Ancient & Modern – a hymn for Rouen
The more common use of ‘Ancient & Modern’ is with reference to the Church of England hymnal songs for refreshing worship but it’s perhaps strangely appropriate to the medieval and modern facades…and character of Rouen, France. That’s not to say that one isn’t overwhelmed by religious presence within the city’s confines, called the ‘city of a hundred spires’ by Victor Hugo, what with the imposing Rouen Cathedral that...
Saint-Valery-sleepy-sur-Somme
When William the Conqueror assembled his fleet at St.Valery before sailing to attack England in 1066 and Joan of Arc took one last look from her cell within the fortifications before her fiery end in Rouen, little could they have anticipated what a peaceful destination the town would become for many of the nationalities who had previously fought over this strategic location at the mouth of the Somme estuary. Situated on the Picardy...
Because you’d expect it in Amsterdam!
Don’t go hunting for something different in Amsterdam – embrace the stereotypes of sparkling diamonds and red lights, cheese, canals and cannabis, art, architecture and windmills. 177 resident nationalities and seventeen million tourists per annum give you an idea of the hectic eclectic kaleidoscope of culture and concentrated interests within the city, offering a welcome for everyone. It’s too easy to dismiss Amsterdam because it’s...
Budapest – a tale of two cities
It seems almost prophetic that the act of combining the two towns of Buda and Pest on November 17, 1873 also created two faces of a city that has become renowned as one of the most beautiful in Europe. Whether it’s old and new, hilly and flat, art and architecture, conflict and peace, tyranny and freedom, independence and unity or culture and barbarity, Budapest provides a mesmerising dual insight into European history, visually...
The true spirit of France
The little known village of La Bastide d’Armagnac epitomises the genuine essence of France Draw a triangle with Bordeaux, Toulouse and Biarritz at their corners and you’ll find a sleepy gem of a medieval village nestled at its centre. It’s also just off the A65/E7 road, midway from Bordeaux to Pau. Les Landes area of France on the Aquitaine coast to the west of France is less visited than many areas but offers a diverse and...
Tuscan Reflections
Four fun filled days in four fantastic Italian cities Why not consider seeing some of the highlights of Tuscany for yourself on this compact short break. Although we’ve toured the whole of Italy at different times – we take every opportunity to return. This time, with a long weekend in mind, we take a short flight to Tuscany with the intention of spending time in each of four cities – Pisa, Florence, Siena and Lucca. We land in...
