My Home Away from Home: the Cotswolds.

A few days ago, I wrote about the Rollright Stones, which had me go through the numerous pictures I've taken in various corners of the Cotswolds. As always, the memories warmed my heart, just like the area itself never fails to do. I've spent so much time there in these past few years, to visit friends as well as to do research for my novel, that it feels like it's become my home away from home.

All of that gave me the idea to make the Cotswolds star in an article of its own. Because it's travel-related, I've posted it on my other blog 'The Enchanted Traveller', which is still simmering at the moment but will gradually come to a boil.

For the foodies among you: don't miss the feature on my favourite restaurant in the Cotswolds: the Horse and Groom in Upper Oddington!

♥ Bookmark or share this post ♥

A Glimpse of Paradise: Zen in Zanzibar.

This must be one of the most beautiful places on earth: a gorgeous hotel in a breathtaking location: the five-star Kilindi resort in Zanzibar.

It's now a part of the Elewana Afrika group, which owns several more splendid hotels, but it's the elegant, luxurious simplicity of Kilindi and its stunning views of the Indian Ocean that appealed to me most.

The resort is located right on the beach and it consists of 15 pavilions, set in lush tropical gardens and with private plunge pools that are connected by water features.
As a bonus they grow their own (organic) vegetables and show their commitment to environmental sustainability a.o. by harvesting rainwater, recycling and using solar energy. Their spa offers authentic, traditional treatments with local herbs, oils and honey.

In all fairness, I haven't (yet) been able to verify this information in person, and I cannot estimate how well the resort is really embedded in local culture, projects and needs. For what it's worth, I think they are, and I'll let you know for sure when I've been there!
My main intent for writing this was to celebrate the beauty of the place, to share the gorgeous pictures and to inspire us to dream about the many scenic gems our gorgeous planet has to offer.

From here on, I'll let the pictures do the talking:

 

For more pictures, have a look at this gallery at PureZanzibar.com, and you can find more information about this and other Elewana hotels on their website.

All pictures on this site are and remain (c) Elewana Afrika.

♥ Bookmark or share this post ♥

Rêver de roulottes...

The summer holidays are gone again, which tends to make me a bit melancholic. I usually deal with that by becoming slightly more domestic, expressed by a sudden interest in making chutneys, pumpkin soup and fruit liqueurs in all the beautiful colours of autumn.

It also makes me fantasize about the summers-to-come, and the places I would love to go next.

I'm not a list-making type of person, but I have a number of places in mind where I still want to go, for different reasons. Sometimes to discover a country, area or culture I'm really interested in; to visit a site of great historical (or personal) value, or just because I've found a rare, pure holiday gem that calls to me, regardless of the location.
This can be a precious B&B, a quirky boutique hotel or any kind of place where I feel that the owners have put a tremendous amount of love, time and care into creating something that's truly unique.

A few months ago I found one of those, or at least one that - on its website - seems to have that magical potential. It's located in the high Beaujolais region in France, and it consists of beautifully decorated historic ... gypsy caravans!

Wouldn't you like to spend some time in one of these... living out your creative, romantic or vagabond dreams?

More pictures on their website: http://www.lesroulottes.com/ 

In case you're considering to get one of your own: check out http://www.les-verdines.com/.

Or if you'd rather just stick to dreaming, I love Jeanne Bayol's books and the pictures on her website: http://www.jeanne-bayol.com/.

Have a great autumn!

Thanks to Pascaline and Jeanne for so kindly letting me use their pictures!

♥ Bookmark or share this post ♥