That trip was quite a foray into Scottish food and drink– including Scottish cheeses, meats, and whiskeys. Dale, the chef of our barge, the Scottish Highlander, did his best to accommodate a gluten-free passenger (me) and another woman who was vegetarian.  He also ran into a bit of a challenge with diners who were squeamish about haggis, and so made a mealy vegetarian version.  The faux haggis passed the taste test of my (authentic) haggis-loving husband. He and I were both impressed by the vegetarian version, and we agreed it struck very near the mark in terms of flavor.

But I digress. This was one of the prettiest sunsets we saw during our week traveling on the canal.  We were standing in the shadows of Ben Nevis when I caught this gorgeous, colorful light at dusk, flickering over the canal’s slightly rippling waters.

Learning Vacations in England’s Lake District (click the title to be taken to the article)

And to celebrate this story appearing on TTB (and being one step closer to spring), I’ve decided to post a few more photos taken at Lake Windermere last year.  These were taken in October, believe it or not, on a blessed sunny day.

I think most living here in England will agree with me when I say, I just cannot wait for Spring!

Click on the thumbnails below to see the pictures full size and thanks for visiting karenregn.com.

now published on the Travel Belles, click here.

http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/Food-and-Drink/Food-allergy-intolerance-and-the-restaurant-shake-up

Let it be known that I thoroughly annoyed the Manchester City Council office in researching this story, which was strangely quite fun.

Please click on the photo above to see my article, published in Mancunian Matters, about the Bidve family’s visit to Salford.

Please click on the link above to read my article on Manchester Confidential.

]]> http://karenregn.com/2011/12/manchester-confidential-manufacturing-in-the-greater-manchester-2011/feed/ 0 http://karenregn.com/2011/10/why-not-a-pink-photo/ http://karenregn.com/2011/10/why-not-a-pink-photo/#comments Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:01:06 +0000 Karen http://karenregn.com/?p=863 We’re out of season here.  But I kind of like being on the flip side…

Cherry Trees Blooming in Rome, Italy

One of my favorite museums has got to be Canterbury Museum in Christchurch, New Zealand.  Architecturally elegant and not too large, it’s the perfect introduction to all that is amazing about the country.

Here’s the exhibit I remember most…

In the bird hall, there was an exhibit about an eagle with a 9-foot-wing-span called the harpagonis moorei, or Haast eagle.  It was the largest eagle to have ever existed.  It fed on moa, huge flightless birds whose extinction at the hands of humans depleted the giant eagle’s food source so much that the top feeder eventually disappeared completely.  It was only discovered (by a taxidermist from this museum) in 1871.

You can see bones of the moa at this museum.  There are only three known complete skeletons of the Haast eagle, and one of them is housed permanently at the national museum in Wellington.

Other memorable exhibits at the Canterbury Museum included a collection of hei-tiki amulets made of pounamu jade and whaling industry artifacts.

I love that this museum is on the edge of a beautiful park and botanical gardens.  I remember taking gorgeous photos in its rose garden.  And for a small fee, you can go for a punting trip on a nearby stream.

The area is so picturesque, and central to any location in Christchurch, it’s a must-see when you visit New Zealand.

The museum reopened last month after being closed since the earthquake in February 2011.  See the website here: http://www.canterburymuseum.com/

This travel blog photo’s source is TravelPod page: Christchurch

On the way to see fireworks

Sumidagawa Hanabi Festival

Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan