Aquae Sulis – Bath

Finally I made it to Bath and what’s more the Christmas Market had just started, so I feasted on Mulled Wine and Cider indulged in Bratwurst, sang carols at Bath Abbey and Bathed like a Roman in the Baths







Awesome indulgent weekend went for a Spa treatment at the new complex, lounged around in the pools, sampled all five steam rooms, had an amazing open air shower and lastly had a massage and facial, bliss.




The Baths themselves were gorgeous, the water tasted funny and no I am not going to drink it every day although one of the guides I spoke to tried to convince me he was 110, 35 tops, all down to the water he said...

Bath is beautiful and the Christmas markets just made it magic, so glad I finally made it here!

Wiltshire rocks

Spent another gorgeous weekend in Wiltshire, went beating, back to the sculpture park and feasted on roast pheasant yum yum yum.





Went back to Stonehenge, much colder this time, my fingers were frozen by the time I got back!

London - British Museum

Contemporary artists were showing at the British Museum so saw some Damien Hurst and Marc Quinn amongst others.

There was an amazing solid gold statue of Kate Moss that just captivated you.

This museum is just fantastic, and amazingly its free it has one of the best Egypt collections in the world not to mention its Parthenon collection.

Most definitely should be on your list to see in London.

Ghent and Brussels - Belgium

Ghent is an old fishing village that is very deserving of a visit in its own right.




The view from Sint-Michiels Bridge is just gorgeous, had a canal trip here most definitely the way to really see the city as you would have seen it from the boats.


The architecture in Belgium is amazing the houses look like jigsaw puzzles and if you just moved them like so maybe they would all fit together.







Trams were a very easy way to get around the town and a good way of making sure you were heading in the sort of right direction.

Brussels is famous for being the headquarters of the European Union and of course the Manneken Pis. The statue is tiny and was dressed like a chef? I think when I got there.




Apparently to celebrate prostrate awareness (which I am mindful of as its Movember, on that note there are some truly interesting moustaches in the first stages of being grown at my work but that’s another story) it stopped peeing for a day, what a politically correct statue.





Went on a city tour as I had my overnight bag and believe me it made a racket going across the cobblestoned streets, saw the Atomium left over from a world fair, very unique. Saw the parts of Brussels that are euro-cratified (not sure this is a word but you get what I mean).





Finished my trip off with some more coffee – bliss (wait till you have the pleasure of experiencing and UK coffee which is made in two seconds flat I kid you not) to fully appreciate my happiness at having a decent cup of coffee, and a Brussels waffle.

Brugge (Bruges) Belgium

Had a lovely start on the Eurostar, the night before I couldn’t resist and had a Bolly at the longest champagne bar in the world at St Pancras, it just had to be done and I can think of quite a few friends who I wished were there with me.




After being a little disappointed that my trip to Exmoor was postponed I thought nothing left but fulfil I wish I had to go on the Eurostar: destination Bruges.

It was a little eerie on the train to think that you were under all that water but in no time at all I was in Belgium and a quick transfer via Brussels to Bruges.





I spent the afternoon seeing the sights by canal boat, visited the best brewery tour I have ever been on. 237 steps most of which you have to negotiate backwards (as they are that steep) it definitely pays to have not drunk too much before going, but that would spoil the fun, wouldn’t it?




The guide also imparted some wise knowledge it’s not the beer that gives you a beer belly it’s all the food that you eat that goes with it that does it!

Walked and walked and walked some more around the canals and saw some amazing autumn colours, and building truly exceptional.

The next day I got up at dawn, a trait learnt from Mum in Vietnam and saw the sun rise over some windmills, went back into the main centre and got some really nice canal shots again when it was quiet. I wasn’t prepared for how busy it was in the centre on Saturday, the day before it had been very quiet then bang, packed on the Saturday. I definitely preferred it on the Friday.




The land of chocolate, mussels, waffles, frites (fry’s) and beer…what more can I say I loved Bruges.






Finished out my trip with a visit to a Lace Museum (don’t bother going unless you really like lace) and a Chocolate museum, yum, yum, yum can’t get enough of those Belgium chocolates.