I really need some R&R and what better place than a gorgeous palm tree strewn island. 

Zanzibar, also known as Spice Island, is a beautiful island on Africa’s east coast.  It’s a fabulous place to explore with rich history dating back to the nineteenth century when the island was an important trading centre for the Indian Ocean region.   Apparently, no visit is complete without a trip to a spice planation where your senses will be dazzle by clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and pepper to name but a few. 

Stone town is the main city on the island and is reputedly the only functioning ancient town in East Africa where little has changed in over 200 years.    There is a labyrinth of walled streets and winding alleys, where you find mosques and wonderful Arab architecture.   There are shops, bazaars and wonderful seafood restaurants.    This is also where Freddie Mercury of Queen was born, so I will definitely be searching out his house if I don’t get lost. 

There are different beach areas on the island, the larger hotels tend to be on the west side, and the isolated beaches are to the north and east.  I will take some time to explore and report back!

In the meantime check out my pics on Instagram as I probably won’t blog until I’m home – why waste the beach time 😊       https://www.instagram.com/littletravelco/

Hanoi and Halong Bay

I wanted to check out Hanoi and Halong Bay but prefer a tour, especially when I am travelling alone.   I find you enjoy the place so much more when someone is telling you about it,  the culture,  the history,  the reason that things are the way they are.   

A city of Parisian charm and grace with an Asian edge, Hanoi is an enthralling blend of East and West and a rising star in Southeast Asia. 

Visiting the stunning Halong Bay was even better than the photos I had seen of it.  We took an overnight junk boat (a traditional Asian vessel) while cruising among the bay's 3,000 islands that rise dramatically from the emerald waters. 


Check out more of my pics on Instagram 

The Lake District, England

I was fortunate to be able to return to the Lake District in May and find it to be one of the most beautiful areas of the England.  The Lake District is a National Park in the northwest of England, and is a popular holiday destination.    It is known for it’s lakes, rugged mountains and historic literacy associations

All the land in England higher than 3,000 feet (910 m) above sea level lies within the National Park.  The highest mountain in England and the deepest and longest bodies of water in England.

The precise extent of the Lake District was not defined traditionally, but is slightly larger than that of the National Park, the total area of which is about 885 square miles (2,292 km2). The park extends just over 32 miles (51 km) from east to west and nearly 40 miles (64 km) from north to south, with areas such as the Lake District Peninsulas to the south lying outside the National Park.

It is the most visited national park in the United Kingdom with 15.8 million annual visitors and more than 23 million annual day visits, the largest of the thirteen national parks in England and Wales.

There are many paths over which the public has a right of way, all of which are signposted. Within the area of the National Park in 2012 there were 2,159 kilometres (1,342 mi) of public footpaths, 875 kilometres (544 mi) of public bridleways.

Many of these tracks arose centuries ago and were used either as ridge highways or as passes for travelling across the ridges between settlements in the valleys. Historically these paths were not planned for reaching summits, but more recently they are used by fell walkers for that purpose.

The Lake District is intimately associated with English literature of the 18th and 19th centuries. Thomas Gray was the first to bring the region to attention, when he wrote a journal of his Grand Tour in 1769, but it was William Wordsworth whose poems were most famous and influential. Wordsworth's poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud", inspired by the sight of daffodils on the shores of Ullswater, remains one of the most famous in the English language. Wordsworth, Coleridge and Southey became known as the Lake Poets.

During the early 20th century, the children's author Beatrix Potter was in residence at Hill Top Farm, setting many of her famous Peter Rabbit books in the Lake District.

Follow me on Instagram;  https://www.instagram.com/littletravelco/

 http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/

Path of the Gods, Amalfi Coast #Positano #amalfiCoast

Positano 

I had never heard of The Path of the Gods, or ‘Il Sentiero degli Dei’ which in hindsight is strange as I love to hike.   It turned out to be one of the most spectacular hikes I have even done taking me along the infamous Amalfi Coast, Italy. 

It only takes a few hours to hike from the small hill top village along the coast to Positano, I wish it was longer as I couldn’t get enough of the fabulous views along the coast that it gives.  Ideally, walkers should walk from Agerola to Nocelle, and not vice-versa; the route runs gently downhill from this direction, with magnificent views of the Amalfi Coast and the island of Capri. 

  

I went at the end of October, on a gorgeous sunny day with a perfect temperature.  I don’t think it would have been nearly as enjoyable in the peak of the summer with crowds of  people and the heat of the summer sun beating down on you.  If you are there in the summer, I would definitely start as early as you can.

It must be said that this is more of a hike than a casual stroll along a coastal path.   I would advise hiking shoes/boots as there are some very uneven rocky areas, and large rocks to navigate around.  There is no fence of any sort on the edge so those with vertigo may need to think about that.  One of the group I was with decided not to do it for that reason.   The scenery changes from hills dotted with a few shrubs, heather and rosemary, past towering limestones mountains, colourful wildflowers, abandoned stone houses and through shaded forests. Farmers grow vines on terraces carved into the hillside, still using donkeys for transport along the narrow pathways.

If you are lucky enough to be in this wonderful area, do consider taking this hike. 

Rome - I'd forgotten how wonderful it is.

Piazza Navona

 

If you find yourself in Rome, try to avoid the major tourist attractions which are packed with people, and instead take a walk through the ancient streets.   It's amazing what treasures you can find along the way. 

I've been fortunate to visit Rome several times, but it's been a while and I had forgotten what an amazing city it is.   People complain that it's dirty and crowded, and maybe it is, but it still has so much charm and beauty, that for me it became irrelevant.  

I did want to see the Trevi Fountain again, so I walked from my hotel near Termini train station in that general direction.    I had all the time in the world, so as I walked and saw something of interest, I followed it making many turns and diversion.    I think this is the best way to discover a city.   There are so many great churches, lovely gardens, quaint restaurants and ancient ruins that you could spend a week just wandering.  

I especially enjoyed the Trastevere area just south of Vatican City.  It's a fun, bohemian area with centuries old buildings, artisan shops and restaurants. At the centre of this area is the Piazza di Santa Maria, with the Basilica dating back in parts to the 3rd century.   In the centre of the Piazza is a wonderful fountain, one of so many in the city where people gather to sit and watch the world go by.    

Another piazza that I really love is Piazza Navona, built on the site of a stadium dating back to the 1st century AD. On my last night there I chose the restaurant in front of the fountain and sat watching the people as I enjoyed a wonderful meal.  Of course, it's going to be a little more expensive to sit in a prime location, but it was so beautiful.  Sometimes when you travel you just have to say what the hell!  It's worth it.  

On the way back, I finally went to the Trevi Fountain hoping that on a rainy October night at 8pm it may be less busy - but it wasn't.  Maybe going at Midnight would be better?

Completely by accident on one of my diversions, I stumbled upon the home of Michelangelo’s statue of Moses housed in the San Pietro in Vincoli church.  What a masterpiece that is definitely going to see. 

The neighbourhood of Monti is another fun place to visit and enjoy the atmosphere, with both bohemian and classical elements, trattorias, win bars and vintage boutiques are hidden in the areas pizzas and streets drawing a mix of expats, students and locals.  

Even if you have a long layover in Rome it's worth going into the city.   I took the train from the airport in 30 minutes, which takes you to the centre of Rome.  

Trevi fountain

Micahelangelo's Moses

Trastevere

Machu Picchu - The Inca Trail

My first solo trip and adventure was to hike the Inca Trail in Peru.   I had never been anywhere a little different on my own, nor had I hiked anything that involved altitude and the potential for altitude sickness.   So it was definitely an adventure for me, but it opened the door to the world of solo travel and adventure and I haven’t looked back.

Arriving in Lima at night with no domestic flight to Cusco leaving until the morning, I ended up sleeping on the floor of the airport with the other backpackers. There were no seats, or benches anywhere to be found, so there was no option at all.  I could have taken a cab to a hotel, but I had read to many scary things about women in cabs in South America that I decided the floor was a better option.   Quite a start to my adventure!

Landing in Cuzco with an altitude of 3,400 metres (11,200ft), it was higher than I had ever been before and as I waited at the baggage carousel my heart was racing.  I was seriously worried about the altitude and was very happy that I had arrived a week before I was starting the Inca Trail to give me more time to acclimatise.   

As soon as I arrived at the hotel I was given a cup of Coca tea, also called mate de coca, which is an herbal tea (infusion) made using the raw or dried leaves of the coca plant, which is native to South America.   Apparently, this was what you had to drink to combat the altitude sickness and over the next few days I found it did help quite a lot.    My room was on the 3^rd floor and every time I returned to the hotel I made myself walk up the 3 floors to try and acclimatise, by the 3^rd floor I was completely exhausted and trying to catch my breath.   If you’ve never experienced altitude, it’s really quite amazing how it affects you.   It also interrupts your ability to sleep well and I had a few really bad nights of sleep before getting used to it.  

Cusco is a lovely city which I enjoyed exploring, although I was surprised at the size of it and the amount of pollution, staying off the main streets was better.   My favourite area and one I would recommend is San Blas, tucked away to the north of Plaza de Armas.  You can see the architectural influences of the Spanish after the conquest.   It seems like a quieter, more interesting area of the city to wander around.   There is no end of history and Inca sites to visit throughout the city.

The Inca Trail itself was much more than I thought it would be.  Initially I had thought only about the finale, the big arrival through the sun gate to see Machu Picchu below, but the hike turned out to be if not more enjoyable, at least as enjoyable as that magical moment.    Along the way you see many other old Inca buildings and settlements and although the trail is something that many people hike, it was less crowded than I thought it would be.  We didn’t see any other groups until we reached the campsite the night before the Sun Gates.     The number of permits issued is tightly restricted to keep the numbers down so it’s something that you need to book quite a long time in advance to avoid disappointment, although there are other trails that lead to Machu Picchu, just not the ‘Inca Trail’.   Plus, you need to carry your passport with you to get stamped at the check points or they will deny you access.    It was quite hard going, and very slow at times as that was the only speed you were capable of doing with the altitude affecting you.  At night in the tent it got very cold, so definitely make sure you have lots of warm clothes as it was deceivingly hot in the day. 

Walking through the Sun Gate and seeing Machu Picchu sprawling below you is a very special moment.    It was a little disappointing to have to share it with so many clean, sweet smelling tourists who had just got off the train instead of hiking for 4 days and I have to admit I did resent them a little, but it was still wonderful.      We were able to go back in the afternoon to enjoy it after we’d cleaned up and there were far fewer tourist there then, so it was much better.

It really was a wonderful experience and planted the seed for future adventure trips.

Tahiti... more afordable than you think! #lovetahiti

Moorea

As a Travel Professional I am invited to various supplier and tourist board events throughout the year.    This week I went to a couple, one of which was a presentation by the Tahiti Tourist Board.   These sessions are always very informative, and you learn so much about the destination, accommodation options, how to get there and what you can do once there. 

I think that I thought of Tahiti as just one island, or maybe I hadn’t really given it that much thought as it seemed to be one of those mythical destinations, bringing to mind visions of an idyllic island paradise that only the very fortunate are lucky enough to visit, so it was never really on my ‘bucket list’  

It turns out that Tahiti is more affordable than you think and belongs to a group of islands collectively know as French Polynesia and comprises of 118 islands in total stretching more that 2000 km, divided into 5 groups of islands; The Society, Austral, Marquesas, Tuamotu and Gambier, located in the Pacific ocean, south of the equator and is in the same time zone as Hawaii, about an 8 hour flight from Los Angeles.   These islands receive the same number of visitors in a year that Hawaii receives in a week, so they remain more unspoilt, are very safe and friendly.

 

The most well-known islands are Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora known for their coral fringed lagoons and of course the famous over-the-water bungalows.  The islands feature mountains, waterfalls, rugged backcountry and beautiful unspoilt beaches, both black and white.

The average temperature is 27°C (80°F), summer is from November to April with a warmer, more humid climate and winter is from May through October, when it’s slightly cooler and drier.   

There are many ways to explore the islands on foot, by bike, horse, 4x4’s, or fun activities to enjoy such as go ziplining or paddle boarding.  Go swimming in the pristine waters, marvel at the under water life with amazing snorkeling and scuba opportunities or just lay back and enjoy this beautiful paradise.  

French Polynesia takes advantage of the fantastic year-round weather to grow a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and spices.   Fish from the lagoon or from the ocean, ranging from perch, mahi mahi and parrot fish eaten raw or sometimes marinated in lime juice and coconut milk.  There are even specialized tours that let you discover the flavors of the islands on picnics organized on beaches.  You can also sample the local foods in restaurants, food trucks and bars.

The most interesting fact about this area is that it’s not as expensive as you would imagine.   7 nights accommodation starts at CDN $2000 per person, (US$1600, €1300), plus the flight to Papeete the capital.    But still, I think this a very affordable alternative to the Caribbean especially for special life events, birthdays, celebrations and anniversaries.  

https://tahititourisme.ca/en-ca/

Bora Bora

Vienna - The city of Music

Mozart

Vienna, Austria’s capital, the city of Music, lies in the east of the country on the banks of the Danube River.  It was a lovely surprise as I had no real expectations about the city other than I wanted to see my favourite artists work, Gustav Klimt, so the rest was all a bonus.  

The cities grandeur is the result of the powerful Habsburg monarchy over the course of six centuries.  There is so much to see in this small city full of so much art and culture, from the obvious art galleries, to the Lipizzaner stallion’s performance at the Spanish riding school, to simply sitting sampling the famous Viennese coffee cake in one of cities many opulent coffee shops.   

The cities artistic legacy was shaped by other famous residents including Mozart, Strauss, Beethoven and Sigmund Freud.    There are many museums, art galleries and Palaces and at every turn the streetscape is full of Baroque buildings. 

There are numerous concerts to attend showcasing some of the famous resident’s music to going to Sunday mass and hearing the famous Vienna Boys choir. 

If you take one of the many river cruises that journey along the Danube, make sure that you take some time to research what you want to see in Vienna as it has an overwhelming amount of options.

Belvedere Museum

(18th century palace and gardens)

Gustav Klimt - The Kiss

Strauss Monumnent

A short stay in Berlin

Part of the Wall

I visited Berlin for a few days in July and was lucky to be able to stay with a friend who lives there.  It’s always better to get a tour from someone local.

Berlin, Germany’s capital dates back to the 13^th century.  Very few cities have experienced such frequent, radical changes transforming the face of the city.  

Reminders of the turbulent 20^th century history are visible at every turn, the difference in architecture from the ornate, untouched by bombs Victorian town houses, sitting next to plain soviet built apartments.  Remains of the Berlin wall, some standing in their original place reminding everyone of what happened here dividing the city from 1961, until the wall came down in 1989.  

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (Holocaust Memorial) is a somber reminder, a very moving, emotional acknowledgement of what can happen.    The memorial to the Sinti and Roma victims, a monument dedicated to the memory of 220,000-500,000 murdered in the Nazi genocide, another very moving place to visit. 

Nowadays Berlin seems to embrace everyone and it is a city full of diversity.  Berlins street- art scene has exploded in recent years, transforming grey into colour.   From the wonderful art painted along the Wall, to various other areas of the city, if art is your thing you should take an Alternative tour of Berlin. 

There is a large amount of things to see and do in Berlin, something for everyone, a fascinating city.    

The Memorial to the murdererd Jews 

More of the Wall

'I run to the hills for the The Sound of Music' - Salzburg, Austria

View from the terrace at lunch

While enjoying the River cruise along the Danube, one of the day excursions offered was a ‘Sound of Music’ inspired visit to Salzburg.    Being a fan of the wonderful movie, I had to visit some of the landmarks. 

  

But Salzburg was much more that just a series of filming locations, it was a wonderful, pretty Austrian town surrounded by amazing countryside. 

Salzburg’s most famous son is Mozart and enjoys being known for his birthplace in 1756 at No. 9 Getreidegasse in the town centre. Today, Mozart’s Birthplace is one of the most visited museums in Austria and is an absolute highlight for fans, he also lends his name to any number of souvenirs from chocolates, ice creams to rubber ducks and you will bump into his likeness at every turn.

Hohensalzburg Fortress is enthroned on the Festungsberg, high above the rooftops of the Baroque historical district.  In the year 1077, archbishop Gebhard had the fortress built and changed the Salzburg skyline forever.  The largest fully preserved castle in Central Europe, this emble mof Salzburg draws millions of tourists every year.   I had lunch at the top over looking the town below and the mountains in the distance.  One of the most beautiful locations I’ve had the pleasure of eating lunch and I savoured every moment. 

 

St. Peter's Monastery & Cemetery & Catacombs just below the fortress are another lovely place to visit.  Since St. Peter’s was founded in the 7th century, the church and abbey have been the spiritual heart of the city of Salzburg.  Aside from its striking architecture and the wonderful feeling of peace and calm, the cemetery and catacombs are also a must-see for fans of “The Sound of Music”.

Also, fans of the The Sound of Music will recogise Residenzplatz square as another highlight: During their carriage ride through the city, Maria and the children sing as they pass the Residenz Fountain.

When I visited Salzburg there was a market that extended about 1 km along the river with a varied assortment of things to buy, from local honey, hand made jewellery and clothes,  to local beers. A lovely way to round off the day. 

I could have definitely spent longer here and would recommend a visit if you are in Austria.      

Budapest - Visit a spa. #szechenyibaths #gellertbaths

Budapest is a popular destination for many reasons, spas and thermal baths being one of them.     When I was there recently I took the opportunity to check out two of them to see what it was all about.

The Romans first settled in this area so that they could take advantage of the 120 hot springs created by a fault line.   In the 1920’s Budapest gained the reputation as a ‘city of spas’ and now hosts an impressive selection of thermal baths and spas, some dating back to the 16^th century.

The most ‘instagrammed’ one is the Szechenyi Baths which is one of the largest bathing complexes in Europe built in 1913 housed in a neo-baroque palace near the city park on the Pest side of the city.   There are 15 indoor pools and 3 large outdoor pools with various temperatures.   Inside there are saunas, steam rooms, whirlpools and jets.   The thermal water is considered medicinal as it is high in calcium, magnesium and hydrogen carbonate which is said to ease joint pain and improve blood circulation. There is a very grand entrance hall and maps to navigate the maze of rooms and pools within the complex.  

I spent a whole afternoon at Gellért Baths on the Buda side of the Danube.  I had only planned to visit for 30 minutes but enjoyed it so much that I ended up staying for about 3 hours and could have stayed for longer.  With its mosaic walls and floors, stained glass windows and Roman style columns it is one of the most beautiful spas in the city.    It was opened in 1918 in the art nouveaux style and has indoor and outdoor baths fed by the thermal springs.  It was a challenge finding your way around inside the building, and as I wondered around in a confused daze I found saunas, small thermal pools, and a wonderful steam room where I completely lost all sense of time.    There are also treatment rooms for medicinal massages.   Outside there is a wave pool, another thermal pool and large sauna.   There is also a lovely café on the terrace overlooking the outdoor pool where I enjoyed a cappuccino and pastry. 

If you find yourself in Budapest I would definitely recommend making time to relax and enjoy one of the spas.   

Danube River cruise

Mondsee, Austria

You always here people talking about river cruses and how wonderful they are, so I decided to take one to experience it for myself – well it’s easier to sell a product that you have tried, as with anything.

I took an Avalon cruise on the Danube from Budapest to Nuremburg.   Avalon promotes their one-of-a kind stateroom layout with Open Air balcony, wall to wall windows, for spectacular views of the passing countryside and for me the best part is that the bed faces the window.   Sitting there in the morning with a cappuccino was one of my favourite parts of the day.       

River cruises allow you to travel in comfort in an intimate setting of just over 100 passengers, with a 2:1 staff ratio.   Your room is a chic hotel room with wonderfully comfy beds, quality bedding and pillows, a marble-lined bathroom, fluffy towels and luxury bath goodies. The beauty for me is that you only have to unpack once and yet you get to see many different places and also there is no lining up to get on and off the boat, its very convenient way to travel.   

One of the great joys of river cruising is being able to dock in the centre of some of the most beautiful cities in Europe, on a floating hotel that moves you from one beautiful location to the next.   You could opt to stay on the ship and relax or take a guided tour and learn a little of the history.  There were tours for slow walkers or faster walkers, also bikes to take from the ship if you preferred.    Something for everyone.  

Meal time on a river cruise is an experience in itself.  From the lavish breakfast including freshly baked pastries, fruit, smoked salmon, cheese, hot dishes and eggs made to order.    Lunch and dinner were also lavish affairs, with beautifully prepared meals to suit all pallets.    There was also afternoon tea served in the lounge and a coffee/pastry station that was open all hours.    We were also treated to a wine tasting one night in Austria and another night when we were in Germany we learned about the local beers.

There are many different types of themed river cruises now, from wine tasting, to wellness to Christmas market cruises. 

The river cruise was definitely as wonderful as I had heard and I would definitely recommend them, I hope to do another one on a different river.   If you want any more info just email me at kate@littletravel.co. 

                                                                    www.littletravel.co

Paris - le diner Blanc

My daughter Emma (https://www.instagram.com/emscourtney/?hl=en) asked if I would like to go to Paris with her to attend the 30^th Anniversary of le Dîner en Blanc. 

Dîner en Blanc is a worldwide event, spanning six continents and has grown to over 70 cities.  The concept began in Paris in 1988.  People gather to dine in a public location which is kept a secret until the last moment. Diners are requested to dress only in white for this chic occasion, and bring their own food, tables, chairs, a proper table cloth and cutlery etc.  Everything must be white and classy. 

Our visit to Paris culminated on the Sunday evening with the diner.   We dressed in our best white finery and set off down the road to the metro with table, chairs, food and champagne in tow, while trying to maintain an air of Chic which was quite hard as it was hot.   We had to take 2 metros trains to get to our designated meeting point which in itself was quite an adventure.   

It was funny to see other people dressed in white all appearing from different directions and as the numbers grew so did the anticipation of where we would be heading to. 

Eventually we all set off with our dining necessities in line, it must have looked like quite a strange procession to passers by who didn’t know what was going on as thousands of people starting heading to the secret location.   

As we arrived at the Esplanade des Invalides there were already thousands of people setting up their tables and meals in rows.  It was quite a rush to get set up our table and some people had very ornate decorations for their table and lavish meals.   There were 30,000 diners present for this anniversary Dîner en Blanc.

It was an amazing spectacle to see.  As the evening progressed and the sun set over the beautiful Paris skyline we enjoyed a wonderful dinner in a once in a lifetime setting while getting to know our neighbours and where they had travelled from, all over the world.    We were handed sparklers to light and at 10pm as the Eifel tower sparkled so did 30,000 diners.      (The Eifel tower sparkles on the hour every evening from 10p to 1am.) 

It was truly a wonderful evening, full of fabulous people and lasting memories.     If you get the chance to attend in any city, take it!

kate@littletravel.co     www.littletravel.co 

Claude Monet's gardens at Giverny, France

On my recent trip to France I promised myself that I would finally visit Monet’s garden.   I have been to France numerous times and never made it there, which is very silly as it's so close to Paris. 

Monet lived in Giverny, a village in the region of Normandy in northern France only 74km from Paris.    If you are in Paris, there are half and full day tours that you can take which I would highly recommend. 

It wasn't a disappointment at all.  It was just like walking into the artists painting.  Full of colour and beautiful flowers everywhere. It was absolutely stunning and quite moving to be there having seen his paintings all my life.    

There are three parts to the visit, the colourful gardens full of flowers, the water garden with the famous lily pads and bridge and a tour around his house with many of his paintings adorning the walls.    There is also a nice restaurant where you can get a light refreshment or a full meal.

I am so glad that I finally made the time to go this time as it has become one of the most favourite places I have ever visited.