Holiday season

[shewhomust]

It's been a while since I posted anything from the Guardian's Travel section; and this isn't because the papers have been piling up next to my desk, waiting to be dealt with. Oh, I admit, there may well be old travel supplements in the various piles of stuff which undeniably do accrete atound my desk, but recent weeks have been filled with tips about skiing and Christmas markets and other all-too-resistable offers.

This description of the Abruzzo in autumn, and the local produce to be enjoyed there, seemed worth saving. The author's blog is Rachel Eats (and the current post, about mincemeat includes a recipe for apple and quince mincemeat).

The same supplement, in list of ten new places to stay for a winter break in the Highlands (ours not to reason why) reveals that the John O’Groats Hotel really has been renovated. It was looking pretty dilapidated last time I saw it, and although there was talk of renovation, well, there's always talk. I would not, myself, have described John O’Groats as being in the Highlands, but I see that the Guardian is following the hotel's own website (now reorganised to break old links), which says it is in the North Highlands (then again, it says it has a view of "the Orkneys", so...

Comments

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

I suspect that the 'North Highlands' is a bit like 'South Chelsea' (otherwise known as Battersea! :o)

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

Ah, good point. And West Hampstead (Kilburn).

[veronica-milvus.livejournal.com]

Well if they've ever been to Caithness, most of it is as flat as a Scotch pancake. I'm so glad that hotel has been done up - it is in such a wonderful location, it was sad to see it derelict.

"The Orkneys" is a bit of a slip though. I was told be a local it was either "Orkney" or "The Orkney Islands" but never "The Orkneys".

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

Exactly!