Visited 15th August 2009
For an Aussie teacher living in Hong Kong I tend to visit London a fair bit. While Borough Market isn't my reason for rocking into town I always try and find time for a trip to this great market. It's situated just past the southern end of Tower Bridge, under the train lines next to Southwark Cathedral. It has been running on its current site since 1796, though there has apparently been a market in the area since Roman times.
The key to Borough Market is not shopping, but browsing; though a better term would probably be grazing. Before the commitment of actually buying anything it's always worth a stroll to see what tasty tit 
bits and samples are up for offer (my other favourite place for a graze is Sapporo Airport). I wondered the stalls and gazed starry eyed at a cornucopia of fruit, vegetables, mushrooms, herbs, fish, meat, game, cheese, bread, cakes, chocolate, beer, wine and a thousand other exciting things. When there was something to try I did. I managed to sample a delicious range of cured meats, cheese, a tasty little bit of chocolate or two and even a couple of sips of wine.Eventually however it was time for a solid lunch and we ended up at the barbecue out back of Brindisa. This supplier of Spanish produce fires up the barbecue and sells chewie rolls dossed with olive oil and then filled with roasted capsicum, rocket and a choice of one or two
spicy chorizo sausages; we of course went for the double. OK it was just a sandwich but it was a good sandwich and a sandwich which seemed to encapsulate Borough Market; tasty food, made with fresh local ingredients, but with a twist of international flavour. My only complaint was the element of danger eating these sandwiches; dripping chorizo fat, roasted capsicum juice and olive oil, is tasty, but does tend to stain your favourite t-shirt. For the sceptics Borough Market goes a long way to proving the quality of contemporary English food.
Visit market website.
The view from the hillside above the town of 
Climbing higher above the town are the impressive ramparts of an extensive ruined fortress.
Illuminated at night the fortress is brilliant; depending on your perspective it either resembles a lion or a heart.
Some things just aren't meant for the beach and this certainly includes high heels and techno! Rows of sunbeds cater for the mobs of Russian package tourists who descend on the Montenegro coast sprouting leopard print bikinis and hairy chests draped in tattoos and bling.
The fresh seafood on offer at 
The views weren't bad either.
An enjoyable morning was spent wandering the ruins of a medieval fortress near the town of Bar.
A sparkle of blue amongst the dry rugged hills.
The green shores of Lake 
A couple of locals out for a stroll
A swimmer soaks up the sunset. 
After a few relaxing days on Montenegro's 
A typical Dubrovnik 'snapshot'; jagged cliffs and a medieval building framed by the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic.
Dubrovnik historic role as a fortress is obvious from the sea. 
A trip to nearby 
A walk around the 
Spectacular scenery is found in all directions.
Fields of terracotta roof tiles.
A lot of the food on offer in Dubrovnik was rubbish catering for the tourists that blow into town, though for something a bit different it's worth checking out Taj Mahal a cosy little Bosnian restaurant. Bosnian cuisine is different from Croatia's coastal fair; red meats and vegetables dominate and there were similarities to Austrian food with lots of paprika and sour cream.
Dubrovnik's history is long and it is acknowledged with status as an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Peace and tranquillity prevail on Placa-Stradun, the Old Town's main street; when the cruise ships arrive things quickly change making this an unpalatable mess of pushing, shoving and snapping cameras.
As the sun sets Dubrovnik is just as spectacular.
From Bol our Dalmatian adventure continued with a night in the tiny port town of Stari Grad. The Island of Hvar is better known for the popular tourist spot of Hvar City, but quiet Stari Grad's makes for a relaxing alternative. After an evening wandering narrow streets, 
Alfresco dinning, a harbour full of boats and a pretty town; Bol has it all going on.
Zlatni Rat or 'Golden Cape' is Bol's main beach and one of the best known in Croatia; a country with a rocky, steep shoreline. Packed with rows basking sun bedders and scantily clad bathers it's not really my scene, but it's still worth checking out for an early morning or evening swim if you can miss the hoards.
One of the highlights of our stay was a hike to the top of Vidova Gora; Brac's tallest mountain. The views were spectacular and the trail that wound through boulder covered slopes and shady woodland was fringed with fragrant wild herbs including thyme, rosemary and marjoram.
The pizza was good at 
Fishing boats with Bol's distinctive breakwater in the background.
The waterfront at sunset; no Photoshop necessary.
Hiring a motor boat made for a fun day's outing. Needless to say there were lots of stops for swimming and lots of 'bombs' off the front.
Grilled vegetables, gnocchi, stewed lamb, wine, candles, ultra romantic setting; just a shame I was with my brother...
Our last evening was the Bol Festival; a celebration of the local Saints Day and an excuse for one big party.
Croatia food echoes Italian cuisine in many ways. Pizza, pasta, grilled meat, simple seafood, salad and bread all have an obvious presence as does the importance attributed to the quality and freshness off the ingredients. Before we had even ordered we were presented with bread, butter and pesto. The thick, heavy bread was delicious and the pile of bright pesto had obviously been freshly made; excellent stuff. For our main we decided upon a platter of grilled meat and were presented with a towering pile of lamb chops, chicken, steak, kebabs and pork fillets, all simply grilled. Accompanying this feast of flesh were a few simple fries, lemon for squeezing and a delicious capsicum based sauce, again homemade. We ordered a side salad and the simple dish of lettuce, onion and tomatoes impressed me with its freshness and I wasn't surprised when I was told that the lettuce had been grown in the proprietor's garden. To drink we did our usual and ordered a carafe of the highly drinkable local wine. 
I really liked Restaurant Jadranka. The courtyard made for a relaxing setting and the staff were friendly and welcoming; however what impressed me the most was the freshness of the ingredients and the quality of the obviously homemade food. I'm not a bit fan of fluffy foam and sparkly garnishes so well prepared, simple food is a recipe for success in my book. We ate lots of good grub while in Bol, but Restaurant Jadranka would have to take the award for the most memorable meal of stay.
I never went to uni in the UK, but occasionally it feels like it did. I had an extensive stint living in the Glasgow Uni Halls of Residence in 2001 and for a lot of 2003 - while teaching in a miserable South Shields school - I took great joy flatting with a group of Newcastle uni students. I was in Shrewsbury for the weekend for a reunion with the girls who I shared with while I 'attended' Newcastle Uni; the first time we'd all been together for six years. It was going to be a big weekend, but things started off rather civilised with lunch at The Armoury; a stylish pub on the banks of River Severn. Located in an 18th Century former armoury building (yep you guessed it) the pub has been well renovated and offers a comfortable light, airy setting. When I visited the pub had attracted a bit of hype as Prince William had been sighted having the odd pint on break from his posting at a nearby military base.
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to The Armoury. Sure special friends made a difference, but excellent food, a lovely riverside setting and great service all contributed to a very memorable lunch. If for some reason you're happen to find yourself in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England head down to the river for a feed at The Armoury; it's well worth it, even if you don't happen to see a Prince.
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