Some novel travel suggestions for summer reading!

There's nothing like a good book to take you away somewhere and holidays are often the only time many people get to read these days. With so many books to chose from often many good reads join the long list of 'to be read' while we are distracted to read the newest books on the shelves. That's why I've picked three books that have been around for a while. They have been made into movies but there is a different experience to be enjoyed from flicking through the pages of a novel and conjuring up images in your own head.
I've picked three books set in three different destinations that are popular all year around and even if you are not going to these places, reading these books may well inspire your next trip.
We discussed these books on Midday on Tuesday 26th July and you can see the clip here Midday TV3 discussing Novel Travel

Parc Guell Barcelona

First up is Barcelona and the book I chose to give a reader that sense of place is The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruis Zafon.

Set in post civil war Spain the main character Daniel Sempere is brought to an old library called the cemetery of forgotten books by his father where he is allowed to take only one book. The book inspires the young boy to find out more about the author and it brings him on an adventure where he finds love and danger but it takes the reader to many of Barcelona's great sights.
There is a fully guided tour available which will give fans of the book a chance to relive Daniel's footsteps. /The-Shadow-of-the-Wind-Walking-Book-Tour-in-Barcelona
Barcelona is a great city to take the kids to visit. A big hit with my son was the Nou Camp stadium, home to Barcelona FC. Another treat for all the family or romantic couples is Parc Guell. The Spanish architect Gaudi is responsible for much of the magical architecture around the city and it will amaze even the most reluctant sightseer.

My son, Mark in Nou Camp

If you have time the red bus tour takes about two hours and really gives a sense of the enormity of this city and will help to get your bearings. But if you would rather just relax then a stroll along the ramblas and stop off for churros and hot chocolate - the kids will love you for it.

Las Ramblas

A landmark restaurant in the Gothic Quarter that will transport you to a cultural feats is 4 Cats where artists like Picasso and Gaudi hung out in the early twentieth century.
If you are heading to one of the popular resorts close to Barcelona then it is worth even taking a day trip to this beautiful city.
For more information see Spanish Tourist Board
Barcelona pops up in my novel Six Postcards Home - in fact it opens in a scene in the Placa Reial - if you would like to take a read it's available on amazonSix-Postcards-Home

Few places capture the imagination like Rome with all its romance and ceremony. I've picked a book that has been around a long and time. Dan Brown has certainly had his critics over the years but he did something similar for books as JK Rowling did with the Harry Potter series and got people reading. Any author that has people turning pages rapidly is incredibly talented.

 Angels and Demons is the second in the Robert Langdon series and I think one of the best reads to find your way around Rome.

Vatican city , St Peter's Basillica

The plot takes readers at break neck speed around Vatican City, The Castel San Angelo and The Piazza Navonna which is easily my favourite place to people watch in Rome. If you have plans to visit there is so much to do with incredibly food and the best handbag shopping you will ever find.

Piazza Navonna

Rome has so much to offer the lover of art and culture and must sees include the Colloseum and Trevi Fountain mean that you can be busy running around the city trying to fit it all in - much like Robert Langdon. I recommend taking a slower pace and leaving something to return to for next time.

Trevi Fountain credit FOTOTECA ENIT.

CARACALLA THERMAL BATHS OPERA SEASON IN ROME

Rome 22 Jun – 10 Aug 2016

www.operaroma.it

This year the Caracalla Opera Season will present a rich programme of opera and ballet in the magnificent Caracalla Thermal Baths in Rome. The spectacular backdrop will enhance the enjoyment of operas such as: Nabucco, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Madame Butterfly and ballet such as Nureyev tribute and a recital by the acclaimed dancer Roberto Bolle. Performances by the Chinese pianist Lang Lang, and legends like Lionel Ritchie and Neil Young are also in the programme.   This year, with the MyCaracalla initiative it is also possible to combine a guided visit to the Caracalla Thermal baths at night and a gourmet aperitif before an opera or ballet of your choice.

My last novel is set in Rome and if you would like to read a sample click here amazon.co.uk/7-Wishes-Rome-Irish-Fiction

For more information about visiting Italy go to http://www.italiantouristboard.co.uk/

My final recommendation is a book that isn't one of my favourites but the premise is similar in theme and style to many of the great women writers we have produced in Ireland, if this book had been writing by Maeve Binchy or one of the many other strong women writers such as Melissa Hill or Colette Caddle it may not have had such literary recognition. But it is a good story about a very real time in our history and a character that will resonate with many readers who have experienced emigration. It takes the reader back to Wexford too which is still a popular summer destination for those who holiday at home.

Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn is one of the five Burroughs that makes up New York city. Traditionally the Irish have a history of congregating around mid-town Manhattan for our weekend visits but here is so much more to see and if you are taking a second or third bite of the big apple then make some time to explore one of the other Burroughs. One of the best views of Manhattan is from Brooklyn, framed by the beautiful Brooklyn Bridge. The Bus tour from Manhattan is a great way to cross the Hudson River and see the area from best advantage.

Beautiful Brownstone houses in the Cobble Hill district

This time of year is lovely in New York and it is also NYC Restaurant Week. If you are in town why not try out one of the 387 participating restaurants. In its 24th year, NYC Restaurant Week takes place this summer from July 25 through August 19 and features 49 new restaurants. For menus, photos and reservations visit nycgo.com/restaurantweek.

Coney Island is part of the Burrough of Brooklyn and home of the New York Aquarium and Luna Park fairground.

Coney Island Beach

One memorable scene in the novel is when Eilis goes on her first trip to Coney Island and see the world through her new sunglasses while sporting her swimsuit. It's difficult to imagine what life was like for her but it is easy to be transported back in time in this popular beach resort where the locals come to swim in the sea. Take time out on one of the fairground rides at Luna Park.

Luna Park Fairground Coney Island

 If you would rather a more sedate activity then the Botanic Gardens are beautiful and well worth a visit, especially in April and May when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. 

For all you need to know about visiting Brooklyn or any of the New York suburbs go to NYCGO.com

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

Some great deals with Tour America at the moment include a stay at the hotel Beacon which is my favourite place to stay in Manhattan touramerica.ie/packages

Probably my favourite book baby is Three Nights in New York - written in 2008! .amazon.co.uk/Three-Nights-New-York-

Italy for movie buffs!

Is Italy the best destination for film buffs? The Italian tourist board seems to think so and have this wonderful new video to prove it...how many movies have you seen?

Piazza Navonna featured in The Directors Dream. Click here to see the video

If you would like to be whisked away to Rome just click on my book cover to read a sample of my novel  7 Wishes in Rome

The Directors Dream Click here.

When in Rome...

Published in Irish Mail on Sunday 12th January 2014

The first time I visited Rome I was accompanied by thirty five art students, six teachers and in the middle of the trip the Pope died. It was a memorable experience so it wasn’t any wonder that when I came home I wrote a novel inspired by my time there. Now eight years and six novels later I know why the Eternal City had such a profound effect on me. But I didn’t realise, that as well as so many visual delights, the city had such a thriving literary past. In the nineteenth century Rome was a must-see-destination for the English Gentry travelling on the Grand Tour – young ladies with chaperones and young gentlemen discovering all the delights that the world had to offer. On this occasion, I was in town for a weekend escape with my husband and with no other appendages to blur the romance of this amazing city.

At the Trevi Fountain

We arrived on a Ryanair flight into the small but conveniently located Campino airport and in a little over half an hour we were at the Spanish Steps. It was here the Romantic Poets Byron and Shelly lived - Keats followed out after contracting TB in a vain attempt to prolong his life but unfortunately died there. The house where they lived is now a museum dedicated to the literary past of this area and can be visited for €5 entrance charge. At the other side of the steps is the famous Babbington Tearooms which must be seen to get the full Grand Tour ambience.

Our hotel was located on Via Bocca di Leone which is only a few steps around the corner from the Spanish Steps. Not surprisingly it is called the Hotel d’Inghilterra as this area was inhabited by great talents from England and America who had stayed here in the past. The writers Mary Shelly and George Elliot lived around the corner from the English Romantic painter Turner to name but a few. The Polish, Nobel winning author of the novel Quo Vadis stayed in our hotel as did my personal favourite author Ernest Hemingway. But it wasn't just writers that frequented this beautiful hotel, kings and popes have dined and enjoyed the finery and opulence that is now accessible to all. Each room is individually decorated with tasteful Italian elegance and it was the perfect start to our short stay.

At the wonderful hotel d'Inghilterra 

We had lots to see and as this was my husband’s first time in Rome we grabbed a taxi to St Peters. The last time I visited the square, the world’s press were vying for coverage of the final hours and days of Pope John Paul. But things are very different in Vatican City today as Pope Francis has the whole of Rome in raptures. Our tour guide told us that the Pope’s appearances are packed out every Sunday and he's such a jolly fellow that he blesses the items on sale in the Vatican shop – and a good business man by all accounts. My favourite trinket was a fridge magnet of Frances himself giving a big thumbs up. But you don’t need to be a believer or follower of the Christian faith to be in awe of St Peters Basilica and Michelangelo’s Pieta was just as spectacular on second viewing.

Our hotel’s location was not only a stone’s throw from the Spanish steps but also beside the famous designer and fashion street the Via Condotti. Some serious damage on the credit card was optional with shops such as Max Mara, Armani, Gucci, Dolce and Gabbana and Louis Vuitton. But we decided to play it safe and wandered on to the adjacent shopping street the Via Del Corso where we found all the favourite stores like Zara and H&M. I lost myself in some of the handbag shops and bought a handbag and purse in Carpisa like I did last time because it was too good value not to.

The Galleria Alberto Sordi was close by and the building, complete with frescos and baroque features, resembles a museum more than a shopping centre. It’s a nice place to stop for an espresso, drank standing at the counter of course in true local fashion. It is also en route to the ultimate tourist attraction – the Trevi Fountian. When I threw my coin in eight years ago I hadn’t reckoned on finding myself staying in such style this time so I hastily threw my coin in and hoped that the charm would work again. 

It was a straight walk from the Trevi, via the Pantheon, to the Piazza Navona. There are plenty of reasonably priced pizzerias and restaurants with good food en route and it is less expensive to eat here than the Piazza Navona. This famous square heaves with locals and tourists throughout the year but it must be seen to get the full roman experience. The obelisk and fountain that featured in Dan Brown’s novel Angels and Demons, amongst many other memorable movies, dominates and is even more impressive in real life. Local artists lined the centre of the square selling their wares amongst the breathtaking domes and buildings of Baroque Rome. A cup of coffee can set you back five or six Euros so we splashed out on a cocktail and sipped at leisure while watching life stroll by.

Cafe Romano - wonderful delicacies to be enjoyed.

We dined in our hotel because the Cafe Romano has the perfect romantic atmosphere for a first night in Rome. The mouth-watering menu made it difficult to choose but we opted for the lobster linguine and washed it down with some delicious local wine. Our waiter Max couldn’t do enough for us and we got a real sense of being spoiled. But the night was young and I recalled the best place to find a buzz at night is the Campo dei Fiori in Trastevere. This large square is surrounded by bars and restaurants and a part of Rome where the locals and tourist like to hang out. There is much to see in this area, including the Temple of Bramante considered to be one of the first churches of the High Renaissance and Our Lady’s in Trastevere, that a full day can be spent here before settling down for the evening.

Next day we took the metro at Spanish Steps, which was only a couple of stops from Colosseum, beside the Flavius Amphitheatre. This site is always busy so I recommend pre-booking your tickets or getting a Roma Pass to avoid the queue. The Roma Pass allows entry into two museums and your transport for two days. At €34 it is good value for a two night stay. The Colosseum is an awesome monument but it is a shame to spend too long visiting the sites of the past when there is so much else to see and do. Rome is a city of living vibrant people who love culture beauty and food and for those looking for a perfect weekend break there isn’t anywhere better. You can fill your time visiting the Villa Broghese, Roman Forum or Circus Maximus but you will never get to see it all so it is probably best to just keep chucking coins in the Trevi Fountain to guarantee your return. 

As we checked out of the Hotel d’Inghilterra our charming receptionist assured us that this was our home for the next time we returned, we thanked her and assured her that we would be back. And I won’t be leaving it eight years either!
Michelle x

www.royaldemeure.com/

The Hotel d’Inghilterra is part of the Royal Demure hotel group. Classic rooms start from 270 Euros for 1 night based on 2 people sharing and including breakfast in January 2014