Being vegetarian in Madrid

As a rule, I don't think of Spain as being a haven for us veggies. On a work experience exchange in Catalonia when I was 16, I worked in a hotel. I can still remember the smell of the full legs of ham at breakfast and the disdain of one of the cooks, who didn't want to cook me 'something special' when he put together lunch for the staff. 

However, keeping an open mind (my work experience in Girona was a long time ago) and convinced that I'd seen a blog post on Madrid from one of the veggie bloggers I follow, I arrived in Spain's capital feeling hopeful. 

Recovering the past: In Flanders Fields Museum

Right, so I may be a bit biased - the artist Ian Alderman is a good friend - but if you are in Ieper/Ypres between now and the end of the year (2017), you have to visit the 'Recovering the Past' Exhibition at the In Flanders Fields museum.

Photo Friday: Lipton's Seat, Sri Lanka

Er ... what sweeping views?

At the look-out point on the Dambatenne tea plantation, Sir Thomas Lipton used to bring guests for picnics and to survey the sheer sweeping views below.

What to do in Norfolk

As the summer bank holiday approached and I realised we had no plans, I scanned mentally through a list of places I wanted to see or see more of that weren't too far away. 

Our Sri Lanka top tips and some practicalities

We spent 10 days in Sri Lanka in late June/ early July 2017, visiting the 'cultural triangle', the east coast and the hill country.

Tea pickers in the hill country

We really enjoyed our trip and wanted to share some of the things we learnt about the practicalities of travelling around the 'Pearl of the Indian Ocean'. Obviously, after a 10 day trip, we are far from being experts on the country, but the information below is a combination of our own experience, what others told us and what we learnt through our research. 

As ever, do feel free to add any corrections or additions in the comments below.

What to do in Ella, Sri Lanka

Ella or Elle is a small town in Sri Lanka's hill country, surrounded by tea plantations. It's a good spot for a few days of hiking, eating and drinking tea. Here are our top things to do while you are there.

1. Take in the views from Little Adam's Peak
A walk up Little Adam's Park is about an hour and a half's round trip from the main street in Ella. The views of the surrounding mountains and across to Ella Rock make it is very much worth the trip.

Sri Lankan beach time: some thoughts on Arugam bay

Sri Lanka has two monsoon seasons. From October until January, the East and the North are wet. Then from May until July, it's rainy season in the South and on the west coast, where the better known beaches are.