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A Walk to one of England’s Most Iconic Gardens

Slow Travel Tours Posted on May 29, 2022 by Andrew and Elizabeth GuppyMay 29, 2022  

As I am writing this blog post, the participants of the first Scenic Guided Tour of 2022 are departing on their journey back home after a week of exploring the beautiful Cotswolds countryside. Reflecting on the week I spent with the group, I wanted to share photos taken on a day that stood out for me not only because I always enjoy this walk to one of England’s most iconic gardens, Hidcote, but also because by day 3 into the tour, it felt like as if the members of our group have known each other for a long time. Having spent two years without being able to travel and connect with fellow travellers and locals during the height of the pandemic, it was truly special to see the group building camaraderie, sharing inside jokes and having meaningful conversations.

On day 3 of the tour, we took a circular walk from the Cotswolds market town of Chipping Campden to the Arts and Crafts-inspired gardens of Hidcote Manor and Kiftsgate Court. The English weather stayed true to itself, surprising us with sunshine and showers alike, which only added more interest to the colourful display of wildflowers and exquisite border designs with the incredibly green countryside as the backdrop.

I hope you will enjoy scrolling through these photos and if you wish to join us here in the Cotswolds, there are a few places left on our September tours.

Meeting at the Market Hall in Chipping Campden to discuss plans for the day

Setting out on the walk, passing the Almshouses built in 1612

Passing St James’ Church, one of the finest woolchurches in the Cotswolds

Wildflowers such as Queen Anne’s lace or cow parsley decorate field boundaries throughout the spring and summer months

At a “crossroads” of footpaths, one of which is the Monarch’s Way, England’s second longest waymarked trail

The promise of tea and cake at the tearooms of Kiftsgate Court Gardens put a spring in our step

The idyllic sight of cows and horses grazing in a beautiful field called for a stop to capture the moment

At the entrance of Hidcote Manor – clematis and roses provide a beautiful frame to the door of the manor house

Alliums are putting on a particularly stunning show this year, flanking this and many other paths in the garden

The rain didn’t take anything away from the beauty of the gardens

Inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement, the garden comprises of outdoor ‘rooms’

The garden “rooms” are full of surprises, such as this extraordinary water feature, the mirror pool

Many of the rare and exotic plants were collected by the brilliant American horticulturist, Major Lawrence Johnston

The beautiful hornbeam tunnel

The “long walk”, flanked by hornbeam hedges

On the way to Kiftsgate Court Gardens

A quintessentially English sight, with sheep grazing as we cross the pasture

Andrew and Elizabeth GuppyHusband and wife team Andrew and Elizabeth Guppy lead Cotswold Walks, specialising in customised self-guided and guided walking holidays in the Cotswolds. Living and working in the Cotswolds is an essential part of what makes their company special. As avid walkers, they can often be found walking the routes with their dog Indie.

Andrew and Elizabeth are passionate about what they do. They strive to take you on a tour that showcases the best of the Cotswolds, from iconic gardens and fabulous local food, to sweeping vistas over the emerald green countryside dotted with honey-coloured cottages. Through careful planning and attention to detail, the mission of Cotswold Walks is to ensure you have complete peace of mind, so you can immerse yourself in the beauty of the Cotswolds and create lasting memories.

Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France, England and other European countries.

 

Posted in Cotswold Walks, Gardens, Walking | Leave a reply

Visit the Polish Pottery Festival in Boleslawiec, Poland in 2022

Slow Travel Tours Posted on May 22, 2022 by Sarna RoseMay 22, 2022  
Polish Pottery Festival display

Every year, in late August, in the small town of Boleslawiec, located in the Lower Silesia region of Poland, about 75miles/120 km west of Wroclaw, Polish Pottery Festival transforms it into an outstanding place of joy with live shows and beautiful crafts. Everything to celebrate the most famous ceramics from Boleslawiec, and perhaps all of Lower Silesia – Polish Pottery!

Crowds gather at the Polish Pottery Festival opening ceremony in Boleslawiec, Poland

Crowds gather at the Polish Pottery Festival opening ceremony in Boleslawiec, Poland

Hand made pottery from Boleslawiec is completely different from the pottery you will find in Italy or France. The tradition of making pottery in the region of Boleslawiec goes back hundreds of years. Today, white clay is chosen carefully and baked in high temperature kilns. As a result, you get unique pottery, which is flame proof, can be used in a microwaves, and looks great in your dining room. Pottery from Boleslawiec is also ecologicaly safe, because lead free enamel is used for decoration. Most patterns are detailed, geometrical and floral designs. Each piece is completely different than another, all are hand made, unique, worthy to be collector’s item.

Beautiful Polish Pottery patterns on display

Beautiful Polish Pottery patterns on display

This popular summer festival in Poland, offers unforgettable and entertaining events: parades, shows, culinary presentations, and performances. Ceramic goods are presented at the marketplace for sale, and the streets are full of booths, where you can buy regional products, sculptures, and so on.

Often, great deals are available on Polish Pottery pieces during the festival and you can always bargain with the many vendors! You will be surprised that in Boleslawiec you can also purchase pottery using US dollars! This is because pottery from Boleslawiec is very popular among US military personnel stationed in Germany. So, when you visit the Polish Pottery Festival you will run into many Americans. Communication with vendors is also not a problem – most of them speak English very well.

Polish Pottery production process

Polish Pottery production process

You can also visit pottery museum, and pottery factories (where you can paint your own piece of pottery during a hands-on workshop), as well as many historical landmarks in Boleslawiec, for instance the beautiful town hall and market square.

Polish Pottery Festival tour flyer

Polish Pottery Festival tour flyer

Polish Pottery Festival in Boleslawiec, Poland is a really unique, wonderful experience! You should definitely consider visiting this part of Lower Silesia with Poland Culinary Vacations. Our August 14 – 20, 2022 “Flavors of Lower Silesia and Wroclaw” culinary vacation in Poland is scheduled around the 28th Polish Pottery Festival. Click here for all the details and start planning your 2022 Poland vacation today!

Malgorzata (Sarna) Rose, is a native of Poland. Poland Culinary Vacations grew out of her love and passion for travel and everything Polish, including fine Polish cuisine, eventually blossoming into a first-class culinary travel company. While growing up in Poland, she experienced the great joy of cooking with family and friends. Using her grandmothers' recipes and fresh ingredients from their gardens, they prepared food for weddings, parties, and traditional holidays. Now, through Poland Culinary Vacations, she wants to share that experience with you, and show you the best of everyday Polish living: the special people and their hospitality, and the heritage and traditions unique to each region. Only a native can help you discover and fully experience the authentic Poland!

Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.
Posted in Poland, Poland Culinary Tours, Polish Pottery, Polish wine, Slow Travel Tours, Wroclaw | Tagged august in poland, boleslawiec, festivals in Poland, lower silesia, lower silesian vineyards, Poland, poland tours, poland travel, poland vacation, polish cuisine, Polish Food, polish pottery, polish pottery festival, polish wine, vacation in poland, wroclaw | Leave a reply

Up on the Roof…in Venice

Slow Travel Tours Posted on May 8, 2022 by Anne & Kirk WoodyardMay 8, 2022  

 

Anne & Kirk Woodyard – Music and Markets Tours

If ever a city deserved the title of  “an outdoor museum” , it’s Venice! Where else can you float by glorious facades or stroll through squares bordered by exquisite architecture, perhaps while sipping the city’s signature drink, an Aperol Spritz?Yes, there’s much to be seen at eye level, but as in all impressive cities, one must also look up, up and up! And when you do in Venice, you’ll no doubt notice those wooden rooftop structures sprouting up from one building after another. What are they? They’re Venice’s particular and peculiar outdoor spaces, the Altanas.The name comes from the Italian word for high – alto. An escape from the dense and crowded city below, they date back to the 12th century. A city filled with canals and tall buildings doesn’t leave much room for a courtyard or garden, so  why not add an outdoor space on the roof?!? The stout wooden or stone pillars attached to the roof support a platform of wooden planks, allowing the passage of light and air for a bright and inviting space to sunbathe, enjoy the coolness of the evening, or gather for a meal or a chat. One of the prettiest I’ve seen, draped in gauzy fabric and adorned with flowers, was on the colorful island of Burano.During the time of the Venetian Republic (697-1797) blonde or red hair was very popular and women used to bleach their hair while sitting on the Altane, using a dye called Bionda (blonde) or Acqua di Gioventù (Water of Life). Covering their shoulders with a white silk scarf, and placing a Solana – a straw hat with a hole in the center – they protected lily-white skin from a dreaded tan, and pulled their hair through the hole in the hat, then combed a complicated concoction through the hair and spread it out to dry and bleach on the Solana.
Still popular today, with spectacular views over the city and water, an Altana is a coveted addition to any home. Since the entire city is a protected Unesco World Heritage Site, an Altana can not be added unless it can be proved that one existed in the past, involving a search in the land registry, or even perusing canvases of the great landscape painters such as Canaletto and Guardi.
We enjoyed a breezy afternoon on one of the Altanas of Hotel Paganelli, perched above the Riva Schiavoni with a fabulous view of the Bacino, and San Giorgio Maggiore.Looks like this family has added a pizza oven to their perch!A couple of striped-shirt gondoliers taking a break, perhaps?How to enjoy an Altana for yourself? Book a room at Hotel Paganelli – ours featured that same fabulous view as from the Altana, or book an Airbnb with a rooftop perch – it’s such a valuable feature that it is highlighted in the description of any property lucky enough to have one. We’re always sure to point them out, and access one when possible, on our custom-designed private Venice tours!And keep looking up – those interesting details are sometimes high above our heads!

The best way to describe us (Kirk and Anne Woodyard) is that we’re interested in the stories that make the places we visit come alive.

We’ve visited Europe more times than we can count, learned some entertaining stories there, and met some warm and helpful people who also enjoy the wonders of music and life in Europe. We look forward to sharing these stories and friends and experiences with our Music and Markets guests.

Since 2003 we’ve hosted Music and Markets tours in France, Italy, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, England and Spain, and in 2019 added Wonder Tours with a more intentional concentration on art and architecture, local culture, food and wine, and less time dedicated to concert-going.We also design and host custom private tours – previous locations include many French, Spanish, British and Italian regions.

Between our music-related travels, we enjoy our home in the south of France. While both of us have experience in organizing travel and music groups, Kirk’s background is in project management and competitive writing, and Anne is an accomplished pianist with over forty years of teaching and performance experience.

Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.

 

Posted in Architecture, Burano, Canals, European Travel, History, Italy, Kirk and Anne Woodyard, Outdoors, Slow Travel Tours, Venice | Leave a reply

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