in search of the new black...

reading

hannah-may — Sun, 4 Nov 2007 03:42:00 GMT

"iron & wine" in concert!

glasgow

hannah-may — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 01:11:00 GMT

fritter buttie = 1 white roll + 2 potato fritters + salt + vinegar + brown sauce = £1

Gallery: France

hannah-may — Sat, 1 Sep 2007 22:56:00 GMT

paris; take 2

hannah-may — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 01:35:00 GMT

the (not so challenging) challenge for this french holiday was to try a new cheese every day. mission accomplished

le mans

hannah-may — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 18:28:00 GMT

in search of the perfect crepe pan! ie. weightless, free and takes up no room in my pack

la cote sauvage

hannah-may — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 18:27:00 GMT

sunday driving in the wild west

nantes

hannah-may — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 18:24:00 GMT

having a wine on the terrace overlooking a big old castle on a balmy summers eve with a bunch of french people - it's what you do in nantes

saint malo

hannah-may — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 18:19:00 GMT

my cute-o-meter almost broke with all the cuteness. this little town on the coast full of gorgeous cobbled streets, cafés, sailboats is lovingly cradled in a careful embrace by big old ramparts. but the tourists really do get in the way

mont saint michel

hannah-may — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 18:18:00 GMT

the sign said not to walk on the quicksand for a reason

rennes

hannah-may — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 08:25:00 GMT

i could really get used to this breton obsession with butter, salt and cider...

paris; take 1

hannah-may — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 08:26:00 GMT

more clichéd sights and activites than you can shake a baguette at - picnicking at les jardins tuileries, fighting the crowds to see mona lisa at the louvre, a bottle of rosé under a glittering eiffel tower, getting a crink in your neck under l'arc de triomphe, pretending you can afford anything down les champs-elysées

calais

hannah-may — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 07:47:00 GMT

after 12 hours of travelling, i met calais. we got on ok, although she was a little subdued, and obsessed with moules frites. and also harbouring a runaway party of intellectually challenged individuals at the local youth hostel.

dover

hannah-may — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 07:54:00 GMT

seagulls and chalk. i only had an hour

wiltshire

hannah-may — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 03:58:00 GMT

hanging out with some very old stonework

oxford

hannah-may — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 21:01:00 GMT

"god said to noah, there's gonna be a floody floody...!"

birmingham

hannah-may — Fri, 6 Jul 2007 21:01:00 GMT

i was pleasntly surprised by birmingham. on missing out on a ticket to see "bright eyes" in london, i decided to go and see them in birmingham. not that i was entirely sure where birmingham was. not exactly known for its cultural sites, and branded with words like "industrial", i had a great time at the gig, market (a down-to-earth spot selling fruit, vegetables, dairy and fabric), galleries, vintage stores and picnicking in the square (with the most incredible caramelised onion goats cheese, bread and grapes from the outdoor bullring market). i will be going back for the reasonably priced cheese and fabric alone!

cambridge

hannah-may — Thu, 5 Jul 2007 20:59:00 GMT

how quaint. but i can't help feeling that it's all a bit exclusive...

kinsale

hannah-may — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 20:52:00 GMT

portside kinsale was all sails and B&B's. and an incredible red chowder and breads at the bright and breezy "fishy fishy cafe". yum

dingle peninsula

hannah-may — Sat, 9 Jun 2007 20:51:00 GMT

i think i have been on a bicycle about twice in the last 10 years. so my latest challenge was to cycle 30+km around the stunning dingle peninsula (ireland really takes the cake when it comes to hilarious placenames). the views were stunning - sea, cliffs and more archaeological sites than you can shake a stick at. my cycling and navigational skills on the other hand, not stunning at all. i am surprised i made it back to dingle at all.

killarney

hannah-may — Thu, 7 Jun 2007 20:50:00 GMT

had 2 days in the killarney national park, in beautifully clear and sunny weather. saw more poetic ruins, and best of all, had a "moment" with a jaunty irish stoat!

clonakilty & inchydony beach

hannah-may — Tue, 5 Jun 2007 20:42:00 GMT

who says ireland has terrible weather? spent the day at lovely inchydony beach in the sunshine, and even had a quick "swim". there was sunstroke, kites and a sand-laden picnic, what more could you ask for?

blarney

hannah-may — Sat, 2 Jun 2007 04:59:00 GMT

seeing people hanging upside down, being held onto by a friendly paddy to kiss a piece of stone built into the wall of a falling-down castle is amusing. it is also tradition. it is blarney

cork

hannah-may — Fri, 1 Jun 2007 04:54:00 GMT

cork is green, lush, and full of places that look almost too irish. if that is possible in ireland. it has lakes, rolling hills, cows, churches, quaint-yet-grim shoulder-to-shoulder housing and a public bar on every street. the locals are friendly, and i find it hilarious that often we can barely understand each other even though we are speaking the same language!

Gallery: ireland

hannah-may — Wed, 30 May 2007 20:22:00 GMT

Gallery: england

hannah-may — Wed, 30 May 2007 20:22:00 GMT