Tag: travel

Lake Garda

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Lake Garda was as stunning as I hoped it would be – my pics do not do justice to the gorgeous mountains all around – it was very hazy as it was so hot but one night it rained and in the early morning they looked amazing – all rolling back in shades of blue. 

Garda 7 - lake beach
Our beach on the lake

 I was looking on Flickr for some good pics of Lake Garda and found an amazing set of pics of Italy – check this link .

We spent a lot of time on the lake hiring pedalos and swimming – here are the kids trying to not to show how cold the water was! 

Garda 3 - Ellie Pedalo 

Garda 4 - Jake pedalo 

The camp site also had 5 very nice swimming pools with added aquarobics that  Ellie and I enjoyed (Jake tried it once but was not keen!) and they made good use of their water guns. 

Garda 1 - kids pool 

It was too hot to do much sightseeing but one evening we went into the nearby town of Peschiera Del Garda for a wander round and a meal (I tried some of the local Grappa liqueur – very strong, Ellie was not keen!). It is a very pretty little town most of which is built on a walled fort so there are moats everywhere. 

Garda 6 - Peschiera
The view of the moat from the restaurant in Peschiera

I also went on the ferry up the lake to the town of Sirmione which had a lovely church with frescos on the walls dated 1508 which were stunning and a very lovely and heavily fortified castle in the middle of town. 

Garda 8 - Sirmione church
This is my favourite pic from the whole holiday - picture postcard beautiful from outside the church
Garda 9 - Sirmione castle
Sirmione Castle

I also did get a bit of knitting done – it was very lovely lounging outside the tent with the lake views and I also took it to the pool once – just to embarrass the kids of course! I have cast on for another baby cardigan in the same pattern that I have just finished (now I know what to do with the border it should be a quicker finish!). Same wool as well – the Sublime – this time in a beautiful turquoise colour – this will be an Xmas pressie for another family member. 

We are off to our biggest event this weekend – the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival  – I can’t wait – I love this show best of all – the smell of the gunpowder, the flags and the biggest medieval market. If you are in the area it is well worth a visit (in Gloucestershire just off the M5) . Will take some pics of all the nice things for you. 

Thanks for visiting.

Venice and Venetian Lace

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I took so many pics of all the beautiful buildings that I had a hard time choosing which to put up here. We only had one day in Venice plus our lovely first evening so just had time for a trip up and back on the Grand Canal which was just fab – I have always loved Caneletto’s paintings of Venice and to be there was amazing. 

We spent the rest of the day in St Mark’s Square visiting the Doge’s Palace ( that has been on my ‘must see’  list for so long) and the Basilica which has to be the most amazing church I have visited (and I have been in a few)  – sadly no pics of inside allowed but the whole of the ceilings are covered in the most wonderful mosaics. The slide show below shows a couple of the palaces along the grand canal, the Doge’s Palace and the Basilica in St Mark’s Square.

I also found a lovely lace shop in St Mark’s Square called Fabris – Venetian lace is made on one of the outer islands called Burano – one day I will go back for a visit and see that and also take more than a  peek at this little museum/shop that the kids preferred going for ice cream to entering! 

Venice lace 3
Just off St Mark's Square lies this pretty little place....
Venice lace 5
With a couple of tantalising display cases ....
venice lace 4
Pretty, pretty things ....
Venice lace 1
The handkerchiefs in Fabris

I did get a quick trip into the Fabris shop and bought some gifts – they had the most gorgeous table cloth and napkin sets – will go back and get some to go with my cake stand one day then we can have proper afternoon tea! 

venice lace 2
Lace and embroidery in the Fabris shop

Will post further pics from the Lake Garda section of the trip soon – am just sitting watching the good old Yorkshire rain now – trying to remember how hot I was on Sunday! 

Thanks for visiting.

La Via Italia

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Italy 1 - wine
Thanks to my lovely hand model Ellie - a bottle of the local Bardolino red in authentic raffia with the view of Lake Garda behind it.

 

We have just returned from a very hot and very lovely week in Italy so I thought I would share some pics with you. 

We flew to Venice so took the opportunity for another once in a lifetime experience and stayed overnight there in a 16th century palazzo on the Grand Canal (well it was my birthday while we were away!) then on to our Lake Garda camp site where the above pic was taken. 

From the airport we took the waterbus so that we could get our first glimpse of Venice from the lagoon. 

Italy 2- venice approach
Venice at dusk

Due to the fact that the waterbus was going the long way round into Venice and that it was getting late we decided to get off the other side from where we were staying so we had a little adventure getting all the suitcases over the little bridges and not getting lost down the little winding streets (thanks to Ellen’s excellent map reading skills!) and finally arrived at our hotel. 

Italy 3 - hotel sign
A welcome sight late at night down the tiny little side streets!

 

I found this as a late deal on the web through Expedia and it was very cheap considering it is a four star hotel and right on the Grand Canal. It was very, very lovely inside and made a very glamorous start to the holiday. 

Italy 13 - hotel front
The hotel taken from the vaparetto water bus the next day

 

Ours was the room right at the top at the front so we had amazing views and also sat on the other two terraces during our stay – the lower one being the bar where I met a very nice Canadian lady travelling on her own who reminded me a lot of Crazy Aunt Purl. She travels a great deal and gave me some useful tips about planning out trip to the US next year. 

The little slide show below shows you the glamour! 

We had a fab day in Venice – will post some pics of that later – it was amazing as you can expect and the kids were very tolerant of me and all the old buildings that we saw. Also found some lovely textiles in a little Venetian lace shop on St Mark’s Square. 

Then it was off on a little adventure on an Italian train – very comfortable and efficient to our not quite so 4 star (more budget!) accommodation at the Bella Italia campsite right on the shore of Lake Garda. 

Italy 14 - tent
Our little Eurocamp tent

 

Mind you it was very glamorous considering the sort of camping we usually do in a field with portaloos. There was a little kitchen, electric lights and a plug socket and a water point right next to the tent (saving Jake a trek!), a gazebo, BBQ and loungers and a fab shower block . Luxury! 

And I think we got a better deal than the more expensive mobile homes and chalets as our pitches and the camping to rent pitches were right next to the lake so I had the most fantastic views. 

Italy 17 - inside tent
My camping luxury - a real cooker, fridge (ahh cold beer!) and cupboards!

 

Italy 16 - tent view
The view from our tent down to the lake and mountains - without the wine bottle!

 

Will post more pics later – now off to Knitting group! 

Thanks for visiting. 

Lovely weekend and Morrocan textiles

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Hello there 

I hope that you have been enjoying yourselves this weekend. I have had a really lovely time with lots of socialising. This is quite unusual as I do tend to hole up a bit over Winter and not do much except sit and knit or stitch with all my candles lit but I have been very busy. 

It started on Friday night with a visit to my friend Cheryl’s house for a Jamie at home party  (bit like a Tupperware party but for Jamie Oliver’s cooking stuff!). We had a  very lovely time – Cheryl has recently moved to a gorgeous house built in 1907 with so many beautiful original features showcasing the best of the Arts and Crafts movement including some wonderful stained glass and plaster work. Pity I didn’t have my camera! 

Cheryl is a friend from work and there were quite a few other work colleagues there with their partners so it was lovely to be able to socialise – we are so busy at work we don’t get a chance to do that much. 

I also bought some very nice things – a set of terracotta tapas bowls, some storage jars and something I have been wanting for a long time – a mortar and pestle for grinding herbs and spices to add to my stock of lovely kitchen items so I am eagerly waiting for them all to arrive. 

Saturday should have been a whole day in the garden but torrential rain stopped play – I did manage a trip to the garden centre to stock up on compost and bought some pretty Primulas and new herbs as all my old ones died out during the snow. 

I used the thyme and rosemary today as we had friends round for a late lunch – I experimented with a new salad of  butternut squash, puy lentils and pickled lemon that I got from my Sainsbury’s magazine which was very nice. Am trying to do at least one new recipe a week – Jake did not try the salad but the others liked it! 

I realised that I did not post any pics of the textiles from our recent visit to Marrakesh (how remiss!) so here goes – these pics were taken in a museum behind glass so apologies for the quality. The first one used what appeared to be cross stitch on linen. 

Marrakesh Embroidery 1
Three different pieces based on tile motifs
Marrakesh Embroidery 2
Bright flower motifs on a patterned ground

This one was embroidered in silk over a patterned background but the pattern was not used for the motifs which I thought was interesting. 

Marrakesh Embroidery 3
Very fine cross stitch in mono colour on linen

This last picture looks very much like a lot of Middle Eastern and Eastern European embroidery that I have seen over the years. The standard of work was very good with exceptionally fine stitching. 

Just up from where we stayed in the lovely Riad was an Aladdin’s Cave of  textiles, ceramics etc in a government-run Artisan’s warehouse – could have quite cheerfully bought the entire store but limited myself to  a beaded mat from this wonderful selection …. 

Marrakesh Shopping 3
So many pretty things.. so little time

….. a wonderful patchwork hanging for Ellie with lots of goldwork and sequins from this selection… 

Marrakesh Shopping 1
Patchwork - Marrakesh style

We also went to the souks (several times and got lost several times as you do and got out again in the end!). We found a fabulous lamp shop where I bought another lantern for the lounge – just look at all this stuff! 

Marrakesh Shopping 6
Pretty, pretty things!
Marrakesh Shopping 5
How much hand luggage are we allowed? Maybe I can just squeeze this one in!

So one lamp, several beaded items, one hanging, two tagines, one kaftan, one set of kebab skewers, lots of candles later …… really Marrakesh is shopper’s paradise – if you go take at least one empty case with you – we had three empty hand luggage cases but it was a tight squeeze on the way back! 

I hope you have had a very nice weekend as well.Things are going to be a little quieter here thankfully for the next couple of weeks as we have finished teaching for Easter – I have a huge pile of marking to do but am looking forward to a holiday in a week or so when we are off to Spain. 

Thanks for visiting.

Marrakesh – wonderful Islamic Art!

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Apologies if  you are bored of the Marrakesh pics – if so skip this post. This one is devoted to the amazing places we visited. I was lucky enough to visit the Alhambra in Granada a  few years ago which is the most amazing place if you like Islamic art and architecture so it was wonderful to go to Morocco to see more. 

We visited the Saadian Tombs on our first day which date from the 1600s I think – members of the Saadian ruling family and their staff are buried here in wonderfully decorated chambers and gardens – full of cats sunning themselves! 

Marrakesh Tomb 3
The hall of twelve pillars
Marrakesh Tomb 2
Amazing carved ceiling and plasterwork arch

Marrakesh Tomb 1
The buildings in Marrakesh are mainly terracotta coloured which contrasts so well with the blue sky
Marrakesh Saadian minaret
The minaret of the mosque next to the tomb - this was a good orientation point as it was very near our hotel - helped us not get lost in the Kasbah!

On the second day we went out to La Menara which is a man-made lake with a summer palace and olive grove gardens – the best place to view the Atlas mountains and we had a great view of them as it had been raining the day before so all the dust had settled. 

Marrakesh Menara
Look at that for a view - beautiful snow capped Atlas mountains!

We then walked all the way back to the main square past the Koutoubia mosque – another good marker to let us know where we were and a beautiful building. 

Marrakesh koutoubia
The minaret of the Koutoubia mosque

Later in the week we visited the Madrassa Ben Youssef. This is an old Islamic college which was extended in the 1600s – it reminded me so much of the Alhambra palace. The wealth of detail and the standard of the workmanship are amazing – all the more so when you think that it has survived the last 400 years. Awe inspiring! 

We are off to Worcester this weekend to see my sister whose birthday it was last weekend – Happy Birthday Jacky – and to see Ellie.It has been a very busy week here but a very nice one – there has been sunshine (yes in Yorkshire!) and I even managed to get out in the garden and do a bit of clearing up and pruning for a couple of hours on Tuesday – a miracle.

I am making good progress with the wardrobe for the little bear I have made – am half way through the third dress for her so will hopefully be able to post those finishes soon – meant to take pics of what I had done so far today but forgot before it got dark!

I am also starting on a new stitching project on Monday – seems ages since I did any stitching but was inspired by a fabric purchase at the weekend to buy this chart that I have had my eye on for some time. JBW Designs  do some lovely charts and I am thinking of treating myself to their Christmas pudding one to stitch for my tree for this Xmas.

JBW - Rooster
JBW Designs Roooster

Will be back next week – thank you for visiting.

Marrakesh!

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As expected we had a wonderful time in Marrakesh – it was warm and sunny most of the time (which made the return to Yorkshire snow all the more surprising) , exciting and interesting as well as (according to Jake) a bit terrifying – he accorded that label to a couple of bits such as getting lost in the Souks (well you have to don’t you!) and the menu prices at one of the posh hotels we visited whilst sampling the glamorous side of the city.

I wanted to stay somewhere which would give us a real flavour of Marrakesh rather than one of the impersonal big hotels and found this bargain though Hotelopia. It cost us £28 per double room including bed and breakfast which was brilliant value considering the luxury we got. The place is called Riad Schanez – from the outside in the little street at the bottom of the Kasbah it looks nothing special .

Marrakesh Hotel
The street where we stayed ‘Derb Tadla’

But inside was wonderful – this impressed Jake no end! It was a textile lovers’ paradise and me and Mum spent lots of time taking pics of the furnishings  like sad tourists!

Will update again later with more pics – no time now as have to get tea done!

Thanks for visiting!