A magical Christmas at Château Vaux-le-Vicomte
The best day trip from Paris you could do this Christmas has to be a visit to the magical Château Vaux-le-Vicomte to see it’s spectacular festive displays.
Getting to know the French Basque Country from Bidart to Biarritz
Beautiful beaches, fantastic shops, delicious food and wine – all this and more from our base at Camping Ilbarritz in the French Basque Country.
A girl’s getaway to the French Basque Country
My first hen do has arrived, and we’re glamping in style in the French Basque Country. From hydrangea forests to beaches and spas, I can’t wait to explore!
Corsica, a guide to the island of beauty
“If you feel like working, sit down, it will soon pass.” Corsica, a laid-back, sleepy island off the west coast of Italy. While for the last two hundred years or so it may well have been French, to me it has always been simply… Corsica…...
The Traveller’s Table – Shop, Eat and Drink Like a Local
The Traveller’s Table is a wonderful collection of recipes from some of my favourite Mediterranean cuisines – Mallorca, Corsica and Greece – each of which I have waxed lyrical about here on my blog in recent years, plus another that I would very much like to get better acquainted with, Turkey.
The Magic of Paris at Christmas
Christmas markets a plenty, department stores dripping in festive bling and avenues of trees sparkling with fairy lights – these images and more swam in my head as I boarded the Eurostar train at St Pancras Station in London. A little more than two hours later I was in Paris. Why? To photograph the City of Lights at Christmas.
Sweet treats in Corsica
As my spoon broke through the soft sponge, I almost squealed with delight, as a cascade of melted chocolate escaped. It oozed around my plate and started to mingle with the vanilla gelato. I took a taste and, oh my, it was good. So very good that I spent most of the...
Exploring the beaches of the Golfe de Valinco
I love the sea and grew up spending the school summer holidays on the beach with my sister. I’d regularly stay in the water until my lips turned purple with the cold. These days I’m not quite so hardy and have to admit I prefer warmer climes when it comes...
Instagramming Corsica
Having just got back from a fabulous week in Corsica, I’d like to share some highlights from my Instagram feed over the last 8 days. Stayed tuned to find out more. You can folow my adventures on Instragram @TravelWithKat. A tasty lunch of Fromage de...
In pictures, the vibrant Wazemmes market in Lille
Colourful flowers, drapes of exotic material, antiques, bric-a-brac (and a little cheap tat) as well as a covered farmer’s markets can all be found at the vibrant Marché de Wazemmes, in this ethnically mixed quarter of Lille. When I visited on a...
An homage to the cakes of Lille
Having had a wonderful time in Lille last summer I was delighted to be invited back again, this time to celebrate Eurostar’s 2oth birthday. And so, last weekend, I boarded my train at London’s St Pancras Station, enjoyed a light breakfast (and...
Tarte au Maroilles, cheese tart from France
In the restaurants and bakeries of Lille in the north of France, you are bound to come across the traditional Flemish cheese tart, Tarte au Maroilles, typically served with salad and fries and washed down with a local beer. If you’d like to try it...
Exploring Lille by bicycle
When I heard that I would be spending a morning cycling around Lille a question immediately came to mind, namely, is it true that you never forget how to ride a bicycle? I remember well the last time I rode anywhere on a bike, namely from my home down to the...
French Roast Chicken with raspberries, a cookery lesson at L’atelier des Chef
French roast chicken with raspberries and mashed potatoes with basil Filet de poulet doré aux framboises, écrasé de pommes de terre au basilica Much simpler than it sounds this French roast chicken dish can be prepared in around 30 minutes. I had...
Storytelling, is it a dying art? Not in Roubaix!
“The world of talking frogs and birds or heroic boys outwitting ogres is no more. Civilisation has killed off that world and it will never come back.” Ndung’u Ndegwa, Nairobi, Kenya Oral storytelling is one of the most ancient art forms seen in...
Roubaix and the art of reinvention
If ever a town has mastered the art of reinvention it has to Roubaix on the outskirts of Lille in northern France. Where else can you dine at a garage or foundry, admire magnificent sculptures and paintings in an art deco swimming pool and sleep in a bubble or an...
Memories of the golden age of travel
When my grandmother set forth in the 1920s on a journey that would take her quite literally around the world it is amazing to think that P&O Ferries were already 90 years old. To this day there is still something romantic about travelling by ship. While for my...
Rue Montorgueil, Paris – a food lover’s delight!
On a chilly Sunday morning in Paris a couple of weeks ago, Neill and I met up with the charming ‘Chef du Cuisine’, Habiybah from Avenue Story, for a complimentary guided tour of the delightful food shops on rue Montorgueil near the centre of Paris, in the...
Instagramming Paris
Like many of my fellow travel bloggers I love Instagram. I enjoy keeping up with other people’s travels there. Last weekend I spent a wonderful few days exploring Paris and, to give you a little taster of things to come, here’s my weekend in Paris as it...
Scandola Nature Reserve, Corsica | Tourism versus climate change
Red cliffs tower above us, plunging steeply down into the bluest of seas. Surely, the best way to experience the Scandola Nature Reserve is from the water. The views of the coastline are dramatic, and a boat is the most practical way to visit the lovely hamlet of...
