Travel, life, loves and laughs.
Atop a hill overlooking the small town of Fier in Albania, lies the Monastery of Ardenica, also known as the Monastery of the Nativity of Theotokos in Ardenica.
It has topped this hill in one form or another since 1282 when it was first founded by the Byzantine Emperor, Andronikos II Palaiologos after his victory against Angevins in the siege of Berat.… Read the rest
Berat Castle sits atop the hill and is the original centre of Berat. More of a small fortified town than a castle, the complex takes in walls, towers, churches, mosque ruins and an historic cistern as well as numerous small buildings that are maintained today as houses, restaurants and shops.… Read the rest
A short drive through the countryside from Berat, after a morning at Berat Castle and the Onunfri Museum, and we come to the tiny village of Roshnik where the Alpeta Winery makes a big impression.
We’re here for wine tasting, a tour of the Vineyard and a hearty lunch sourced from local produce.… Read the rest
We arrive in Berat wearied from a travel day although somewhat revived by our recent Byrek late lunch. It’s the perfect time to head out to explore the town, grab a sundowner and enjoy the early spring evening.… Read the rest
It is hard enough to keep up with all the famous artists in history. So finding time to learn about the forgotten artists seems like a stretch. However, after attending a lecture last night by Rose Balston of Artscapes UK (think art history warrior extraordinaire), my mind has been churning.… Read the rest
Zuma, one of the most famous brunches in Dubai. Founded by chef Rainer Becker in Rome in 2002, the chain now has its headquarters in London with locations around the world. ‘Chain’ certainly conjures the wrong image of this upmarket brand which has clearly earned its fine dining reputation.… Read the rest
Footloose & Fancy-Free. At least for the night. My wonderful husband has gifted me two tickets for Footloose at the Dubai Opera. Already having lined up Diana, my date for the night, we leave the kids and husbands behind and head out to witness the Sellardoor Production of the classic 1984 dance musical.… Read the rest
Design and Dine presents abstract art at Oneo Wine Bar. For me personally, the Westin Mina Seyahi location conjures images of pools and palm trees rather than abstract shapes and designs. However, our night of abstract art at Oneo wine bar gives the pools and palms a night off in search of something more creative and just as relaxing.… Read the rest
Most people don’t see Canberra as a tourist destination, but when I was recently asked by a friend for some recommendations for a few days in the the Nation’s Capital, I couldn’t decide where to start. So here are my top picks and advice for discovering Canberra for the first time.… Read the rest
Atlantis does things properly and Suhoor, presented in the Asateer tent, is no exception. The tent, decoration and location are nothing if not remarkable. In fact, ‘tent’ doesn’t really conjure the right images if one is hoping to set expectations.… Read the rest