By Judy Darley
Stepping into Vondelpark just as the shadows began to lengthen, we immediately noticed the atmosphere pervading this city-centre green space. Barbecues sent fragrant clouds into the sky, and as the violinist packed up for the night, his spot was claimed by men and women holding cardboard placards offering ‘Free Hugs!’ in a variety of languages. We strolled the paths holding hands and smiling, feeling we’d somehow found a corner of the 1960s right here in current day Amsterdam.
But the thing with Amsterdam, as we soon realised, is that …

By Ashley Gibbins
Denbies Wine Estate, England’s largest vineyard and Mayfield Lavender, organic lavender growers in the North Surrey Downs, are offering a unique day out in the Surrey Hills. Visitors will be forgiven for thinking they are in the heart of the Provence region of France, which is renowned for its’ rosé wines and vast fields of lavender. Denbies, established in 1986 with 265 acres planted under vine is internationally renowned for its’ rosé wine.
Denbies Chalk Ridge Rose won the gold award for Best Rosé in the World at the …

By Ceidiog Hughes
A new army of tourism ambassadors is ready for action in North East Wales. The aim of the scheme to train tour guides is to boost tourism in the wake of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal Corridor being named as a World Heritage Site. That means the area is now ranked alongside the likes of the pyramids, the Great Barrier Reef and North Wales castles such as Caernarfon and Conwy.
The newly-qualified Green Badge guides are now able to operate in Wrexham, Denbighshire  Flintshire after being presented with their …

By Ceidiog Hughes
It was a tough choice – Christmas on Australia’s Bondi Beach or the former North Wales mining village of Rhos. Ex-Big Brother star Nikki Grahame spurned the sunshine down under for the chance to sprinkle some panto magic at the Stiwt Theatre. Nikki had booked Christmas morning flights to take her mum on the holiday of a lifetime. But she’s put her travel plans on hold after being offered the role of Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, this year’s Stiwt Theatre pantomime which starts on December 13.
Rebecca Griffiths, the …

By Ceidiog Hughes
TV star Alex Jones took time out of her hectic Strictly Come Dancing schedule to spearhead a campaign to support her favourite city. The popular One Show presenter, 32, who hails from nearby Ammanford, is backing the new We Love Swansea campaign. She is one of the best known faces on UK television after taking over from Christine Bleakley on the BBC’s flagship magazine programme.
Alex and her partner, James Jordan,  have made a good start on the hit dance show. They were awarded 22 out of 40 by …

By Ceidiog Hughes
A shopping centre in North Wales has been sprinkled with lashings of fairy dust -  by a six foot three inch Fairy Godmother! Actor, presenter and producer Stifyn Parri had the crowds of Christmas shoppers in fits of laughter. He danced around Wrexham’s Eagles Meadow shopping centre in full costume, filming for his S4C show Seren Nadolig Rhos.
Stifyn, who hails from Rhos, has challenged the community to create, produce and perform a pantomime at the Stiwt Theatre all within just three months. And Stifyn, who is himself no …

By Kate McWilliams
Wendy Wu Tours, a UK’s leading Operator to China and Indochina, has now expanded their product offering with a brand new India, Sri Lanka and Nepal brochure, featuring five fully escorted group tours and three private tours. The new look brochure covers a range of varied itineraries from the colourful and vibrant state of Rajasthan in the north to the tranquil backwaters of Kerala in the south.
The new India brochure includes five group tours and three private tours with prices starting from just £1,490* for the nine day Golden …

By Emma Dance
The scent of truffles was heavy in the air. It is a pungent smell, slightly reminiscent of sweaty locker rooms, an aroma that is far less pleasant than  the subtle earthy flavour of these prized delicacies. And while the white truffle might usually be something of a rarity, here they were in abundance.
I was at the first of this year’s National White Truffle Fairs in the charming village of Sant’Agata Feltria in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy. Every Sunday in October the usually quiet village is filled …