Travel to Greece with Pippa Roscoe

 

[caption id="attachment_1434" align="alignleft" width="300"] Pippa with Rachael Thomas[/caption]

Earlier this year I convinced Rachael Thomas to come to Crete with me on a research/writing trip. I know that I write better in the sun, outside. I’m not sure whether it’s the fresh air, or the warmth, or just being away from home but there’s something about it that helps the words to flow. We packed up our laptops and booked the flights and accommodation – something that was done with military precision worthy of any determined, accomplished Harlequin heroine! – and picked the most beautiful hotel in Crete. 



We arrived early in the morning, which meant that the first thing I did before we could check into the hotel was to get myself an iced coffee. Okay – so one thing I LOVE, to a really insane degree, is Greek Ice Coffee. It has to be sweet because, of course, I’m on holiday so the diet is OFF. On average I need about twenty minutes of alone time with this gorgeous thing before I could even think about eating breakfast. I may even need a second one!

A Week Walking The Great Wall of China with Rachael Thomas

 

My previous post here on Traveling with Nasreen was all about my training walks in my local area as I prepared to take on a week trekking along The Great Wall of China raising funds for British Heart Foundation.

In October I took on that challenge and it was an amazing week and our twenty eight strong group raised over £52,000 for the cause.

 

 

 

 

 

 



For five days we trekked along the wall, some parts of it were in good repair and being close to Beijing a popular tourist area, while other parts were what we named, the wild wall. More often than not, we were the only ones on these stretches of the wall.

Travel to Great Wall of China for #BritishHeartFoundation with Rachael Thomas!

For the last six months I have been spending lots of time preparing and training for a charity trek in China. Later this month I will be leaving my desk and flying out to Beijing and then onto The Great Wall of China where I will spend five days trekking to raise funds for British Heart Foundation.

My training has meant lots of walking and my dog, Poppy and I have done plenty of walking locally. We’ve spent many hours walking over our farm and the surrounding area.



I’ve also spent time walking along the coastal path near me. This is looking back down to Aberaeron on a very blustery autumn day.

Travel to Pisa, Italy with Rachael Thomas

I’ve always had a passion for Italy and over recent years have been lucky enough to visit Pisa several times – and go up The Leaning Tower of Pisa.

[caption id="attachment_805" align="alignright" width="300"] Rachael Thomas holding up the Tower[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_806" align="alignleft" width="200"] Inside the Duomo[/caption]

The first thing to say is that the tower does lean. A lot! When you first walk inside it really unbalances you and as you wind your way up the 293 stone steps you can see how they are worn in different places depending which side of the tower you are on. It also feels strange when you come out on top of the Tower.

It was built as the bell tower to the Duomo and work began in 1173. It was finally completed in 1350 but was even then suffering from problems of leaning due to subsidence.

Everywhere you look around the Tower, are people posing for photographs to make it look as if they are holding up the tower. Naturally I had to have a go too.

Travel to London with Rachael Thomas #BookGiveaway

 

During 2016 I was lucky enough to visit London several times and I can’t wait to go again!

Living on a farm in the Welsh countryside is very different from a big city and London is so full of excitement from the moment I step off the train. There is so much going on, so many people, it’s fascinating.