Real Food Festival rocks Iceland!

Today sees the first Real Food Festival to take place in Iceland's capital city Reykjavik.  This four day festival runs from 14th September until the 18th and features many gastronomic events with special  menus in 27 restaurants.  This festival is a real chance to try some wonderful fresh Icelandic fare direct from the growers and fishermen. 

Did you know they even manage to grow bananas in the geothermal greenhouses in the village of Hvergerdi?

Over the next few days visitors to the Festival can meet local farmers at the market and really get immersed in the culture through the various happenings.  You can learn how to match some wonderful innovative cocktails to superb food and find out all you need to know about Icelandic beer by joining a talk and more importantly trying some samples!

The Miss Reykjavik competition takes a real twist as the winner is the tastiest, sweetest, prettiest cupcake!

On Sunday it is also possible to join in a taste of the annual September sheep gathering which takes place all over Iceland.  During September one of the most popular activities is to join the farmers on a horse round up to bring the sheep down from the hills ready for the winter months ahead.

And it goes without saying that the lamb in Iceland is the sweetest lamb imaginable as the sheep dine on the  herbs and grasses in the highlands.

 

Skåne in Sweden proudly hosts the world's largest picture made of apples!

The town of Kivik, in Skåne southern Sweden,  hosts the amazing Kivik Apple market, a 2 day festival each September to celebrate the humble apple.  Join 20,000 visitors and witness the incredible, huge picture made entirely of apples, of every shade and hue, whilst being royally entertained by the many major artists who come  to this corner of Sweden to celebrate the harvest in music and song.  This year's festival takes place on 24th and 25th September.

When you visit Skåne, it soon becomes apparent that this is a wonderful place to relax and absorb the calm surroundings.  It is a very popular area for both Swedish and Danish nationals who enjoy this region.  Whether you choose to explore by bicycle or by car on a self-drive itinerary - in  Skåne it is easy to unwind as it is to fill your days with as much activity as you please. 

It is possible to visit the Apple Market and Kivik on our Discovering Skane itinerary which takes in Kivik on day 4 as you journey between Ystad to Kristianstad along the pretty coastal route. 

Reykjavik restored to its former glory!

It has taken 4 years, but now Reykjavik is back in all her architectural glory after a major restoration which followed the huge fire in 2007 which destroyed some of Reykjavik's oldest gems.

Following this devastating fire the municipality held a competition, inviting suggestions for the site's reconstruction and they voted to honour the past by embarking on this stunning reconstruction of the original buildings.  Once again the heart of Reykjavik has never looked better.

Now with new quality restaurants and designer shops housed in wonderfully restored buildings dating back to the early 19th and 20th century Reykjavik shines once more.  With the brand new concert hall Harpa, and the scaffolding which has now been removed from the stunning Hallgrímskirkja church, Reykjavik is once again the proud capital city of Iceland - at only 3 hours away this northern capital is ideal for a short city break. 

 If you feel inspired to come and see Reykjavik please contact us for details about our city breaks.

Come and join in at the Fika Picnic!

So you thought that it was only the English who took high tea? However, what is not so widely known is that the Swede’s have their own version of this tradition and it’s called Fika. Join Visit Sweden as they transform Soho Square from the 24 – 26^th August, into an open-air Fika Parlour and experience a taste of Skane! Led by world famous pastry chef Jan Hedh, the Swedish equivalent of high tea will be served in the open air and stories about the region shared.

Skane is Sweden’s southernmost region and is geographically closer to Denmark than to much of the rest of Sweden, such that its heritage, especially that of the capital Malmo, has been largely influenced by its southern neighbour. In Skane Fika is very popular. The custom dates back to the early 19^th Century and derives from the word Fik, a colloquial term for coffee and biscuits. Traditionally, at Fika participants receive a fresh cup of coffee and 7 biscuits.  Those visiting Skane soon realise that the locals like nothing more than to relax with friends and family over Fika.

The region of Skane is well-known in Sweden for its fantastic range of places to dine out and in quite spectacular settings. Restaurants are scattered along the coastline or even found amongst fields in the rural countryside. The climate of Skane creates ideal conditions to grow high quality produce, and Swedish people take great pride in inventing delicious gourmet dishes made from seasonal vegetables and seafood.

To find out more about the Fika Picnic, click here.

Or to find out more about our Skane holidays, click here.

If you're a foodie...Skane is definitely the place to visit!

A member of our Discover the World team, Laura Carter, has recently visited the area of Skane in Southern Sweden. Visitors to the area, like Laura, can indulge in local cuisine that tantilises the taste-buds while taking in calming seasides, sleepy fishing villages and the rolling hills of the countryside.

After recently visiting Skane in Southern Sweden, my best memories definitely relate to the cuisine! The first night, we dined at a restaurant called Rogeriet Restaurant, which is located in Skanors - a beautiful town right near the beach front. The food consisted of a seafood platter which included prawns, white fish, mussels, salmon and herring served with different sauces. For the main course, I chose the salmon cooked with chillies, served with new potatoes and asparagus tips. And let's not forget dessert - a gorgeous chocolate chip vanilla ice cream. The menu was varied with mainly fish options but overall it was delicious.

Another place to visit in Skane is Olaf Viktors, this is a coffee shop like no other! It has an open-air courtyard, which is a lovely place to sit when the weather is good and it also has indoor seating. They have their own bakery where they make all the cakes and bread and even their own ice cream. I chose a mocha coffee and a lemon cheesecake which was fantastic - accompanied by delicious pistachio ice cream. They do also have a shop where you can purchase items such as marmalade and bread - a really great place and I would recommend it to anyone.

For anyone wanting a truly memorable eating experience, make sure that you stay at Tomarps Gardhotell near to Kristianstad. Set in the countryside, it has a lovely restaurant with very large windows giving the feel of eating al fresco. The meal was served a la carte - for the starter it was mussels served with cheese and chives, the main course consisted of duck served with white asparagus and a rustic homemade spicy sausage. For dessert strawberry cake served with chocolate ice cream and strawberries- the presentation and service were both excellent!

So there you have it, just a sample of what is on offer. These were my favourite meals of the trip, but there are restaurants and cafe's galore to suit all tastes. 

Come & See us at Destinations Travel Show, NEC

We'll be at Destinations Birmingham from 4-6 March and would welcome the opportunity to talk to you about your forthcoming travel plans.

Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show is the UK’s leading travel exhibition and offers a fantastic opportunity to discover a world of holiday ideas, attend travel talks by acclaimed travel experts, including television personalities and travel writers, as well as experience an eclectic range of global taste and music sensations.

Plus, join our Scandinavia experts, Emma and Lorraine, as they talk you through “A Year in Scandinavia” on Sunday at 2.30pm in the Meet the Experts Theatre. Uncover the highlights of Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland, as they share their ideas for discovering this beautiful region of the world, whatever time of year you wish to travel. Find out where to go and what to see – plus get our insider tips on where best to view the magnificent northern lights!

Venue: Destinations Birmingham, NEC  
Date: 4 - 6 March
Stand Number: E3

Visit Destinations Birmingham »

Canada's best bits!

Recently one of our Canada specialists, Jo Cooper, was lucky enough to travel through Alberta and British Columbia, taking in the very best that these two provinces have to offer.  Here Jo shares some of her most memorable experiences from her trip:   
 
Favourite place to stay?  
The Fairmont Lake Louise - an absolutely stunning hotel with the best view from a hotel room I have ever seen! Perfectly situated on the shores of the beautiful Lake Louise and surrounded by mountains, with a really luxurious feel throughout.  And also the place where I enjoyed the best burger ever!

Favourite excursion?
I really enjoyed the Mail Run sightseeing flight from Vancouver – this is a chance to experience a float-plane flight following the traditional mail route to some of the Gulf Islands' more remote spots. The views were spectacular and it was great to see Vancouver from the air and try to spot the parts of the city I had explored on foot earlier that day!

Favourite dining experience?
Aside from the burger at Lake Louise?   And there was the incredible ice-cream at Victoria's beautiful Butchart Gardens... But overall the Market Experience guided tour I had on Granville Island, Vancouver - accompanied by an expert chef we were taken around all the highlights the market has to offer, with frequent samples of a vast array of local and regional produce - something to suit all tastes!

Favourite wildlife experience?
During an evening excursion in Jasper we saw elk, mountain sheep, goats, coyote, ground squirrels and white tailed deer - I never did get to see a bear as it was a little late in the season, but all the other creatures more than made up for this. And there's always next time...!

Favourite view?
I travelled from Jasper to Lake Louise by coach, and everything I saw that day was my favourite view! The Athabasca Falls, Athabasca Glacier and to top them all, Lake Peyto – this is the most beautiful and most vividly blue lake I have ever seen, almost luminous!

Favourite journey?  
I travelled by ferry, plane, coach... but my favourite was an overnight journey on board the VIA Rail train from Vancouver to Jasper.  It was a great, fun experience! Rail travel in Canada is a fantastic way to cover a lot of ground without driving and the scenery was breathtaking – stunning mountains, the autumn colours were incredible, plenty of rivers and lakes and the train even slowed down when we went past a beautiful waterfall. Bears can be seen throughout the summer season so make sure you keep an eye out for them!

If you'd like to experience the majestic Rockies or the wild beauty of the Pacific Coast for yourself then why not start planning your own Canadian adventure - please see our website for more inspiration, or contact our team of experts for advice.
 

New! ICEBAR LONDON by...ICEHOTEL!

The former ABSOLUT ICEBAR LONDON has undergone a spectacular transformation in name and design! Since the opening of this iconic bar in 2005 on Mayfair’s exclusive Heddon Street the venue has attracted over 1 million visitors and the new design is sure to attract a million more…

‘Purity with a Twist’ is the new theme. Designers Nille & Sofi, with a team of ice builders from the world-famous Icehotel in Swedish Lapland, have created a frozen metropolis that contrasts the sparseness of northern Sweden with the congestion of city life. Enter the bar and walk into a London street scene of thought-provoking interactive touch-points made from crystal clear ice - from giant-sized noughts and crosses to park benches, bins and distorting fair-ground mirrors. The new design is brought to life with state-of-the-art LED Anolis lighting system which reacts with the ice to create continually changing light colours and effects, providing guests with a wintery urban playground. 

The ICEBAR’s philosophy is to offer clients a unique, exceptional and evocative experience – I think the new design will do just that!

 
Visit the ICEBAR »

Stay at the Icehotel »
 

More Adventures from Melbourne

Here Josie continues her tales of her recent trip to Melbourne, Australia...

 

Melbourne is well connected and is served by a fantastic bus, train and tram network. So making good use of our Metcard, we hopped on the tram – first stop: St Kilda! The best known landmark of this seaside precinct is the historic Luna Park fun fair – the laughing face façade and roller coaster have both been classified by the National Trust and it’s a real favourite for families. Or, for those who prefer a more natural and tranquil setting, St Kilda Botanic Gardens offer a wonderful retreat from the hustle and bustle of the CBD. For me though, my favourite place in St Kilda is one of Melbourne’s Food Precincts, Acland Street! Spoilt for choice with all the cake shops, what better way to enjoy a morning coffee, than sat on the promenade overlooking the sleek Melbourne skyline, listening to the sound of the waves on the shore and devouring a delicious Acland Street cake!  

 

Delectable delights done with, it was time to hop back on the tram and head to the heart of the CBD, Federation Square - affectionately known as ‘Melbourne’s meeting place’. With more than 2000 events annually, and a real buzz in the Square’s air, Fed Square is where you want to be for arts and craft exhibitions, live music and an array of al fresco dining and copious amounts of coffee! Very much the pulse of Melbourne’s cultural and creative heart, Fed Square offers something for everyone and good times for Melbournians and tourists alike.

 

For those who really want to explore the city, why not lose yourself in Melbourne’s Laneways … a labyrinth of alleys, unique boutiques, concealed cocktail bars, and tantalising restaurants, the Laneways offer some of Melbourne’s hidden gems and a superb shopping experience.

 

So whether it’s art, music, sport, beach, gardens or shopping that make you smile, you will certainly find them all in abundance in Melbourne, and you can always be sure to find a serene spot to while away the evening, planning the next day’s adventures, sipping a glass of Yarra Valley wine. 

New Outdoor Bar at the Blue Lagoon, Iceland

It's a hard job, but somebody has to do it... Next time we're in Iceland, in the name of research (ahem!) we're heading straight for the NEW Blue Lagoon Outdoor Bar, where visitors can enjoy bathing in the milky warm water at the same time as supping a cocktail (try the vibrantly-coloured and originally-named 'Blue Lagoon'). For youngsters and the health-conscious, why not order an 'Energy Shot'; a refreshing vitamin drink, which we understand will 'energise body and soul'.  

If you're not feeling thirsty, then treat yourself to an application of the natural 'volcano and algae mask'.  The scrub claims to 'stimulate the removal of dead skin cells and exposes a supple layer of younger skin, making you feel fresh and rejuvenated'.  As if we needed any further excuse to visit one of our favourite places in Iceland......!

The Blue Lagoon is just 15 mins from Keflavik International Airport, and can easily be visited enroute to/from Reykjavik, on a day's excursion by coach from the capital, or easily included on an independent self-drive itinerary.  For a relaxing 3-night break staying at the Northern Light Inn, take a look at our Blue Lagoon Spa Break.