At Neal Street Espresso, community and coffee go hand in hand. In the heart of London's colourful Neal's Yard neighbourhood, one cute and cozy cafe is serving up delicious coffee but there's something else on the menu: Second chances.
Neal Street Espresso (34 Neal Street) looks in many ways like a typical hip London coffee shop. Indeed, it is one. There is a robust menu of flat whites, mochas, and chai tea. You can grab your beverage with oat, almond, or soy milk and add a plump pastry or toasty hot sandwich on the side. The baristas are briskly efficient, foaming milk and taking orders without skipping a beat. In every way, they're just like any other cafe staff but there's a much deeper story here. Neal Street Espresso supports community members who have been part of the penal system and that starts with their staff. If you're a reader like me, London is the perfect city. Step inside London's literary wonderland and discover 11 bookstores you'll want to visit again and again. London is a reader’s dream – and a shopper’s dream as well. However, how many bookstores are in London is a bit of a mystery. While one map claims there are 112 independent bookshops in this British capital, my personal experience says there are endless hidden gems when you add in the quaint second hand stores. Put the non-independent stores, regional chains, global powerhouses, and the kiosks dotting train stations and museums on the list and I suspect the number of book-selling venues easily surpasses a thousand. That’s great news if you’re a reader like me! These are eleven shops that are especially meaningful to me and the spots that I recommend to people again and again. London Review Bookshop (Bloomsbury) Nestled in Bloomsbury, the London Review Bookshop, an extension of the literary periodical, is a cozy haven with a penchant for classic and new fiction. Without a doubt, it is not only my favourite bookstore in London but it is now my favourite in all the world (don’t worry, Paris’ Shakespeare and Co is a close second). It feels like every single book in the shop has been carefully selected and I always discover something entirely new to me which I had never considered before but suddenly have to have. The shop also operates an absolutely delightful cake shop which offers hot drinks, homemade desserts, treats like coconut yogurt with rhubarb compote and granola, and savory fare including a soup and a stew of the day and a sandwich or two.
Did I mention I love this bookshop? I love it. Are you a fan of The Curse Of Oak Island? You can actually visit Oak Island, Nova Scotia, home of the world's longest running treasure hunt. But you have to prepare. What’s the most exclusive island in the world? Is it a flashy resort in the Maldives or a spectacular nature retreat in Fiji? Not even close! There’s no island quite so desirable as Nova Scotia’s Oak Island. Think I’m kidding? The annual allotment of 10,000 tour tickets sells out in less than three minutes.
Oak Island isn’t your typical island paradise. Located just 45 minutes from Halifax, there are no gentle turquoise waves here. But maybe – just maybe! – Oak Island has riches all its own. For hundreds of years, Oak Island has been the site of rumours, wild speculation, and – depending on who you believe – treasure, spectacular treasure, the kind of treasure that would make a pirate proud or drive the Knights Templar to create an elaborate hiding spot. The type of treasure that has fueled a top television show, The Curse Of Oak Island, for 11 seasons. In short, Oak Island is home to the world’s longest-running treasure hunt. So, is there really a literal king’s ransom of gold and jewels on Oak Island? Go see for yourself. Here’s how to visit Oak Island, home of the world’s longest running treasure hunt. Want tickets for "Last Supper" in Milan? I don't blame you! Here's how to see Da Vinci's masterpiece no matter when you're travelling. If you’ve ever battled through the crowds at Paris’ Louvre, you’ve no doubt felt a mix of irritation and disappointment when you finally came face to face with the gallery’s proverbial crown jewel, Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. The most famous portrait in the world is smaller than you might expect and the crowds are annoying and aggressive. Maybe “Mona” is mysteriously smiling but countless visitors leave with a frown! As such, you might be wondering if it’s worth researching how to get tickets for Last Supper in Milan. I’m here to say that the answer is a resounding YES!
Visitors who make the pilgrimage to Milan to see The Last Supper, Da Vinci’s masterpiece thankfully have the exact opposite experience that those in the Louvre. Guaranteed viewing times with a maximum of 30 guests keep things organised, calm, and quiet. You enjoy an uninterrupted, unhurried 15 minutes with the artwork in a selfie-free environment. The experience is peaceful, even serene. There’s just one small catch. You have to get tickets. Talking Mauritian Culture, Bajan Flavours, and Travel Treats with MasterChef Shelina Permalloo20/10/2023
At Barbados Food & Rum Festival, a renowned chef shared her secrets for creative, sustainable food (as well as the treat she can't travel without!) "The smell of happiness is, for me, frying plantain in Barbados."
Shelina Permalloo is a British-Mauritian chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author specializing in Mauritian cuisine. She's known worldwide as the first woman of colour to win BBC's MasterChef competition in 2012, but when I met her, she was thrilled to simply be an attendee of the Barbados Food & Rum Festival (just like me!) Permalloo first visited Barbados after finishing university (she reports: "There were 16 of us... and the island knew when we arrived!") That initial trip made some lasting impressions, as the large group quickly made friends with locals, got invited home for homemade dinners, and provided the future chef with an abiding love of Barbadian (Bajan) cuisine. During the Food & Rum Festival's Chef Classics event (an intimate series of cooking demonstrations with celebrity chefs), Chef Shelina shared her thoughts on elevating traditional comfort food, embracing sustainable ingredients, and the special treats she can't live without when she travels. There's no travel treat I love quite like a fancy coffee. But would fate keep me away from the decadent delights in Victoria-By-The-Sea? Have you ever had one of those travel moments when you really, really want to visit a place but it seems that fate is determined to keep you away?
That's how I've felt about Island Chocolates in the small Prince Edward Island village of Victoria-By-The-Sea for YEARS now! I had the shop (and, specifically, their chocolate-infused "factory coffee") since 2021. That autumn, Ryan and I rolled into town in the middle of a brutal rainstorm and we couldn't find the shop. This is clearly a reflection on how road-weary we were, as the shop is on MAIN STREET. We must have been a bit loopy in order to miss it. As such, our only moment of triumph from that visit was finding public washrooms. No chocolate for us. I had a second chance in 2022 when I was visiting PEI with friends. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner in Victoria-By-The-Sea before taking a leisurely walk up to Island Chocolates... except that it was closed! Once again, it was our fault. We didn't look up the hours and it's not surprising that they'd be closed after supper time. Would my luck change in 2023? Well.... Photo by Matthias Mullie on Unsplash *This is a sponsored post from a TurnipseedTravel supporter*
Canada, undoubtedly, is one of the world's most loved countries for its beautiful landscapes, vast wilderness, diverse culture, and friendly people. One locale that particularly stands out as a must-visit area for domestic and foreign travellers alike is the West Island region of Montreal, the picturesque island that lies in the southwestern part of Quebec province. The Allure of West Island In its off-beat charm and subtle beauty, West Island is a treasure trove of unique experiences waiting to be unearthed. Its rich history, vibrant cultural scene, outdoor recreational opportunities, great food, and distinctive architecture all add up to offer a wonderfully balanced tourism palette. What happens when you combine a hotel cat and cheap wine? Bed bugs, that's what. Here's what happened to me. Venice in August is not the best time or place to get a great meal.
During this traditional month of Italian family vacations, many a restaurant shuts down for a week – or more. Despite my advanced planning, I still ended up at a tourist trap during our 2016 trip. The dour staff refused to serve free tap water. Only pricey bottled water was available, chafing against my frugal principles. Given the dire circumstances, I opted for a more economical choice: a bottle of cheap rosé. And thus my bed bug saga began. Skipping merrily home to my clean but threadbare hotel, I encountered the property’s resident cat, Pierre, on the steps. I should pause and say I assumed it was the property’s cat, based on his cat-like claim of the courtyard space, but, as Ryan points out, it really could have belonged to anyone – or no one at all. But with the demon liquor in my veins, I considered it prudent to scoop Pierre up and bring him to my room in a brazen hope of enjoying a genuine cat nap with him. Intoxicated with the love of a temporary pet (and bargain-basement wine) I didn’t perform my customary bed bug sheet check... These Lake Erie wineries feature phenomenal Concord grapes plus tons of amazing travel experiences. Visiting Lake Erie wineries means you'll see a lot of these grapes: Concords! Photo by Krista Bennett on Unsplash It’s the largest wine region in North America east of the Rocky Mountains, but only the most devoted wine lovers have heard of Lake Erie Wine Country. On all but the busiest weekend afternoons in the summertime, it may feel like you’ve got the roads entirely to yourself as you explore the Lake Erie wineries. Too bad for everyone else because this is a spectacular area and the wines are just the tip of the iceberg for what the area has to offer. Between the natural attractions and great restaurants, there’s enough to keep road trippers busy for a long weekend - and maybe even a bit longer. If you aren’t familiar with the area, you can expect this from a visit to Lake Erie Wine Country.
Where Is Lake Erie Wine Country? Lake Erie Wine Country is located on the northeast shore of Lake Erie, in New York and Pennsylvania, between Erie and Buffalo. The Lake Erie Wine Trail is approximately 53 miles long, from the easternmost winery, Merritt Estate, to the westernmost winery, 6 Mile Cellars. When Should You Visit Lake Erie Wine Country? Late summer and early fall are the optimal time to visit, as two of the most significant area festivals occur then. The annual America’s Grape Country Wine Festival happens at the Chautauqua Fairgrounds in Dunkirk during the first week of August. However, the area is a year-round tourist destination; spring and autumn are particularly pretty times to visit. |
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