Kateonhertravels

Speaking French in Iceland: why and how to hitchhike

Longer read Warning: this post contains some frustration at bad public transport, mixed in with hitchhiking optimism It’s got to be one of the most ancient ways of humans getting around. However, up until this past week, I’d really only hitchhiked once, on the outskirts of Banff National Park. I was with my mum andContinue reading “Speaking French in Iceland: why and how to hitchhike”

Postcard from… Grindelwald

I’m writing this from the sofa, watching day two of the Winter Olympics in and around Beijing. While my eyes are on sports taking place far away, my thoughts are somewhere closer to home. Since my November-December trip to Italy and Switzerland, I’ve often thought longingly back to a few days spent in the heartContinue reading “Postcard from… Grindelwald”

Begin at the beginning

Quick read A year later than planned, and without so much as a ferry booked, a train seat reserved or a dorm space earmarked, I started planning this week in earnest to go backpacking. I must have been saving and saving and saving for years? Wrong. Well, right, but the money I did save hasContinue reading “Begin at the beginning”

Poignant postcards

Do you still send postcards when you’re away? Does anyone really send them anymore? I know I do, but I’m just one person. And isn’t it just so much easier to reach for the smart phone… A cursory google search for stats on modern postcard habits didn’t bring up a major Post Office survey orContinue reading “Poignant postcards”

A marvellous midsummer

I have had a most rare vision. I had a dream, past the wit of man to say what dream it was… The eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen, man’s hand is not able to taste, his tongue to conceive, nor his heart to report, what my dreamContinue reading “A marvellous midsummer”

All walks of life

‘Only thoughts reached by walking have value’ — Friedrich Nietzsche Firstly, an apology is required. Required, because I’ve had a temporary case of writer’s block. Writer’s block because I’ve struggled to get beyond a few notes and ideas of what I could write about, none of it quite interesting enough to capture my attention, letContinue reading “All walks of life”

Stuck on red

17th May. Feels pretty similar to any recent day here in the UK, except now we’re allowed to holiday in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, and The Falkland Islands, without having to quarantine on our return. Yes folks, the UK’s green list of countries are readyContinue reading “Stuck on red”

The food that we miss

Last bank holiday weekend was the most exhausted I’ve felt in a long time. Why? I launched an online bakery – Kate’s Kitchen – in my village! As a travel writer I try to focus on relevant food stories and the cultural history surrounding food when I can (you may have read my post onContinue reading “The food that we miss”

The world’s a stage

For some people, St George’s Day (this past Friday) represents folklore and myth, dragons and slayers. For others, it’s more an excuse to feel extra patriotic — or, in the case of two people in my village, a reason to enquire ask why the old church wasn’t flying an English flag (sigh). For me though,Continue reading “The world’s a stage”

Postcard from…Windsor (and Westminster)

Many of us think of Windsor Castle when we think of Windsor. It represents over a thousand years of royal history. But when I think of Windsor, I also think of log flumes. Don’t get me wrong, I do think of the Windsor Castle bit of Windsor, it’s a stunner of a building. And theContinue reading “Postcard from…Windsor (and Westminster)”