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When you think about gourmet food and travel you probably aren’t thinking of the reheated frozen food you were served on the plane. There are many choices available to those whose love of travel is equaled by their love of gourmet food. You can travel to an exotic (or romantic) location and take gourmet food cooking courses taught by well-trained chefs in top culinary programs (some are even offered on cruise ships.) You can also take a tour that allows you to visit a region and sample some of the area’s best cuisine-without doing any of the gourmet food cooking or preparation yourself. Before you buy that ticket, here is some basic information to get you started on your search:

If you love to cook gourmet food at home, you should definitely think about taking a trip to visit a culinary program abroad. There are all-inclusive travel packages which include your airfare, your accommodations and your courses all in one price. These tour groups are usually fairly small, so you get more personalized instruction. The courses can last anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks. You may be able to set up courses through contacting a gourmet food cooking school directly, but you may not be able to get the deals on the airfare and accommodations. Some of the packages also include tours of the local area as well.

On the other hand, if you want to leave the gourmet food cooking to the experts, you can find tours which simply visit different areas, focusing on the local cuisine-with local sites of interest thrown in as well for good measure. Some of the more popular tours are the wine tours, the cheese tours and the chocolate tours. You can see how the food is made and you can sample it as well.

Those who want a more flexible and independent experience can simply look up traveler reviews of restaurants in the areas they plan to visit and chart their course based on the food they want to eat.

Make your next vacation not only a delight for your eyes and ears, but for your taste as well.

Eriani Doyel writes articles about Food and Travel. For more information about gourmet food visit foodax.com

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So, you’re finally going away for your well-deserved vacation. Don’t let careless packing spoil a great holiday. Airport security systems have changed and has become much tighter. You might want to think about leaving some items at home and there are also some items that you might want to think about taking along. Here are some items to think about taking with you for a smoother trip and holiday:

Bottled water: many people are afraid of causing delays at the security checkpoint and some may insist that you finish it in front of the guards. Sipping water regularly while you fly can alleviate much of the discomfort that flying can cause. Also, depending on your destination - it can be very useful to have a bottle to fill with drinking water.

If you are diabetic it goes without saying; but even non-diabetic travelers will benefit from having some small food items on hand. Food wouldn’t usually bother security guards. Keep some small sugary and high protein snacks on hand to curb low blood sugar levels.

Baby Wipes will most likely be needed as well even if you don’t have a baby. If you eat something sticky and can’t get up to go to the bathroom these will help.

No matter where you are going you will need to find some secure way to carry your money and valuables. Your passports and credit cards will cause a vacation ruining mess for you and your family. If you travel often then it might be worth your while to invest a bit in something special and practical. Money belts are one way to carry around your valuables but they sometimes look bulky and obvious. A fanny pack is another idea. It depends on where you are going. You don’t want to draw attention to yourself or to your nerdy lime green fanny pack. Depending on where you are going you may want to leave jewelry at home. Foreign criminals are just looking for unsuspecting Americans.

Some kind of portable entertainment system is essential if you are traveling alone for long periods of time. It isn’t only techno junkies that can benefit from one of the many portable entertainment systems. Delays can be expected if you fly and you will be glad for something to keep you amused. Load an iPod with some of your favorite music and you have an instant mood lift wherever you are.

Another item that could be useful is a first aid kit. Even if you don’t need one - it will be reassuring that you are equipped for any emergency. Include headache tablets, some Mylanta is a must and anti-inflammatory. There are some excellent small travel first aid kits available nowadays.

Packing a plastic bag or two into your bag is a good idea. It will be a handy at some stage of your trip. Plastic bags have an uncanny way of being both useful and hard to find when you need one. Roll it up - won’t take any space and you will find a use for it at some stage of your trip. Otherwise you might land up having to pack your wet shoes in with your clothes.These are just a few tips to ease your trip stress. Since 9/11 air travel has changed and it’s important to keep this in mind when traveling. Plan ahead, be prepared and most importantly - have a great trip!

Christine Bettridge has loved writing since childhood. She has written Plays, poetry and many articles. Her latest e-book End Time Secrets recently released by Cypress Street Publishing has caused an order craze in the religious world. It can be ordered and downloaded right now through the publishers website at End Time Secrets and she also is the editor of the article directory, Above All Content Visit her blog at: The Bible Sound Blog

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London is more than 2000 years old, and has been a vibrant, active city for its entire history. Today, it’s the home of over seven million people, with several million more living near its outskirts, and has relatively easy access to the Continent via the Chunnel, the tunnel from France to England. Although England itself makes for an exciting and interesting travel experience, just going to London can fill months of travel time, and still not exhaust your interest.

Just people-watching in London can keep you occupied for days. London is no longer only British; instead, it’s one of the most vibrantly multicultural cities in the world. The area north of Hyde Park is largely owned by Arabs now, and outlying suburbs are homes to entire neighborhoods of people of Indian and Pakistani descent. You can go to many neighborhoods in the city and not hear a word of English.

Of course, sometimes you might not recognize English as English. There are twenty or more distinct dialects just in London, some more mainstream than others. About half the English dialects in Britain have their roots in London, a 600-square-mile patch of land. It’s an amazing city filled with textures and cultures you didn’t even know existed. Most of the tourist section of London can be found between the Tower of London and Hyde park, a three-mile walk.

Museums

London has countless museums, large and small, old and new, classy and kitschy. Museums with free admission include the British Museum, the British Library, National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Tate Gallery. After a certain time in the afternoon until closing (call to get exact times), the Imperial War Museum, the Museum of London, the Natural History Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museums are also free.

In the Victoria and Albert, you can find excellent collections like the Medieval Treasury art gallery; the Dress Gallery, 400 years of English dress; and many famous works of art including reliefs by Donatello. In the National Gallery, you can find art by grand masters ranging from Da Vinci to Rubens, Botticelli to Monet and other French impressionists. If you’re interested in more peculiar exhibits, the famous Madame Tussaud’s Waxworks contains wax representations of people throughout history, and more modern works. It’s an incredible and historic museum.

Architectural Treasures

London is crammed with architecture from most stages in its history, some of it historic, much of it remarkable in design and beauty. For starters, the Tower of London covers several hundred years of architectural history, as well as a millennium of British history. Here, Lady Jane Grey and Anne Boleyn lost their heads; here, the Princes in the Tower vanished. The oldest part is the White Tower, built by William the Conquerer in 1077; the rest has been built around it.

More recently, St. Paul’s Cathedral is only a few hundred years old; it’s a symbol of British pride since World War II, when every German air raid on London failed to blow it up. In the crypt, you’ll find famous graves like Lord Nelson, or the quietly anonymous dead. London Bridge, where once shopkeepers held business, is an architectural marvel; for a special look at it, try a boat trip up the Thames.

For less-authentic but still delightful fun, try attending a performance at Shakespeare’s New Globe Theater, an exact reproduction of Shakespeare’s Globe, which was destroyed long ago; you can experience theatre not as it’s done today, but as it was acted in Shakespeare’s time, roaming the lower gallery and even interacting with the actors. Or you can visit the Royal Shakespeare Company, a not to be missed Shakespearean company.

Walking Tours and Getting Around Time

There are dozens of walking tours available; visit the Tourist Information Centers off Piccadilly Circus or in Heathrow Airport. Good walking tours will take you to sights like Westminster Bridge, the Jubilee Promenade, and then across the bridge to stand beneath the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. For a perfect view and to take great pictures, walk to about the halfway point on the bridge. Nearby is Westminster Abbey, overlooking the great statue of Churchill, pigeon-free because he’s electrified. Trafalgar Square is the heart of British government; you’ll see the Queen’s Life Guard nearby. And there are dozens of places to eat in the area.

Getting around London isn’t difficult. Driving is not a great idea; you’ll wind up sitting in traffic most of the time, and parking is horribly expensive. Instead, use the buses, the Tube (London’s subway), or taxis to get from place to place. Or just walk; if you walk, you won’t pass up the really interesting spots. You can get maps of bus and Tube routes at a TI or Tube station; you should also be able to find them at the Tourist Information Centers. If you ride the bus, get on, and the conductor will sell you a ticket. Or you can purchase a transit pass - ask at the Tourist Information Center. To ride the Tube, purchase tickets at the coin operated machines, not the booths; this way, you’ll avoid lines. Tickets are valid only on the day of purchase, so don’t pre-purchase tickets.

Shopping

Everywhere you can find neat little shops. For the best, try Harrods of London and Harvey Nichols. For a shopping neighborhood, try the Oxford Circus/Regent Street/Piccadilly Circus shopping walk. If you see a royal seal on a shop, stop in; this denotes it as a favorite of someone in the Royal Family. Sotheby’s Auctions are also great, though they can get expensive quickly; call them for schedules. London is also famous for great street markets, which are like huge flea markets; for a schedule and locations, speak to your handy Tourist Information Center.

This is nothing more than a taste of what London has available to visitors. There are thousands of things to do and see.
For more information on London, please visit http://www.uk-web-index.co.uk/counties/London/

P Edwards works in central London and is a freelance writer for UK Website Directory, Diamonds and Jewelry and also for House and Home DIY Advice

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