Archive for August, 2012

Some Mudgee Accommodation Options

August 3rd, 2012

Mudgee is a beautiful wine growing area in Australia that is very popular with holiday makers who love wine!

There are a wide variety of accommodations available in the Mudgee wine region. The area is only 260 km from Sydney. The trip through the Blue Mountains is a breathtaking ride that ends in the beautiful countryside of the Mudgee region. The short ride is a great way to unwind after a hectic week and get ready for a great weekend.

The Mudgee wine area is steeped in history. The first settlers came to the area in the 1820s. In the 1860s the German immigrants brought their passion and expertise in wine making to the area. Modern wine production followed in the 60s and 70s.

The area is perfect for a relaxed weekend getaway. There is Mudgee accommodation for every budget and personality. Some of the Mudgee accommodation options available are:

Bed and Breakfast: There are a variety of Bed and Breakfast Mudgee accommodations available in the region. The Bed and Breakfast offers a unique and personal accommodation experience. Bed and Breakfast establishments offer a Mudgee accommodation that is very personable and family oriented. Bed and breakfasts give people the feeling of being part of a family. Guest usually share the same building as their host and share bathroom facilities as other guests. Some Mudgee Bed and Breakfast establishments do offer separate, private living and lounge accommodations. These private areas also have their own kitchen facilities in most cases. Part of the allure of the Bed and Breakfast experience is meeting new people and sharing the experience. Mudgee Bed and Breakfast accommodations give the traveler the feeling of a personal family experience.

Boutique Hotel: Boutique Hotels offer a very unique Mudgee experience. Boutique Hotels are unique because they are usually located in old historic buildings. They allow travelers to travel back in time and experience a touch of history. The rooms are usually very luxurious and offer private bath and shower facilities. » Read more: Some Mudgee Accommodation Options

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London’s Hidden Gems – Southwark

August 3rd, 2012

Most people are familiar with the ‘chocolate box’ images of London: Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, The London Eye. While all of these places should indeed be included on your ‘to see’ list, you will miss out on the heart and soul of the greatest city on earth if you just to stick having your picture taken in front of the ‘tourist icons’. The London’s Hidden Gems series is aimed at those of you who want to go a little deeper when visiting London. First stop: Southwark.

Southwark is (as the name indicates) the part of London on the Southern Bank of the River Thames. It was for a long time the only ‘official’ part of London proper that was situated on the South Bank. In olden days it was famous for its bear pits, tanneries and as the starting point for the pilgrimage to Canterbury (made famous in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales). It was also a ‘theatre district’ with the Bard himself being a regular sight on the streets of Southwark.

It is still possible to hear and see some echoes of Southwark’s colourful past. A few suggestions on how to spend a day there:

  • Walk across one of the most famous bridges of all times: London Bridge. The present bridge is relatively new (1971) as the previous one was sold to a Lake Havasu City in Arizona!
  • ‘Tread the boards’ by visiting a reconstruction of Shakespeare’s Globe. Better still, if you visit in summer be sure to catch a performance of one of the Bard’s plays in the setting that it was written for.
  • Visit one of the most famous medieval prisons The Clink, and be very thankful that you can actually leave it when you want to…
  • Have a drink in The George next to the site of the ancient Tabard Inn. The Tabard Inn was famous as one of the traditional starting points for the pilgrimage to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Sir Thomas Beckett. Take a copy of the Canterbury Tales and see if you can identify some of the characters while ‘people watching’.
  • A weekend visit to Southwark will confirm that London’s reputation as a place where it is very difficult to eat well belongs firmly in the past. Borough Market is a shrine for foodies of all descriptions and a place where you can get the best ‘take away’ food in all of London. Take your meal and have a picnic in the garden of Southwark Cathedral. » Read more: London’s Hidden Gems – Southwark

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