:: My favourite corner of… Brugge

Posted by Joelle on February 11, 2008 | Permalink

If you’ve noticed I’ve been quiet this past weekend, this is because I spent it wandering the pretty streets of Brugge (or Bruges, if you favour the French rather than the Flemish angle on Belgium).

I feel so well nourished somehow, partly by the wonderful food and local artisan beers, but perhaps moreso having drunk in with my eyes so much that was lovely. The old town is so intact, with its gothic red brick architecture, and picturesque canals, with swans drifting by and the clatter of horse drawn carriages across the cobbles. Amidst the gilded spires and soaring gables, sometimes it was the humbler corners of the town that charmed me the most, like this sweet little house.

Categories: adventure
Tags: belgium, favourite corners, travel

3 comments

:: Dave Gorman’s America, without chains

Posted by Joelle on February 4, 2008 | Permalink

It seems that Dave Gorman took part in our recent shop local challenge, albeit on a rather larger scale. At the end of his US tour of his comedy show Googlewhack Adventure, he was so disheartened by the homogeneous experience of the chain hotels he stayed in, he came up with a plan for another US trip. He bought a second hand car, and travelled coast to coast right across the US, trying not to give any money to “The Man™”.

And he’s made the whole experience into a film: America Unchained.

“In other words, no Holiday Inns, no Best Westerns and no Comfort Suites. No Shells, no Arcos and no BP gas stations. No MacDonalds, no Starbucks and no chains of any kind. Just Mom & Pop business all the way.”

I already knew Dave was a man after my own heart, with an appealing sense of humour, and an extraordinary eye for the everyday, now he proves his worthiness in support of independent businesses. Go Dave!

America Unchained is shown on More 4 in the UK, tomorrow night 5 Feb at 10pm, and will be available on DVD on 11 Feb.

Categories: adventure, challenge, shopping
Tags: america, dave gorman, film, shop local challenge, travel

10 comments

:: My favourite corner of… Prague

Posted by Kirsty on January 18, 2008 | Permalink

I took plenty photos in Prague, but this is by far my favourite. It’s a staircase tucked away at the back of St. Michael’s Church and it just made me feel happy. I loved the way the light was shining through the window and how all the surfaces had been worn smooth with age. One day, I want to live in a house with a spiral staircase up to my turret library with a window seat!

Categories: adventure
Tags: favourite corners, light, prague, staircase, travel

No comments yet