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.

http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/

America's First Eco Lodge

    

 

Even if you can’t stay overnight, be sure to visit the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone, perhaps the most beloved of all National Park historic accommodations: its soaring, 92-foot lobby, erected in 1904, is a marvelous thatch-work of gnarled and knotted tree trunks, evoking the sensation of being inside the primeval forest of Yellowstone.

 

Its architect Robert C. Reamer wanted to capture the wild, unruly essence of nature, arguing that the Inn should look as if it actually grew on the spot. (“I built it in keeping with the place where it stands,” Reamer wrote. “To try to improve upon it would be an impertinence.”)

 

Today, the Inn’s older rooms still have their original raw pinewood walls, marble sinks and claw-foot cast-iron baths; on cooler nights, the wind can sometimes whistle through old logs that make up the exterior walls. In 1959, an earthquake caused some structural damage, and its famous gabled roof is now sadly off-limits to the public – except for two individuals who are permitted to accompany a staff member raising and lowing the flags every dawn and dusk. (Not surprisingly, the ritual is hugely popular and booked up a year in advance, although it is worth asking at the reservation desk if someone has canceled).

 

Would-be roof-climbers should be aware that it’s not a trip for those leery of heights. Starting from the lobby, one ascends a series of rickety old stairs that seem to be suspended in mid-air as they sway underfoot like trapeze ropes. These pass by the precarious ‘Crow’s Nest’ – a tree-house for adults, where in the early 1900s a small musical ensemble would gather after dinner, to serenade the guests dancing below in formal dress. But for those lucky few visitors who make the climb, the view from the roof across the steaming fumaroles of the Upper Geyser Basin is magical. We design our journeys around the stories they will tell.

 

By Globus;  OnTarget by Nexion

 

Paris must see sites...

Paris Must See Sites

By: Globus
Paris is a city full of sites to see. Make your European trip one to remember by checking out these exciting Parisian destinations.

Montmartre, Latin Quarter
Try a walking tour of the Montmartre district, where artists such as Picasso, Monet, and Van Gogh worked. Your Local Host can suggest other intriguing walking tours of areas such as the Latin Quarter, the fashion district, or where to find the graves of Jim Morrison and Chopin in the Père Lachaise Cemetery.

Sacré-Coeur
While in Montmartre, visit the Sacré-Coeur (Sacred Heart). This pristine, white-stone church was proposed as a memorial to the soldiers killed in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, but it was not completed until the end of World War I. The church features one of the world’s largest mosaics, which depicts Christ with outstretched arms, and a massive 19-ton church bell. Enjoy wonderful views of Paris from the Sacré-Coeur steps.

Musée d’Orsay
Stroll through centuries of artwork at the Musée d’Orsay, which houses an extensive collection of impressionist masterpieces by Monet, Degas, Renoir, and Cezanne. You can als
o admire Rodin’s statues, and do not miss the spectacular reception room.

Sainte-Chapelle
Fifteen intricately designed panels of stained glass—commissioned by Louis IX— depict 1,100 story-telling scenes.

Jardin du Luxembourg, Parc du Champ de Mars
Families may like to take a stroll in one of the famous parks and take a whirl on their charming carousels. You can also see the “pétanque” players, or sit on one of the “so typical” Parisian green chairs.

Seine Bridges
Find your favorite bridge. There are 37, and they are all different—from plain to gilded and from new to over 400 years old. The special atmosphere they create across the Seine River helps to make Paris one of the most romantic cities.

Shakespeare and Company Bookstore
In the Roaring 20s, this quirky bookstore on the Bohemian Left Bank was the meeting place for some of literature’s greats—like Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Joyce to name a few. It continues to serve as a cultural magnet for struggling writers and visitors alike.

Markets
Ask your Local Host how to get to the flea market for affordable objects d’art, or visit one of the food markets. The French know how to turn food display into an art form. See rainbows of fresh fruit and vegetables, soft palettes of bread, and colossal wheels of cheese—France has over 400 varieties of cheese. And when you’re ready for dessert, specialty stores abound—from tarts and pastries to crêpes and pains au chocolat. Other specialties to try include onion soup with a fresh baguette, coq au vin (a classic chicken dish), croquet monsieur, quiche Lorraine, escargot, steak-frites, and famous French wines and champagne.

Champs-Elysées, Shopping
Shop at haute couture boutiques by the Champs-Elysées. Perfumes and scarves are classic gifts, as well as French berets, lace, collection dolls, and pottery. Use your included specially arranged discounts at the famous Galeries Lafayette, or check out the Printemps department store.

OnTarget by Nexion

Banqueting House, London

 

 

When you stroll through the streets of London, history surrounds you with every step. For instance, if you walk from Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall through the arch, you will pass beneath the former office of the Duke of Wellington and the window from which the Queen Mother used to watch the annual Trooping the Color.

Cross the street and you will be at Banqueting House, the site where Charles I was executed on January 30, 1649 by Oliver Cromwell’s men on a scaffold built out from a first floor balcony (“first floor” in England means one floor above the ground floor). Turn around and look at the clock above the Horse Guards Building and you will see a black splotch behind the “2,” set there to mark the dark hour of the king’s beheading. Banqueting House is also the only building in Whitehall to survive the Great Fire of 1666. Don’t just bring home stories.

Bring home unforgettable memories.

By: Globus

OnTarget by Nexion

Capri: The Emperor's Hideaway

Rising like a whale from the ocean, the spectacular island of Capri has held a particular attraction for celebrities trying to “get away from it all” over the centuries. In former times, it lured the writers Goethe, Oscar Wilde and Graham Greene; these days, it attracts American stars like Leonardo di Caprio, Harrison Ford and Mariah Carey. But Capri first became famous in 26 AD, when the Roman Emperor Tiberius “dropped out” here to escape the political in-fighting in Rome. For 16 years, he ruled the Empire from his luxurious cliff-side palace – flashing his orders to the mainland via a lighthouse.

Today, the remains of the Emperor’s notorious Villa Jovis is a key attraction for any visitor to Capri. Tiberius was a dour, secretive man who chose his island home as much for its security as its beauty. Protected by 500 foot cliffs, Capri had only one landing point, and his villa, located on a remote headland offered sweeping 300 degree views of the ocean. But according to the muckraking Roman author Suetonius, he went wild in this prime piece of real estate, hosting round-the-clock parties. Also, he apparently enjoyed conducting mock trials of political enemies, after which he would personally eject them off a precipice. After his death, Romans became amused with Tiberius’ reputation as a satyr, and tourists would visit the Villa Jovis to inspect the sexual imagery painted on his bedroom walls; his antics have since been recreated in the BBC series I, Claudius and the Penthouse-funded film Caligula.

Today, the Villa Jovis has decayed into a poetic ruin. But ever since the Romans left, Capri itself has maintained a reputation for extraordinary luxury and sensual abandon. In the Victorian age, the British turned to it as an escape – and in the 1960s, film makers like Jean-Luc Goddard used it as a setting for chic thrillers like Contempt (starring Jack Palance and Bridget Bardot).

OnTarget by Nexion

 

Amsterdam

Guest blog by Emma Courtney http://www.emma-courtney.com

 

It's the last day of our backpacking portion of the trip, and we had most of the day to spend in Amsterdam. 

We spent the morning walking around exploring, and in the afternoon we took a boat tour which was nice. We really enjoyed doing that, as it was a fun way to explore Amsterdam and see everything from a different perspective. We found a nice cafe for lunch and tea overlooking the water and a cat came and hopped up on Chris' lap and slept there for over an hour, which was very cute! We walked past the Anne Frank house and saw the line up was probably a few hours long so we decided not to do that and learned we should have booked it in advance if we wanted to see it. Before 3:30 they allow online bookings and after that it's at door ticket purchase only (of course it was just after 3:30). 

Right now we are at the airport ready to head to London. We are relaxing for a day, and on Monday heading to the Lake District to relax and hike. We have had an amazing two weeks travelling around many different places but we are definitely looking forward to being in England for the next 5 weeks, and not moving around so much!

BRUGES AND BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

Guest blog by Emma Courtney http://www.emma-courtney.com

 We had a beautiful sunny day in Brussels and enjoyed walking around enjoying the atmosphere. 

---

Starting from the train station, we walked to the cathedral, Grand Place Grote Markt, and saw amazing views from the Palais de Justice, walking back up to the Palais Royal and Federal Parliament. We had lunch in the Grand Place Grote Markt and later enjoyed Belgian waffles in Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert. Brussels was very beautiful, we really enjoyed our day there! Finally, ending the day by travelling to Bruges where we will have a day to explore, as well as some relaxing!!

 

Bruges was beautiful! We enjoyed relaxing and walking around the little streets and canals. We had breakfast at a tea house where we had Belgian waffles, trying them for a second time. The waffles we had in Brussels were somewhat crunchy you could say, so I thought maybe they over cooked them, therefore having to try them again - and they were the same. Later we were talking to people who recommended another place and they were amazing! I ended up having two. Also, the person working there said there are two kinds of waffles, Brussels waffles which are long and crunchier or the other kind, which are soft and delicious. We also enjoyed lunch and dinner in the main centre, Markt, staring out at the beautiful buildings including the Belfry of Bruges. Finally, we went to see the old windmills and went up into one and saw how they worked and a got a view over the town. Really lovely experience! From Bruges we head to Amsterdam for the day before hopping on the plane to England.