Travelling Starfish

Thundering roar of the winter falls

Growing up in Toronto, Canada I was fortunate enough to only be an hour away from Niagara Falls.  Over the years, I’ve visited the Falls on a number of occasions.

I know that I’ve spoken about the Falls before but I was thinking back to a time when I was at the Falls close to the winter period and remembered how miraculous they were.  As the weather starts to get warmer (yeye!), thinking of colder temperatures doesn’t feel so bad.

In November 2005, I headed over to the Falls from Toronto and stayed overnight.  One of my favourite hotels in the area is the Embassy Suites Fallsview.  We were looking for a nice hotel at a decent price and we were lucky to find just that.  For $100, we got a massive suite overlooking the Falls (with a jacuzzi), full breakfast and a happy hour with free drinks and snacks.  It couldn’t be beat and the views were spectacular.

Even though it was only one night, it was a great overnight stay that I’ll never forget.  After indulging in a meal at The Keg, we woke up and decided to venture out to the Falls for a site that I’ve never seen before – the Falls in the wintertime.

With it being November, Niagara Falls had its first taste of winter – it wasn’t snowing but it was chilly.  Winter was on its way.  Although not a lover of the cold, I bundled up and thought that I’d give it a go for a change.  As soon as we set our eyes on those Falls, I knew that I’d made the right decision.

As much as the Falls are lovely in the heart of the summer, there is something even more picturesque and special in the cold.  Maybe it’s the glimmer in the water that almost looks like ice or the fact that there aren’t as many tourists around.  I’m not sure but I do know it was a lovely experience that I would even do again.

Me at the falls - a bit chilly

I’ll tell people time and again that, unless they love the cold, that they should only visit Canada when the temperatures start to improve in the spring-time.  However, I have to say that a visit around the winter time is a different experience and a visit to the Falls at this time is very special indeed.

Since this visit I’ve been back a few times.  I have a lot of fond memories there that I hold close to my heart – lots of laughs with friends & family.  Sometimes I look back on some of the things I’ve seen in my 32 years and I realize how fortunate I am.  Hopefully my next visit to the Falls will be just as glamorous.  Hey, they didn’t make a Marilyn Monroe movie in Niagara for nothing, did they?

Bye for now, Miriam

Jersey CI

Travelling isn’t only about exploring, sunning yourself on the beach & backpacking.  Some of my greatest travelling moments have been working – yes, working.

As a Commonwealth citizen, I have been very fortunate to be able to take advantage of the working holiday maker scheme (now called Youth Mobility Scheme).

The Working Holidaymaker Scheme is an arrangement where a person aged between 17 and 30 (in some areas 35) can come to the UK for an extended holiday of up to two years. You can work for up to 12 months of your holiday, but the holiday should be the main reason for your stay, not the work.

Aussie bound

There are other schemes in other Commonwealth countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada.  All are unique to their own country and worth a Google search.

When I first came to Jersey, I came over on the Working Holidaymaker scheme.  I was quite lucky to arrive and find a job almost straight away.  I temped at a bank on the island for about 5 months and then switched to another financial institution after where I stayed for just about 2.5 years after moving to work permit status.

I’ve also applied for an Australian working holiday visa (twice actually) although I never actually went over on it.  The process for Oz was extremely easy – I was able to apply online and I got notified almost within a day following that my application had been accepted.  For Oz, once you get accepted, you have 1 year to travel over and upon entering, 1 year to work and travel in Australia.  Now that I’m 32 (yikes )I am over the age limit to go to Australia but could still apply for one in New Zealand if I ever got the urge.

Me, Israel

Not only does doing a working holidaymaker give you the chance to travel longer (as you’re earning and don’t have to live off of your savings), you also get to have a totally different experience.  By working in offices, fields or elesewhere you get to interact with the local community and adapt to what it feels like to work in the place you are visiting.  It was my first exposure to working abroad and I truly have never looked back.

Taking the step to be a working holidaymaker gave me the confidence to work elsewhere in the world – as I have in Israel too.  By taking that step, experiencing new corporate cultures and ways of life, I’ve really grown as an individual.  I highly encourage anyone travelling for an extensive period of time to find out if the country supports a working holiday scheme.  You never know – you may just find your future home.

Enjoy,

Miriam

The cakes!

There are a number of British stereotypes out there but one I’ve never actually explored until recently is the whole afternoon tea thing.  I’ve always wanted to but something always has come up.  The closest I got was one of my friends and I were in Bath – we wanted to go for tea but we were too early.

A couple of weeks ago, while visiting a friend in Oxford, she mentioned that she purchased a Living Social deal to go to the Hilton in London at Park Lane for a spa afternoon and afternoon tea.  When she told me about it, I thought it was an incredible value.  For our afternoon of pampering we got a 30 minute massage, a mini-manicure (or pedicure) and a full fledged afternoon tea.  The total price 80 GBP for the two of us – only 40 a piece.  Since we were at the Hilton, it also made the deal even sweeter.  I’ve actually stayed at the Hilton Park Lane for business before and it is a really lovely hotel.

This visit only reinforced my views.  Our spa treatments were just what the doctor ordered.  A bit of conversation and relaxation started off the afternoon in the right way.  If I’m honest though, I was really eager for the afternoon tea portion of our day….and boy was I right.

Bellinis to start

We headed into the restaurant at about 4pm and were presented with a menu.  There were no prices but just a mega-list of food and drinks.  Both my friend & I, who also had never encountered the traditional afternoon tea experience, looked at it in amazement.  There were savoury and sweet items – we obviously thought the plan was to choose one or the other.

When our delightful waitress came to greet us she told us that actually we got it all – and there were no extra charges.  It’s all included in our deal.  First, we would have a Bellini cocktail (I chose strawberry, Tina chose peach), followed by sandwiches, then tea and a tiered tray of deserts – cupcakes (delicious), pastries and cakes, choco chip scones (my personal favourite) as well as a massive slab of pure white chocolate – heaven.

As all the food arrived, I was in awe by the presentation, service and quality.  My tea, a lovely freshly blended green variety, was also gorgeous and really demonstrated the uniqueness of this experience. Both Tina & I could have spent the whole day there eating but we knew that we had to eventually call it a day.  The best part is that if you don’t finish it all, you can take it home!  I tell no lie.

Yummy sandwich tray

The Hilton has designed cute pink doggie bags so anything you can’t finish comes home with you.  This whole experience typically costs 35 GBP per person alone so the Living Social deal was well worth it.  However I have to admit that I would even be quick to pay full price for the service we had and the quality of the experience.  TOTALLY recommend!

Our visit reminded me enough of how much I enjoyed my stay at the Hilton Park Lane, that when I got home, I searched on Expedia and Hotels Combined to see if I could snag a good deal.  I ended up booking my stay at the Hilton with Hotels Combined and got a decent rate.  So another trip to London will prove to be an enjoyable one, I’m sure.

So what’s the verdict on afternoon tea?  Do it!  You definitely won’t regret this piece of British culture!

Amboise

A couple of years ago I was still living in Jersey, Channel Islands.  For the Easter weekend, we decided to cut across the water and head to the Continent.

This was one of my favourite trips to France as we had a bit of adventure, hired a car and headed south to the Loire Valley. We spent the first night in St Malo at an incredible hotel (the Oceania) and then spent the remaining nights just on the outskirts of Amboise, France.

As a lover of wine, I was instantly excited and intrigued about venturing out to this part of the country.  The Loire Valley is known for its crisp white wines and quaint atmosphere.

While in Amboise, we stayed at a B&B just outside the main town.  We found this B&B online and were extremely pleased with our stay.  Le Buisson is right on the Loire River and is in an area called Montlouis sur Loire.  Our host, Jean-Pierre Chalons, spoke English so that helped make things a bit easier…him and his wife Nicole were so hospitable and the property is absolutely unbelievable (tennis courts and beautiful grounds).

The actual town of Amboise is small and by the riverside with beautiful architecture.  There are markets open on the weekends and we indulged in some wine tasting in the caves in the main castle.  Entry to the tasting was minimal – no more than €5 – and you get to taste wines from local producers that I doubt we would have managed to get anywhere else.  I even bought some local rosé sparkling wine (a poor man’s Champagne…lol) at €7.50 for a full 3 bottles.  It was absolutely delicious and a great deal!

Mmmm...Moules

Our host recommended we see Amboise’s most famous site – the house of Leonardo de Vinci.  Painter, inventor, engineer, scientist, humanist and philosopher Leonardo da Vinci actually spent the last years of his life in Amboise at the Château du Clos Lucé.

We found out that although Leonardo spent most of his life in Italy creating various masterpieces for royalty, he resided in the Château from 1515-1519.  When da Vinci arrived at the Château he brought with him his infamous Mona Lisa painting.  In 1519, he died at the Clos Lucé estate at the age of 67.

The grounds here are absolutely beautiful and there is so much history to take in.  Having been to Italy before, we both had seen many of da Vinci’s creations in various museums around the world but being in this part of France that is relatively quiet and relaxed, was an amazing experience.  It was an element of surprise we both welcomed and adored.

I would love to take another trip back to Amboise – even though its quiet and remote, there is a lot to see and do in the area.  It must be amazing in the summertime.

Words from a Genius

This part of France is a place I know I will go back to one day.  The hospitality and the serene beauty really made me fall in love.  For everyone who’s visited France, I’m sure you will agree that it is a special country but Amboise and the Loire Valley are ones that will always hold a place in my heart.

There is only one thing left to say – Vive la France!

I’m in England and been working really hard in the lovely town of Winchester!

A lovely view

To give myself a bit of a break, I’ve decided to head up north to the town known best for its musical roots, Liverpool!  So join me to find out more!

2 am Thurs - It’s been a long day and I’ve just had time to start packing now!  I need to catch a midday train from Winchester to Liverpool but have a lot to do before.  I’m trying to pack light – not an easy feat for me – so I don’t have to lug a lot of bags onto the train.

3 am – packing is all done & sorted.  Now, I need to get some beauty sleep as I have a long day ahead of me.

9 am – alarm goes off and I’m up to sort out a few things before the big journey.  I do a bit of research online about my weekend in Liverpool as I’m really excited to find out what this city is all about.  It looks like there is a great nightlife and I can’t wait to visit all of the old Beatles sites – the Hard Days Night Hotel, The Cavern and everything else! Yeye.

12:00 noon- well, I’m off.  after looking on the National Rail website, I decide that the cheapest way for me to get up to Liverpool is to go via Oxford.  You see, on my way back, I’m heading to Oxford to stay with a good friend for a few days.  As I’ve said before, I love it there.  I book a round trip ticket from Winchester to Oxford (using my discount rail card of course), then when I get to Oxford I book a round trip ticket from there to Liverpool – sorted!

2:00pm – all is going to plan.  My trains seem to be running on time and, after making a mad dash around Birmingham New Street Station (literally) I found my train to Liverpool and manage to get a seat.

I must say, one of the things I love about the UK is how easy it is to get around.  I know many complain about train delays but you have to admit how fantastic it is to be able to go almost all over the country through a variety of options – bus, train and plane.  It is amazing.

A little bit of love

4:30pm – I’m here!  So excited to get out and about, I meet up with my local Liverpovlian who’ll be my guide for the time over:).  I’m a lucky gal!

6:00pm - we check into 62 Castle St. – a boutique hotel with amazing views and lovely architecture.  This is where the local knowledge really comes in handy.  This hotel, that almost looks like an office building, is something truly special – I love the decor and honestly could spend the night just relaxing the time away.  Totally incredible!

8:00 pm – as per usual, I am running a bit late in getting ready.  So, we only have time for one drink.  Another treat – and somewhere I’d also love to stay – is the Hard Day’s Night Hotel.  Obviously a hotel made famous by the Beatles, it is much more swank and posh than I was expecting.  We sit down to have a glass of wine before we head out for an evening of Liverpool fun but we’re sure we’ll be back to this hot spot later in the evening.

9:00 pm - oops…we’re a bit late for our meal at Alma de Cuba but thankfully they’ve held our table….and boy am I glad that they did.  This is one of the coolest (sorry to sound so lame) restaurants I’ve ever been to.  It is 2 levels – the top one being where we’re eating dinner and the bottom being an eclectic dance club.  Our meal is amazing – tasty cuisine with a Cuban flare…what more can you ask?  The ambience is also incredible – live music and so much to please the eye.  Highly recommend!

Me at the Cavern

After our meal, we pop downstairs for a drink and a bit of a boogie – also to watch the live dancers.

11:00 pm - you can’t come to Liverpool and not go to the Cavern.  For those that don’t know, this is where the Beatles started.  There are apparently 2 Caverns now.

The original Cavern doesn’t host bands on a regular basis – you can go into the bar to have a drink but the new Cavern has been made to look like the original Cavern did when the Beatles played.  We’re lucky enough to go when there is a live band playing (and a great one at that).  As I’ve said before, I love live music so it’s great to be able to have a bit of fun and listen to some good tunes in this historic venue.

12:30 pm - the night is coming to a close – or it’s just started, not sure really – but we decide to head back to the Hard Days Night Hotel for a few more drinks before we call it a night.  There are still loads of people around and we end up speaking to a couple of locals.  Everyone in Liverpool is so friendly I’m finding.  I’ve really enjoyed myself and even if I was only here for a night (which I’m not thankfully) it was a night well spent.

A good day for all and I’ve definitely earned my sleep.  I’ll be up early tomorrow to do another thing that I love – shopping!

Bye for now,

Miriam x