A Quick Guide to Eating in Avignon

Avignon, the capital of Provence, is full of local specialties and quirks that jumped out at sorbet stands, in restaurant menus and in the Les Halles markets – the perfect place for a wandering foodie to spend a few days. If my photos are anything to go by, most of my time in Avignon was spent eating, at the Parc des Rocher Doms or being lost. … Continue reading A Quick Guide to Eating in Avignon

Lunch at Flame Hill Winery, Montville

The Sunshine Coast Hinterland townships of Montville and Maleny do not suffer from a shortage of delicious food or beautiful views. We were spoilt for choice with the best restaurants, cafes and B&Bs in town spruiking their ocean or hinterland views at every turn. Although these stunning panoramas never get old, if you’re in the mountains for the weekend visit Flame Hill Winery in Montville … Continue reading Lunch at Flame Hill Winery, Montville

Where to eat in Montville, Sunshine Coast Hinterland

It’s that time of year when a weekend escape calls for swapping beach trips for crisp days and cool nights rugged up in the mountains. Apart from the spectacular scenery, one of the best things about cool-weather hinterland holidays is the abundance of delicious food & wine at your fingertips. One of my favourite winter breaks in Queensland is in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, in the mountains behind … Continue reading Where to eat in Montville, Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Melbourne International Comedy Festival: The Great Debate

The Great Debate is one of the most eagerly anticipated shows at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Every April, Melbourne‘s theatres, bars and public buildings fill with a line up of comedians from around the world, and the crowds that come to see them. The Great Debate is held in Melbourne’s Town Hall, and is a comedic debate held by six high profile comedians, making … Continue reading Melbourne International Comedy Festival: The Great Debate

9 Things to know before you visit the Eiffel Tower

As of yesterday, the Eiffel Tower is 126 years old! Not bad for a building that was only meant to be temporary, and torn down after 20 years. When it was unveiled in 1889, it wasn’t popular with the Parisians, but today it’s one of Paris‘ best-loved icons and attracts more visitors than any other paid attraction in the world. 1. A case of mistaken identity It … Continue reading 9 Things to know before you visit the Eiffel Tower

Sneak Peek: The Australian Ballet’s Giselle

Melbourne is Australia’s cultural capital, so I couldn’t let another month go by without dipping a toe in the vibrant cultural scene. I went to see The Australian Ballet‘s final dress rehearsal of Giselle, a classical romantic ballet of unearthly beauty. The last time I went to the ballet, it was the free Ballet in the Bowl when I was visiting Melbourne, which reignited my enthusiasm for classical … Continue reading Sneak Peek: The Australian Ballet’s Giselle

One perfect day in Southern QLD Country

Sometimes you just need the wide open spaces. Endless blue skies, rolling green and gold hills, plunging waterfalls, good ol’ country hospitality and roadside pumpkin stands. Wineries, distilleries, orchards & dairies with cheese-so-good-you-could-eat-it-with-a-spoon certainly don’t hurt either. Southern Queensland Country is at its most beautiful in Autumn when the crisp country air gets a little chilly and the trees erupt in flaming golden foliage. A … Continue reading One perfect day in Southern QLD Country

Archaeological crypt of Notre Dame: Roman ruins in Paris

With it’s grand boulevards, historic mansions and charming lack of skyscrapers, it can seem like Paris is stuck in the 19th century. The Archaeological Crypt of Notre Dame underneath Notre Dame Cathedral in Ile de City shows that it’s a city in a constant state of change. In the 1960s, during excavations for a car park outside Notre Dame, ancient Roman ruins were discovered 80 … Continue reading Archaeological crypt of Notre Dame: Roman ruins in Paris

Naples: Slow pizza & quick crooks

Our Roman tour guide had a strong distrust of any Italians who lived south of Rome, and it is a sentiment echoed by many Italians throughout central and northern Italy. We’d heard rumours that the mafia in Napoli had the city under its thumb, taunting citizens by cutting off the garbage collection and letting putrid trash pile up in the streets if the local government … Continue reading Naples: Slow pizza & quick crooks

Strawberry picking on the Sunshine Coast

I’ve wanted to visit the Strawberry Fields Farm at Palmview on the Sunshine Coast for ages, and the perfect opportunity arose on our drive up to the Sunshine Coast Hinterland this past weekend. David & I were taking a long weekend in the mountain townships of Montville & Maleny and the fields are only a half-hour detour. I acknowledge the Kabi Kabi and Jinibara peoples … Continue reading Strawberry picking on the Sunshine Coast