ITS NATIONAL COGNAC DAY!

 June 4th is National Cognac Day, and although there are other celebrations going on at the moment, I for one am going to pause to toast this lovely spirit made in France.

Cognac is not only the jewel of French gastronomy, but 98% of it is exported to over 150 countries

70% of Cognac is consumed in cocktails worldwide, a figure that illustrates the great popularity of mixology, both in England and abroad. The very first Cognac-based cocktails were created in the early 19th century, such as the "Mint Julep", created around 1800 in the United States.

My favourite is a Sidecar, made with  cognac, triple sec and lemon juice. Elegand and fit for a queen

The Cognac success story that began nearly four centuries ago continues to be passed down from generation to generation. From the vine to the glass, the men and women who are passionate about Cognac are committed to promoting this unique heritage and this spirit "made in Charentes".

Cognac is also a superb region to explore. The largest white vineyard in France, it offers a wide variety of distilleries and landscapes to discover. The Cognac houses and winegrowers open their doors to visitors to share their history, under the same banner: Explore Cognac.

 

www.cognac.fr 

GRAVE OF SIR RICHARD BURTON MORTLAKE

 

This week marks 200 years since the birth of Sir Richard Burton, in full Sir Richard Francis Burton, (born March 19, 1821, Torquay, England—died October 20, 1890,  Trieste  Italy.

He was an English scholar-explorer and Orientalist who was the first European to discover Lake Tanganyika and to penetrate hitherto-forbidden Muslim cities. He published 43 volumes on his explorations and almost 30 volumes of translations, including an unexpurgated translation of The Arabian Nights and the Karma Sutra.

He may have spent his life exploring exotic places, brothels, temples and hidden cities but Robert Burton is laid to rest in a quiet corner of South West London in the graveyard of the Catholic church of St Mary Magdalene, Mortlake.  But his grave is unmissable in this little churchyard. It is in the form of a Bedouin tent and his tomb and that of his wife can be seen though a window at the back.

The Dove Hammersmith

 

THE DOVE 

The charming Grade II listed Dove pub at the end of Upper Mall is where Rule Britannia was written by James Thompson in 1740 and boasts one of the smallest bars in London.  The list of drinkers here reads like a Who’s Who of boozers and includes Ernest Hemingway and Dylan Thomas. Stop for a drink on the terrace in summer or in the cosy lounge with a roaring fire in winter.

dovehammersmith.co.uk

Next door was the  Dove Bindery, later Dove’s Press, founded in 1893 by Thomas Cobden Sanderson who is credited with coining the term Arts & Crafts.

LOVING THE ALPINE SCENE IN ARGENTINA

Bariloche or San Carlos de Bariloche to give it its full name is the main tourist town in the Lake Disrict  region of Argentina with a colourful tram that runs past the main square and a distinctive European feel. The area attracted Swiss, Austrian and German settlers with its fresh mountain air, snowy peaks and challenging hikes. Although Argentina is famous for its wines, there are a surprising number of small breweries in Patagonia and the craft beer bars in places like Bariloche add to its Germanic feel.

This area is famous for its chocolate and there are as many chocolatiers on the main street in Bariloche as you would find in Geneva and the quality products are in the same league. In Villa La Angostura the town seems to be in a permanent state of Christmas with Santa Claus statues and images in shops and squares all year round.

Twenty kilometres from Bariloche is the ski resort of Cerro Catedral, featuring a vertical drop of 1000 meters, close to 1500 skiable acres and 38 lifts. Catedral has a ski village where skiers and snowboarders walk over to the neighbouring microbrewery for the après-ski jollity. A more civilised experience is found at the Llao Llao hotel which opened in 1940 and recently underwent renovations. The hotel features an 18-hole golf course with 360-degree views of Nahuel Huapi National Park. In fact, many people (like us) visit the hotel just to get a glimpse of the stunning views and enjoy an elegant afternoon tea or meal at one of the restaurants.

COLONIAL CITY SANTO DOMINGO

SANTO DOMINGO THE CITY OF FIRSTS 

Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, is the oldest city in the New World founded in 1496 by Christopher Columbus’ brother. One of the Caribbean’s most interesting cities, its colonial old town with limestone 16^th century buildings boasts the first cathedral, the first monastery and the first hospital built in the Americas. 

 Santo Domingo also has the first metro system in the Caribbean but I prefer to explore on foot especially along the cobbles of Calle las Damas (Ladies ‘street) which got its name in 1509 when Maria Del Toledo, wife of Diego Columbus, stepped out with the fashionable wives and girlfriends of the day.

To get into the role, I am staying at the unusual Casas XIV in the heart of the Zona Colonial. Thehotel is found in a series of renovated 16^th century houses.  Entering my home for the night in Casa Del Pozo is to step back in time into this former convent filled with antiques and artworks with a courtyard featuring the original well. 

CHURCHES OF BERMUDA

Unfinished church in St George's

BERMUDA  is famous for its pink sand beaches, turquoise oceans and of course that Triangle, where countless souls have supposed to have disappeared.

Bermuda is thought by scholars to be the island in Shakespeare’s The Tempest about a group of noblemen brought to a magical island by a violent storm. And indeed the tiny 21 mile island was discovered by a shipwreck.

St George’s is one of the earliest English settlements in the New World where British sailors were  shipwrecked in 1609 while travelling to Jamestown, Virginia. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site there is  twisting alleyways leading to quaint shops and cottages and many Anglican chapels including the lovely St Peter’s Church and Their Majesties Chappell. The magnificent Gothic Unfinished Church was meant to replace St Peter’s in 1970 but the project was abandoned. Now the mysterious building, open to the elements and nature, is a popular wedding spot.

Throughout the island one finds hundreds of churches which wouldn't look out of place in English villages and towns. 

St Peters church St Georges

Cathedral, Hamilton

BUDAPEST WITH ROUGH GUIDES

Back from my first visit to the Hungarian capital Budapest I found myself with a wealth of memories. From chaotic ruin bars to elegant squares, historic castles to modern art galleries – Budapest is a complex mix of styles and atmospheres.

 This is a multi-layered city which could take years to discover in depth. But with only a few days and armed with the latest version of The Rough Guide to Budapest, I did my best to sample some of the city’s attractions.

The guide usefully addresses the city neighbourhood by neighbourhood. Most visitors, like me, start their visit in the popular Belvaros inner city area, with its shops, cafes and promenades. Here we also find insights into Hungary’s rich history by exploring down the embankment of The Danube. The Rough guide not only gives interesting information on main sites such as the Cathedral of the Dominion Greek Orthodox church but also directs us to quirkier finds such as the Underground Railway Museum.

Close by are the Erzebetvaros and Jozsefvaros districts where I enjoyed stroll around the Jewish Quarter. The Great Synagogue is a good starting point and this area also gave me my fist introduction to ruin bars – built in abandoned buildings these colourful and lively bars are a Budapest must-do.

Away from the central attractions, Budapest is diverse.  Until 1873 Buda on the hilly west bank and Pest on the east were two different cities and they still retain distinct personalities; Buda older and classy with its Castle Hill (Var) and Pest with its bustling atmosphere and fascinating Art Nouveau architecture.  Don’t miss the thermal baths – of which there are over 100. And when you get hungry there is no shortage of good cafes and restaurants. Hungarian food is hearty and delicious and The Rough Guide does a good job of providing comprehensive listings to suit all palettes.

The Rough Guide to Budapest, 7th edition. Published January 2018.

Follow this link to buy the book: https://amzn.to/2toAuJD