The Moules et Frites is One of Belgium's Traditional Dishes: That Moules et Frites is the national dish of Belgium is enough to get me to this country. Anyone who likes mussels and who has tried these large steaming pots of mussels in savory broth, accompanied by a bowl of Belgian frites and homemade mayonnaise, will understand why this dish is so popular. (Note that it's Belgian fries and not French fries!) Then of course there is the range of Belgian beers that go with it. Moule … [Read more...]
Shopping on your Ireland holiday
April 16, 2009 by
What to buy in Ireland: Ireland is a country where it's still possible to find high quality handmade goods. It has a worldwide reputation for knitwear and woollen items, so if you're in the market for nice winter jumpers, scarves, capes, etc. this is the place to shop. Woollens and cashmere Traditional Irish Aran sweaters have a unique style all of their own. Good places to look for traditional Irish knitwear are Kilkenny Design, Blarney Woollen Mills, Dublin Woollen Mills and Avoca … [Read more...]
Eating out on your Ireland holiday
April 15, 2009 by
A Change in eating patterns Traditionally, the Irish start the day with a calorie-loaded Irish breakfast. This cooked breakfast can contain fried bacon, sausages, eggs (or boiled eggs), black and white pudding and tomatoes. It's served with a couple of slices of home made soda bread. Dinner was the main meal and this was served at midday, with a 'lighter tea' in the evening. These days, eating patterns have changed a little, with people settling for a salad or soup with sandwich at midday, … [Read more...]
Bulgaria, a holiday destination
April 14, 2009 by
Bulgaria, a country that's both old and new: Bulgaria can be said to be a country that's very old as well as very new. It's ancient history dates back to the Old Stone Age period of the 1st millenium B.C. and yet it wasn't until 1989 that it broke away from the Eastern Bloc and became an independent country, with its new Constitution being enacted in 1991. From this time on, Bulgaria's race to modernise itself included full membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in … [Read more...]
Shopping on your Sofia holiday, Bulgaria
April 14, 2009 by
The Shopping Scene: Over the past years more multinational companies have been setting up in Sofia and there are now more luxurious hotels, shopping malls, restaurants and entertainment centres in the city centre. Along the big boulevards like Tsarigradsko Shousse and Nikola Vaptsarov, a variety of modern business centres are also being built. The brand new underground that connects the city centre with the outskirts now also brings more people into the city. Shopping malls like City Centre … [Read more...]
St. Sofia Day Celebrations in Sofia, Bulgaria
April 14, 2009 by
Helen meets a President on her Bulgarian holidays: It's not everyday that one meets a President of a country whilst on holiday and it's certainly not something that you plan for in your travel itinerary. So if by some fluky alignment of the planets, an extraordinary encounter like this happens, it adds to that special highlight of your holiday and what a star entry for your travel journal. Yes, I was fortunate to have had such an encounter with the President of Bulgaria on our Sofia … [Read more...]
Eating out in Bulgaria
April 14, 2009 by
What Bulgarians eat: Although Bulgarians love their meats, salads and soups are also important elements of their cuisine. Traditional cuisine combines influences from the Ottoman Empire with peasant cooking styles. Fresh vegetables are plentiful and these are eaten raw, roasted or stewed with meat in terracotta pots. Meat dishes mainly comprise pork, veal and chicken which can be grilled, fried or cooked as a stew, and lots of garlic, onions, oil and spices are used in their … [Read more...]
Eating out on your Athens holiday
April 11, 2009 by
Souvlakis, moussakas and calamari: Greek food is well known the world over and many visitors to Greece arrive already equipped with some knowledge of common dishes like mezes, souvlaki, moussaka, Greek salad, etc. Some of the names may not be familiar, but we most probably have had some tyropitakia (small cheese pies), soutzoukakia (meatballs in red sauce) or britzoles arnisies (grilled lamb). Seafood is plentiful here as Greece is surrounded by sea and fishing is part of the mainstream … [Read more...]
Athens Sightseeing: The Acropolis
April 11, 2009 by
An awe-inspiring heritage from Greece's Golden Age: A highlight of any holiday in Athens is a visit to the Acropolis. One of the earliest religious complexes in ancient Greece, this awe-inspiring heritage from its the Golden Age still dominates the skyline of modern Athens. The Acropolis is an extremely popular tourist attraction and each day bus loads of tourists of different nationalities descend upon the site. Shuffling in the queue as you wind your way to reach the top can be a … [Read more...]
Greek sandals fit for gods and goddesses
April 11, 2009 by
Greek sandals by a famous sandal maker On my first visit to Athens many many moons ago, I stumbled upon Pandrossou Street and recall my heart rate spiking up as for me this was like discovering an Aladdin's cave of shops. Pandrossou Street is a pedestrian walkway jammed with shops on both sides, many selling souvenirs, local handicraft, jewelry, scarves, t-shirts as well as leather goods. I didn't come here with a specific shopping list, but ended up buying a nicely hand-made and very … [Read more...]