Food, Days Out and Travel stories from Brighton, London and the Rest of the World

Sunday

Days out in Sussex - Rye and its smuggling past

Once surrounded by sea, the town of Rye clusters up a hill, where buildings date back to medieval times and is a place full of secrets from the past.


There's a pub still in operation that was once visited by Elizabeth I, called The Mermaid Inn (a notorious haunt for smugglers) and houses have whimsical names such as The House Opposite and The House With Two Front Doors.

The House With Two Front Doors, Rye
~ The House With Two Front Doors ~

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Wednesday

When the #theFullFix nearly didn't happen

A few weeks ago, still in comp mode, I saw a competition to win a meal on a Facebook page I'd just liked. I didn't think much more about it until I found out I'd won! Yay! This was great news as I love food and the chance to have food cooked by a Chef in my kitchen sounded amazing.

Scallops on Himalayan salt block by Restaurant Fix
Scallops on Himalayan salt block by Restaurant Fix

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Sunday

My top Three Bucket List Destinations

I spotted a competition a while back to blog about your top three travel bucket list destinations for a chance to win a holiday with Transun and see the northern lights. As tomorrow is my birthday and I've already tried unsuccessfully to see the northern lights I thought I'd indulge in a little virtual day-dreaming and share my top three destinations.

Each one I've been dreaming about for so long that I already know quite a lot about them from films, books, tv and Pinterest.

Most frustratingly I've been pretty close to all of them, some on more than one occasion, even glimpsing one at a distance, across traffic, yet still out of reach.

Florence


My dream desto - straight away Puccini's aria starts to play in my head. Think Room with a View, Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, Santa Croce and Miss Honeychurch. Think that kiss in the stifling heat and the poppy field. I have watched this film over and over and am transported every time to the banks of the river Arno and the art of Michelangelo.


There is so much art to see, and so many historic places and beautiful piazzas to visit that I'll name just one highlight that I'd love to see when I go there.

Hidden behind an unmarked door in the Uffizi Gallery is the entrance to the Vasari Corridor. It is closed to the general public and runs along the top of the Ponte Vecchio (the bridge across the river). Built in 1565 it gave the ruler Cosimo de Medici safe passage, which became indispensable after he escaped countless assassination attempts. For 200 years it continued in private use before becoming an art gallery of 16th and 17th century art and only open for private tours.

Versailles


The French palace built by the sun King Louis XIV and inhabited by royalty, aristos and all the rest until the women of Paris got fed up of starving and decided to go see Marie Antoinette. And that is possibly the worst summary of 100 years of illustrious history that you'll ever read regarding one of the most spectacular, lavish, ornate and enormous palaces ever built.

From learning about Louis XIV at school to becoming fascinated by the story of Helen Maria Williams and the French Revolution a few years ago, Versailles has kept coming up. I've travelled to Paris three times; once with my family, once on a charity hitch hike as a student and once on a conference to find out about Miss Williams.

The hitch hike from Cardiff involved hitching a ride with a lorry driver who told us he didn't like students, the Irish and wasn't keen on women. I didn't feel comfortable. Another ride, this time in France was with a lady with very long finger nails who drove erratically down a hill with bends in the road that made us silently hold our bags very tight and stare ahead rather nervously.

Rue des Hospitalieres, Saint Gervais, Paris
Rue des Hospitalieres, Saint Gervais, Paris
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The winner is announced - Hotel Chocolat Easter egg giveaway and some stats

We have a winner! Massive thanks to everyone who took part, by adding a comment on here, clicking on Bits and Bobs Around Brighton or sending a tweet. Rafflecopter chose the winner and Hotel Chocolat sent them the prize. Dorothy from Winchester was delighted and has sent me an email to let me know it arrived yesterday. Woo hoo!

I also found out a lot about your favourite types of chocolate and as I love stats I thought I'd try and put the results onto an infographic. What I discovered is that my designs skills are not the best. Oh well. 

That said, it's still worth checking it out if you too like stats. 

For instance, can you guess what percentage of you chose milk (according to my very un-scientific study)?  Which is more popular white or dark chocolate?  And what percentage of you chose caramel? #statEaster 

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Friday

Something for the weekend by Rosie Davis


Step off the streets of present day Brighton and into the Speakeasies of the 1920s.

It is clear to say that the chic style and risqué origins of the 1920s Speakeasies is becoming ever increasingly popular. Bars, clubs, club nights and music have been evolving into 21st Century versions of a phenomenon that first emerged around 95 years ago and the appeal is obvious. Underground, away from the eyes of the law and your average man, it was dangerous, and who doesn’t love a bit of danger?

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