Truffle Festivals in Italy - Travel Blog

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White truffles and red wine display from Piedmont with view of the vineyards and castle of Grinzane Cavour

Italy
October and November
This is an ANNUAL event.
 

October is a great month for Italian food festivals, especially mushrooms, chestnuts, chocolate, and truffles. On October weekends, you'll find fall food festivals and wine harvest celebrations all over Italy. Slow Food's big International Food Event is in October and World Pasta Day is the fourth Sunday in October

Going to a truffle fair is worthwhile even if you don't want to buy truffles. The scent of fresh truffles fills the air and there are locally made truffle dishes to try. There's often entertainment and concession stands selling local foods such as cheese, salami, honey, and wine.

Piedmont - Alba's white truffle fair and market, one of the best in Italy, takes place on weekends from early October through mid-November. Besides the truffle market and fair, there is lots of entertainment. Events start with a night of concerts and gastronomic stands and end with the truffle world auction and a white truffle walk for tourists.

Tuscany - San Miniato Truffle Fair, La Sagra del Tartufo Bianco, is held in the medieval hill town of San Miniato on the second, third and fourth weekends in November. 25% of Italy's white truffles are produced in this territory and November is the heart of truffle gathering season. There are food and craft stands and entertainment and restaurants will feature reasonably priced truffle menus. If you haven't had truffles, this is a great place to get an introduction.

Hop-On Hop-Off Buses - Travel Blog

If you’re clambering off a cruise ship, in town for a conference, or have a free day before the real action starts, Hop-On Hop-Off buses open cities like an oyster.

Let’s face it, if you are a first-time visitor or casual traveler, even “must-see” sights are unfamiliar. Hop-On Hop-Off buses beat most packaged tour options in price, flexibility and convenience. They really beat handing a taxi driver a fifty-dollar bill and trusting to his or her vaguely researched patter to convey a sense of the city.  Or a tour guide in a minivan, determinedly steering you to souvenir stands, eateries and arcades with not-so-hidden agendas. Besides, Hop-On Hop-Off buses are certainly cleaner, safer and less prone to unexpected complications.

Day Trips from Paris - Travel Blog

If you’re visiting Europe, the probability is high that Paris, along with London, Rome and Florence, are on your itinerary. And why not? They’re some of the most fascinating, historic and beautiful cities in the world!

But once you’ve seen the Eiffel Tower and Big Ben, or the Colosseum and Michelangelo’s David, why not make time to explore some equally interesting and important destinations within easy reach of these famous cities?

You could either get lost in a big group on an organised tour, spend hours on public transportation, or you could rent a car with Auto Europe and explore off-the-beaten-path destinations on your own schedule. Here are my suggestions for the best day trips from Europe’s favorite cities.

Day Trips from Paris

If it’s your first visit to the romantic French capital, the palace and gardens of Versailles is the first destination to spring to mind when considering a day trip from Paris. This former seat of royal power was once home to the ill-fated Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI. The palace, with its emblematic hall of mirrors, was recently renovated, while the gardens are always a pleasure to the eye.

Agatha Christie: Following in the Footsteps of the Queen of Crime Writers - Travel Blog

A special interest to readers circle or a murder mystery club!

Torquay is a wonderful place, spring or early summer the gardens and stately homes of Devon and Cornwall provides a fascinating backdrop for a literary tour.

The associations with the Queen of Crime Writers can be found all over the town.

Featuring in two of Agatha's novels, "The Imperial Hotel" in Torquay boasts probably one of the best settings in the world. Drinking coffee in this elegant hotel, it's east to imagine Miss Marple detecting the latest crime whilst taking in the view that stretches across to Paignton and Brigham.

The Grand Hotel on Torquay's seafront is where Agatha and Archie spent Christmas in 1914 - their honeymoon. The hotel has dedicated one of their stunning 'suites" to the greatest crime writer of all time. Across the road from the Grand Hotel lis Torquay Train Station. The newly married couple boarded the train to London for a sad farewell as Archie set off for war in France. It was on this platform, 76 years later in 1990 that Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple came face to face for the very first time.

Agatha was baptized at All Saints Church in Torquay and regularly attended Sunday services. Her father made a financial donation to the church and ensured Agatha was entered in the records as a founder member. During World War 1, Torquay Town Hall was a Red Cross Hospital where Agatha worked as a nurse. Her in depth knowledge of poisons was gained when she transferred to the Dispensary in 1915.

Roller skating on Princess Pier was one of the young Agatha's favorite pastimes. In Torquay Museum, Agatha is pictured skating in an ankle length skirt and large feathered hat, as was the fashion then.

Skating on the pier cost 2d and was a noisy and bumpy affair but enjoyable outdoor fund.

Agatha had a great love of music and attended many concerts at Torquay Pavilion. This elegant building was opened and it was here in 1913 where Agatha enjoyed a Wagerian concert with her future husband, Archie Christie.