Who remembers Chelsea Girl? Growing up in Yorkshire in the 80s, it was the place to shop for fashion conscious teenagers. The first UK boutique chain was launched in 1965 by the Lewis brothers, four Eastenders who were building an empire of shops called Lewis Separates, but realised they needed a name with more pizazzContinue reading “Spending the day as a Chelsea Girl”
Tag Archives: food
Boring, moi? Geneva fights back!
Geneva, Switzerland’s second city, is known as a hub of worldwide diplomacy and banking. Added to the fact that it’s in Switzerland, which has a reputation fot being a bit, well, unexciting. And rich, therefore expensive. So basically, not very enticing in terms of a weekend break. However, I’ve been to Lucerne before and wasContinue reading “Boring, moi? Geneva fights back!”
Travels in the North – Northumberland
The emptiest part of England, Northumberland is the place to escape if you’re not that keen on people, so I’m surprised the husband hasn’t brought me here before now. There are only 62 inhabitants per square kilometre here, compared with an average of 275 for the UK as a whole. It’s renowned for being desolateContinue reading “Travels in the North – Northumberland”
Travels in the North – Berwick
The English and the Scots fought for centuries over Berwick-upon-Tweed, so I figure it has to be worth a visit. The northernmost town in England sits in a strategic position where the River Tweed meets the sea. Berwick’s role as a border fortress led to enormous sums being spent on fortifications during the reign ofContinue reading “Travels in the North – Berwick”
Travels in the North – Stockbridge
There’s always something new to discover in any great city, so we’re making the trek up to Edinburgh again with high hopes. However, we arrive feeling grumpy – the rain has been biblical all morning, making our scenic coastal drive a total washout. The most entertaining part of the journey is gaping at the hordesContinue reading “Travels in the North – Stockbridge”
Travels in the North – Durham
The city of Durham in the North of England is renowned for its Norman castle and cathedral, standing high and proud above a loop in the River Wear in County Durham, the Land of the Prince Bishops. It’s also where I went to university to study French and German, more years ago than I likeContinue reading “Travels in the North – Durham”
A shopping trip to post-lockdown London
The husband wants to go shopping in the Big Smoke. Normally I would groan and try to wriggle out of accompanying him. Today, after our recent trip to a very quiet Palermo, I feel that I should go and assess how things are going in London in the wake of coronavirus. The train to PaddingtonContinue reading “A shopping trip to post-lockdown London”
Palermo part 2 – In the swing of things
We awake on day two in Palermo full of renewed purpose. It’s a strange privilege to explore a European city that is largely bereft of tourists, like going back to the 1970s when we went away with our parents, and we need to make the most of it. A continental breakfast overlooking the rooftops ofContinue reading “Palermo part 2 – In the swing of things”
Palermo part 1 – Positivity pays off
We don’t get off to a great start in Sicily’s capital, Palermo. Our taxi driver can’t get his card machine to work so he hauls the husband off to find an ATM. Our hotel, the Porta Felice, is down a tatty backstreet and the welcome from the front desk is underwhelming. It’s as hot asContinue reading “Palermo part 1 – Positivity pays off”
A bonus break in Mondello
Mondello is a happy accident. We were booked for three nights in Palermo, the capital of Sicily, but reductions to the BA schedule meant that our Thursday flight was cancelled. You can still fly out on Tuesday or Friday, I was told. Ha! One night fewer or two nights more…what do you think I decided,Continue reading “A bonus break in Mondello”
Steph's Travels 