B: Best (foreign) beer: I just dont do beer, give me a glass of Australian chardonnay or French Pouilly Fuisse any day.
C: Cuisine (favourite): I love food and eating. My main criteria is that it has to be excellent quality and I love to cook myself so I have pretty high standards.
French food is hard to beat because you can go to the smallest village restaurant
and have the formula of the day for lunch at a very small price but of superb quality.
D: Destination (favourite and least favourite): I am madly in love with Europe particularly France, Italy and Spain and my husband, who is always off walking somewhere in the world, has accompanied me on many adventurous walks but one that has really impacted on me is the Cinque Terra in Italy.
My least favourite place would be Dubai. My daughter and husband lived and worked there for a few years and my husband and I would visit. I was so disappointed in the Arab demolition of any historical or cultural reference. It is all modern skyscrapers, resort hotels (albeit luxurious) but it is all so clinical, and the heat. . . . . . . .
E: Event experienced abroad that made you say “wow”: the most recent one was walking in the Douro Valley in Portugal last autumn, the views over the mountains terraced with vines and the restored ancient manor house where we stayed were incredible.
F: Favourite mode of transportation: it depends on the circumstances and I could argue positively for all forms but, and you will think me mad, flying comes pretty near the top. I have never lost the feeling of excitement and awe when I get on a plane in one country and arrived so quickly in a completely different climate and culture and time zone. I even like the actual journey, most of the time, that feeling of sitting back and having nothing to do but watch movies or read books.
G: Greatest feeling while travelling: the freedom of leaving the everyday and journeying into the unknown.
H: Hottest place travelled to: I've been in some pretty hot places! Dubai in the middle of summer at 54 degrees, India in an unairconditioned taxi with what seems like half the world's population crushing in on you and Vietnam where the heat and humidity while touring left me literally soaked through with sweat.
I: Incredible service experienced and where: it would have to be in a small restaurant in Barcelona called 'Gorria', the food was a mix of Barque/Navarrese cuisine and was superbly presented by professional and friendly staff. The pinnacle of their service was when my husband splashed some oil from his entree on to his shirt. Immediately the waiter was at his side with a cloth and stain remover.
J: Journey that took the longest: a train trip from Italy back to France two years ago, which should have been uneventful and a day's journey, was completely disrupted by the Icelandic volcano ash which grounded the planes over Europe. Tourists were fighting for seats, booked tickets were cancelled, trains weren't going where they were supposed to because there was also 'un greve des chemin de fer' (train strike) and just to add to the fun there was a fire on the line.
K: Keepsake from travels: unfortunately with the very restrictive weight limits applying to plane travels keepsakes have to be carefully thought about. I cannot resist however perusing local fashion and jewellery stores. I treasure some beautiful gold and green garnet earrings that my husband bought for my birthday in a small Italian town. Every time I wear them I think of that particular holiday.
L: Let-down sight, why and where: emigrating to Australia in the 70s the liner sailed into Fremantle harbour. It was a huge shock - a one horse town with no restaurants, shack like houses and it seemed so isolated. I felt like taking the next ship back to England. Now Fremantle, since the America Cup win and Alan Bond in 1983, is a very elegant and sophisticated place.
M: Moment where you fell in love with travel: There wasnt any particular moment, I was born with itchy feet. My first travel adventure 'sans parents' was at 14 years old when I went to Florence and Rome escorted by the nuns from our convent and fourteen other girls, we had an absolute ball.
N: Nicest hotel you’ve stayed in: I've stayed in some pretty wonderful hotels all over the world but I think for service Asia is the best. The Hyatt Regency, Yogyakarta, Indonesia is one of my favourites, it is off the tourist track but close to the Borobudur Temple. The hotel itself looks like an ancient palace surrounded by a very attractive golf course and tropical gardens. The rooms are luxurious in Indonesian style but with all modern facilities and panoramic views from the windows, The service is exemplary.
O: Obsession – what are you obsessed with taking pictures of while travelling?: I am not a photographer I like to write stories about my travels, the people, culture, an adventure.
P: Passport stamps, how many and from where?: I have two passports, Australian and European which is just as well as I have collected many stamps and visas. Stamps from the USA, New Zealand, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, Japan, China, Taiwan, Cambodia, Thailand, Fiji, New Caledonia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Indonesia. The one negative about the European passport is that I dont get stamped in any European country.
Q: Quirkiest attraction you’ve visited and where: A snake restaurant in China where live snakes were pulled out of a basket upon order, their gall bladders removed for the customer to swallow whole (good for the male libido) and the snake then taken to the kitchen to be cooked and then served.
R: Recommended sight, event or experience: how to just pick one! The Coast to Coastwalk in England from St Bees, across the Lake District into Yorkshire to Robin Hood Bay. Spectacular scenery, very quaint bed and breakfasts and pubs and the land of Wordsworth, Beatrix Potter and John Ruskin among others.
S: Splurge; something you have no problem forking over money for while travelling: Food and wine. In summer last year we visited 'El Celler de Can Roca' in Girona, close to Barcelona, the newest Spanish restaurant to achieve three Michelin stars. It is number two restaurant in the world out of 50 top restaurants, fantastic experience, each course was a work of art.
T: Touristy thing done: Joined the huge queue of tourists to go up to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Well worth the pain of waiting though to see the views over Paris.
U: Unforgettable travel memory: flying into the Grand Canyon in a helicopter it was breathtaking and very exciting.
V: Visas, how many and for where? I have about five Vietnam visas which are a nuisance as they take up a whole page in your passport, a few for Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
W: Wine, best glass of wine while travelling and where?: I really enjoy a glass of the local rose from the region around the Ariege where we rent a house. Unfortunately it is so easy to drink and sitting under the chestnut trees in the early evening contemplating how good life is it slips down very easily.
X: eXcellent view and from where?: From the top of the foothill behind our house in France we can see across the valley and up over the foothills opposite towards a beautiful chateau and a walled village. Beyond to the range of the Pyrenees Mountains, on a clear winters day the light is crystal clear and the snow covered peaks stark against the light blue sky.
Z: Zealous sports fans and where: Australia and Italy were playing in the football world cup in 2006 and we were in a small village in Italy. The bar was packed with zealous Italian supporters and the televisions had been set up in the square to accommodate them. We weren't sure if we should admit that we were Australian but it soon became obvious. The game was fiercely defended by both teams and many opportunities lost to score a goal with the Italian supporters becoming more and more vocal but always friendly and inclusive towards us, their rivals. The final few minutes the Italian team scored a goal from a free kick and their supporters went wild but didnt forget to commiserate with us. It was a good afternoon.
See blog below for another version
Femme Francophile