2016-06-23

Surprise me road trip~ 給我驚喜旅行規劃

幾週前腦公看一看他的行程表,突然發現有3-4天的假期,立馬問我要不要出去玩?我當然說好啊,可是,要去哪玩?腦公突發奇想說他想試試一個網站很久了!他是荷蘭的網站,叫“Surprise Me”就是“給我驚喜”。近入網站後填寫要坐飛機還是開車還是大眾運輸,預計幾天的假期。我們選擇開車 > 三天兩夜 > 鄉村(或都市)> 距離選最遠的 350公里
輸入完畢填寫個人資料,一個人收費55歐元一晚,網站會幫你選擇目的地,幫你訂住宿(含早餐)。就這樣,我們完全不知道我們要去哪~(太刺激了!)

One day H was checking his schedule, then he found out that he'll have 3-4 days off the next week. We wanted to go travelling but we don't know where, then H decided to try "Surprise Me".
https://srprs.me/
Basically you only need to tell them you want to go by flight/car/public transport, how many days, city or suburb. Then they will arrange everything for you. We chose road trip, 3 days 2 nights, suburb. Then filled out some personal information and paid. Now, we don't need to do anything, don't know where we are going, just wait until the day.....

我們的行程是星期三出發(三/四/五),前一個星期五網站會告知目的地天氣,我們被告知氣溫在21-23度,陰而時晴,感覺天氣很舒服喔!一直猜想會不會去德國,還一直問腦公會不會說德文(因為我們選鄉下很害怕語言無法溝通)。星期六的早上收到一個包裹!裡面有地圖(因為我們選自駕),黑色信封(裡面是我們的住宿確認,要當天才可以打開),還有一張卡片,寫著我們的密碼(當天早上刮開輸入到網站內就可以得知"方向")!超級有趣的啊!

Our trip was on Wednesday. The Friday before we got the information about the weather of our destination, it was about 21-23 degrees and some cloud some sun. Sounds pretty good. On Saturday we received a package, with the road map, a black envelope (with our accommodation in it) and a card. The card has a scratch place with codes inside. We can only scratch it on the day of departure and enter the code on the website, then we will find out the direction we should drive to. We tried the night before our departure date and it didn't work hahaha.

 出發當天輸入密碼得知我們的方向是"Mechelen",我還認真google了一下得知是在比利時~我倆還恍然大悟地到處說“原來是要去比利時啊!” 殊不知這只是“方向”啊!導航定位Mechelen開一開腦公說要去休息站尿尿,在比利時境內我們把地圖拿出來,地圖旁邊又有一個刮刮樂,裡面藏著我們的最終目的地!兩人決定就在休息站給他刮開!一看!啥鬼?居然是法國!

On the day of departure, we logged on the website and found out that our direction is "Mechelen", a nice town in Belgium. After picked up the car and setted the navigation to Mechelen, we told everyone we are going to Belgium. While resting at a service, we took out our road trip and found that our 'destination' is hiding under the scratch!! We decided to do it, and then, found out........ We are actually going to FRANCE!!!

我們的民宿是18世紀的建築,民宿老闆娘超可愛可是英文很不好@@ (不過還是非常和藹的告訴我們房子的歷史!)老闆娘也推薦了兩個鄰近的城市隔天可以去看看。check in 後就先在這可愛的鄉村走走啦!(旁邊有步道,我們就去走了6公里左右@@)

This is our lovely accommodation. The room is amazing and the host is brilliant! She recommended us some nearby cities to visit and there's a walk next to the house. We decided to look around this villiage after checked in and then go for the walk for nearly 6 kms....

這個根本就是蜜月套房啊!圓形的床,衛浴在樓上,房間小可是超可愛的!感覺就是老闆跟老闆娘自己蓋的!早餐在房間吃,老闆娘前一天會問要幾點吃,約定的時間到了會聽到一串的雞啼鳥叫牛鳴(從喇叭出來的)然後門一開就會發現早餐籃!XD 太有趣了!

The room is like for honeymoon!! Round bed, ensuite (bathroom upstairs), espresso machine with coffee, tea, hot chocolate! Fridge and microwave!! The breakfast is in the room, when the arranged time arrives, we will hear 'special sounds' then open the door, we found a basket full of fresh crossiant, bread, cheese, jam and fruit! Fresh orange juice is in the fridge every day! This is like heaven hahaha~

第二天我們跑去比較遠的Lille(里耳),法國北部最大的城市。老闆娘說很適合年輕情侶去~今天天氣很好,從民宿開車到這邊大約1個半小時。很漂亮的一個城市~少了巴黎的喧囂跟觀光客,雖然是一個大城市不過感覺悠閒多了!我在這邊不小心買了3件衣服哈哈哈!

The next day we visited Lille, really pretty and big city. Everyone is so friendly (a guy came to us while I was checking my googlemap, then he told us to go into a hidden market!)

因為車程一個半小時,晚餐決定去離民宿最近的大城市Maubeuge去吃。跟Lille比起來Maubeuge感覺是老人住的地方@@雖然他在地圖上看起來也頗大..... 無魚蝦也好,還是比我們的小鎮選擇多了!



第二天因為是回程了,我們決定去造訪Mons(蒙斯),蒙斯位在比利時,他是2015年歐盟的文化首都。由於Leeuwarden將會是2018年的文化首都,我們都迫不及待的參訪看看別人怎麼做的。

The second day we visited Mons on the way back. As the European Culture Capital of 2015, Mons has attracted a lot of attention of visitors. This beautiful city reminds me of Italy! Maybe because of it's hills and old buildings. We really enjoy this city! Unfortunately They don't have any exhibitions about the culture capital anymore.




腦公說這個木頭的設計棚子是為了文化首都做的。雖然是星期五,街上來往的觀光客很少,也看不太到作為文化首都後他們真正帶給了這個城市什麼~感覺好像跟歐盟拿了錢,請了有名的設計師蓋了這東西,還新建了設計博物館(我們有去完全沒人啊櫃台的人還在打瞌睡!)一年過後這裡的市民有得到什麼嗎?當地的觀光有因為這個頭銜而蓬勃起來嗎?後續的計畫感覺是比較需要被深入討論的議題~

Mons is really pretty. Not sure what was happening but the rubbish bags are everywhere around the city (maybe the cleaners are on strike). We can see many signs and flags about European Culture Capital but when we entered the main building the staff told us that there's nothing to see here. We went to the design museum, while no visitor was there and the staff was almost sleeping! It's really sad to see that they have got so much budget from EU and after a year it feels nothing improved. :( We couldn't stay long becasue we wanted to be back to Rotterdam before the traffic, so we left after lunch. Maybe next time I would like to stay there for a night and get to know about the city more!


2016-06-22

Little gem next door- Schiedam 琴酒的故鄉-斯希丹

終於有時間來寫網誌了(是說最近也不是多忙應該是懶惰)。

幾週前天氣好,週末腦公說要去騎腳踏車我便使出連續靠腰的功力說我想去斯希丹很久了在隔壁而已之類的,腦公敵不住只好陪我去(我連路線都查好了!)
從我們家騎腳踏車大約20分鐘,6公里左右的路。在荷蘭騎腳踏車真是享受啊啊啊~無止盡的單車道~騎起來就是爽快~

Few weeks ago H and I decided to go biking since the weather is too nice. I insisted that I want to go to Schiedam because it's really close to us (about 6 kms away, 20 mins by bike) and it's the home town of jenever (H was really surprised that I have this information). Anyway, we went on the way after brunch. It's really nice to cycle in the Netherlands as bike lanes are everywhere and the entire country are designed for cyclists I think.

首先前往Witte de Withstraat吃roti!! 想說待會要騎腳踏車點素的好了,殊不知roti餐廳整個佛心來的,一盤6歐吧這麼大份是想逼死誰.....我每次吃每次想說下次點三明治就好就是學不乖啊因為太好吃了....嗚嗚....

Our brunch is one of our favorite dish: Suriname roti!! Since we are going to cycle later I ordered vegetarian one in case I will be too full.... The fact is, I should have ordered sandwich.... This is really massive portion and we both ended up incrediably full before our road trip....


到了斯希丹,腦公原本想要往街上看看(本身是一個古色古香的城市),我又堅持要去琴酒博物館(啊就很想去啊!)我說話這麼大聲當然是我贏啊~就去了~斯希丹很小所以很好找,還剛好遇到團體拜訪所以跟著聽了免費的導覽!博物館卡可以免費參觀,整個賺到了!

The whole point of visiting Schiedam for me is the Jenever Museum. It's right next to the canal. We can visit with our museumkaart and the front desk lady is super friendly, she told us that few minutes later there will be a group of people visiting and they will have an introduction tour. We can join them for free! Amazing!



    


在斯希丹我們也發現了一間好吃的冰淇淋店!荷蘭到處都是手工冰淇淋店啊在英國都找不到,夏天坐在運河邊吃冰淇淋真的是太爽快了!今天在斯希丹圖書館前剛好有樂團演奏,在旁邊的cafe點個啤酒坐著聽live音樂,我們的斯希丹之旅就這樣進入尾聲~這麼近,下次再來造訪!

Schiedam is really a beautiful old town! Because we were here on Sunday so most shops on high street are closed. But then we heard some live music, followed the sound it was in front of the central library! Ordered a beer at the cafe next door and enjoy the live music, what a life! Too bad we only have one afternoon in this little town. But don't worry, since it's so close to Rotterdam I believe we will be back at some time. :)


2016-04-01

UK-FOOD [RESTAURANT] Planet Pizza

Planet Pizza
http://planetpizza.co.uk/

We went to their Gloucester Road branch. They also have one on Cotham Hill.
Address:
187 Gloucester Rd
BS7 8BG
0117 9444717

Planet Pizza is recommended by my friend as a 'must try' restaurant before we left Bristol. We chose a Tuesday evening to have our dinner there as they offer £7.95 for a 9" pizza, a pint and a side. Which is a really brilliant bargan!!

All their Pizzas are named after the planets. Which makes the menu really interesting. They offer white pizza as well! I haven't seen it since I left Rome. The pizza is also Italian style which is thin and light.

Uranus Pizza. (Chicken, smokey bacon, roast peppers, tapenade&fresh chilli)

My pizza, side salad (can choose chips) and a pint

Dessert: Belgian waffle w/banana&hot choc fudge sauce
Their restaurant on Gloucester Road has many seats and it's very nice for friends to have a meal together. On the day we arrived almost all the tables are fully booked. We were lucky that the tables at the back was still available (we arrived early as well). If you plan to dine out with friends on a busy night reservation will be recommended. They also offer Buy 1 get 1 free, Sunday-Wednesday 5-7pm and Monday-Friday any 9" for £5 till 5pm.


UK-FOOD [CAFE] Better Food Company

The Better Food Company
Scrapstore House,
21 Sevier Street,
St Werburghs,
Bristol, BS2 9LB
0117 935 1725
http://www.betterfood.co.uk/shoplocal/st-werburghs/st-werburghs-cafe/

Everytime when we go to IKEA or Tesco Eastern we will go pass the Better Food Company. It's a supermarket with organic products and a cafe inside. We have tries their cakes before which was also very tasty. As an eco lover, we love to get our dishwashing, laundry washing and conditioner etc here. You can bring your empty bottle and refill in the shop which is awesome! We also tried their breakfast before we left Bristol.

Veg full English breakfast. Home made patty with baked beans, fried egg, portobell mushroom, fried tomatoes and toast.

H was complaining that the pasty is burned. He really doesn't like burned food I am afraid. @@

I had simple breakfast because soon I am going to have luch together with my colleagues.

Homemade granola with apple and pumpkin seeds.


Although I ordered granola with yoghurt which supposes to be light, but this dish has the most granola I've ever had!! I ended up having some left over because we didn't have any space to eat more! Which also helped us to eat less for lunch though....

All in all, unfortunately I won't recommend the breakfast in the better food company as there are way more nice options in Bristol for tasty breakfast! And because they are half self-service so we wait half hour to get the table clean after we sat down and more than 45 mins to get our food. We ordered a crossiant which I don't think it will need to be cooked but the crossiant also comes with the food.....

Maybe next time we should try a different dish if we got chance haha.



2016-01-20

PISA, ITALY [RESTAURANT] La Taverna Di Emma

La Taverma Di Emma
Via Carlo Cammeo, 50, 56122, Pisa, Italy
T: 050.555003
https://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Taverna-Di-Emma/231667466857647#_=_

In 2014 we had a short trip to Pisa, Italy. Our B&B host recommended this restaurant to us. It's right at the back of Piazza del Duomo. Our host drove us to there after checking in. Luckly we only wait for about 10 minutes then there's a table for 2 available.

The staff can't really speak English and the menu is all in Italian (this is a really good sign, this means it's not open for tourists and people who ate there seems to be locals). Although H can read some Italian (only about food), some dishes if he never seen or had before he still have no clue what it is. So we ordered the simplest dishes (or common dishes), and it was amazing! (We haven't had any bad food in Italy anyway!)

 

 
The food is just as good as it can be.
They are No. 19 in Pisa on Tripadvisor. I remember after our first night H wanted to go back again for dinner! Because it's just so nice and the location is right at the centre. Pisa is not a big town and the tourist area are full of restaurants that looks like they only open for non locals.   

I want to go to Italy every year hahaha.

UK-FOOD [CAFE] Tree House Cafe

Tree House Cafe









UK-FOOD [PUB] [SUNDAY ROAST] The Old Bookshop

The Old Bookshop
http://www.theoldbookshop.co.uk/
65 North Street
Bristol
BS3 1ES

You can find this hipster pub on North Street, Bedminster. H has been there when he was looking for house in Bristol. He has told me many times how cool this pub is (although he was having coffee at that time).

We finally went there after living in Bristol for almost 2 years.... For the Sunday Roast of course hahaha.

 The place is really old and full of history. Again, really popular pub for Sunday Roast, don't forget to make a reservation othrewise you might not get a table!
65 North Street

T
Bristol
BS3 1ES

65 North Street
Bristol
BS3 1ES

UK-FOOD [BAR] The Social

The Social
http://www.thesocialbristol.co.uk/
130 Cheltenham Road, Bristol, BS6 5RW

Opening Times
Sunday - Monday 10am - 11pm
Tuesday - Wednesday 10am - midnight
Thursday - Saturday 10am - 1am

We have walked passed The Social many many times, but never really walk in. Until one time H went to a conference, he had a chat with someone who used to lived in Bristol, she told H that The Social is such an amazing restaurant. H immediately told me and we decided to visit it. It didn't let us down. It has become one of my favorite dining place since.

The paintings on the wall in The Social are all about Bristol. Really enjoy watching them and having amazing food.

During Christmas and New Year, The Social is also one of the places offers Mulled Cider and Mulled Wine. I love their Mulled Cider so much!!

Our first visit, we ordered too much food!
The homemade vegetarian sausage rolls are soooo good. H was soooo happy about it haha.

Another time we tried their Sunday Roast. It was INCREDIBLE!! Again, their vegetarian roast was sooooo tasty (according to H). Unlike other pubs offer nut roast (although it's also a very nice dish), the chef specially made a really cool vegetarian pasty.

This photo is focus on my chicken roast hahaha.

The Social also offers 2 4 1 cocktails during happy hours. Can't wait to visit again!

UK-FOOD [BAR] Poco

POCO TAPAS BAR
http://pocotapasbar.com/
45 Jamaica Street
Stokes Croft
Bristol
BS2 8JP

When I checked their website I just realized they have a branch in London! After PieMinister they are the second restaurant I know that open a branch in London from Bristol. :)

Poco is definitely one of my favorite restaurant in Bristol. Tom Hunt, the chef of Poco, is also founder of Forgotten Feast, a Social Enterprise working on projects throughout the UK to revive our cooking heritage and help reduce food waste. We bought his cook book on our first visit there.

Poco's menu is also depends on the season and written on the blackboard wall in the restaurant.

If you are first time in the restaurant, they usually recommend you 3 dishes per person. But really depends on how much you can eat. As the only meat eater in the family, 3 meat dishes all for myself is definitely too heavy for me.

Poco's dining area is not big (only the back of the restaurant is for dining). The front of the restaurant is more for coffee or a drink. If you want to dine there I would recommend to make a reservation.

We are going to miss them so much.

UK-FOOD [PUB] The Canteen

The Canteen
http://www.canteenbristol.co.uk/
80 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3QY
0117 923 2017

Almost every Bristolian knows "The Hamilton House". With a lovely bar and cafe "The Canteen", loads of social classes, events and at the back of the building is "Bristol Bike Project". The Canteen is also a free music place every night for Bristol people to hand out with friends. We are very lucky to live close by.

The Canteen's menu is always changing. Depends on the season and the chef. But it's always creative and tasty. They always have vegetarian, vegan and glouten free options for people.



The Canteen has a big dining area, but every night it's incrediably full. Especially Thursdays and weekends. When you walk in, check their menu on the black board and order at the bar. They also have great collection of local brewery and sellection of teas.

When you order mains in The Canteen it comes with free soup. As all other food, the soup also changes depends on the season and ingredients.

 As a bar cafe, The Canteen also offers Sunday Roast. We gave it a try once, I wouldn't say it's the best in Bristol (there are way too many brilliant roast in Bristol!), but definitely worth it.



2016-01-19

UK-FOOD [CAFE] The Bristolian

The Bristolian
Opening times sun & mon: 8:00am – 6:00pm, (lunch: 12:30 – 3:30) tues – sat: 8:00am – 10:30pm (lunch 12:30 – 3:30, dinner from 6:30)
2 Picton Street,
Montpelier,
Bristol. BS6 5QA
T: 0117 919 2808

Can't remember when we started to eat at The Bristolian.
It's a nice cafe near our house. Brilliant place to have breakfast/ brunch on a weekend morning.
If you plan to go for breakfast, better go early because this cafe is just so popular!


The Bristolian is hiding in the side street on Stokes Croft.
They have few terrace seats for smokers and people who loves to enjoy the sun with food on a lovely day.

On the same street, there's an Italian grocery shop (their olive oil and tomato cans are amazing!), Katie and Kim's kitchen and further down is The Thali Cafe.

The first time when we were in The Bristolian, we had lunch there. The menu looks so amazing so H ordered a starter as well. We ended up really full and really happy. :)

This is my favorite breakfast at The Bristolian, Belgian waffles– served with free range bacon & pure Canadian maple syrup Or with summer fruits and double cream. -5.95
This is with summer fruits and double cream. The cream is actually more like yoghurt I'll say.
If you like a brunch or bigger breakfast, their full English won't let you down. I also had it few times (depends on how hungry I am haha).

Strongly recommend them!

UK-FOOD [PUB] The Gallimaufry

The Gallimaufry
http://thegallimaufry.co.uk/
26-28 The Promenade
Gloucester Road
Bristol
BS7 8AL
T: 0117 942 7319
Gloucester Rd is a good way to go when you want some treats but have no idea where. All the restaurants here look fantastic. Today is a nice weather, we decided to sit at the terrace, so we pick this pub and bar restaurant.

Since it's brunch for us, we both had a pint of lemonade and ordered sourdough with spinach, poached eggs and hollandaze. I ordered salad as a side and forced H to order chips haha. Since it's brunch I was afraid I won't have enough food. 

   Look from outside. Good weather everyone wants to sit outside.



If it's a nice weather day you can always see their terrace full of people. There are so many brilliant restaurants on Gloucester Road, I might need a special section for it. :p


There's also a Cook Book of Gloucester Road:

https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-gloucester-rd-cookbook/gloucester-road-wi/9780992645304

We have it, too. Full of nice dishes recipes of the independent traders and shops.