Well, my first blog under the breadandtea banner. In case you haven’t read it elsewhere, the name is a testament to the Scots born US environmentalist John Muir. His reputed style of prepping for a trip into the wilderness was to throw some bread and tea in a sack and jump over the back fence…
It’s close to the end of 2010, and whilst I still have a trip or two up my sleeve, looking back at the year’s travels seems a good way to start.
If I had to come up with my best single travel experience of the year it would be my trip back to Stockholm by ferry from Vaxholm, out in the archipelago. Here’s what I wrote at the time…
“s/s Storskär
This is the steamer which brought me back from Vaxholm in June ’10. The 14.15 service.
Even allowing for a late & large buffet breakfast, by 2.15 pm the tummy was empty.
Straight downstairs to the cafe/bar as soon as I was on board. A yummee brie/salami/salad baguette, washed down with 0.4l of equally yummee Åbro. Absolutely hit the spot.
You could take the food upstairs on deck, but I enjoyed eating in the cosy 2 table bar, with the engines pumping away next door and the sound of the sea rushing by on the other side of the bulkhead. FUN!
I think it was 90SEK.
The ship also has a sit down restaurant – also looked like fun, but I didn’t want to eat that much!
Friendly staff.
Service leaves from/arrives at Strömkajen in Stockholm.
Maybe I’m easy pleased, but this was a real highlight of my June ’10 visit (and there were a few…)”
the view from the deck
The 2010 Taylor award for best accommodation goes to the Athens Gate Hotel in Athens. Even better than it was described on its website.
The Mill of Eyrland in Orkney deserves a wee mention for being a top class runner up. All that is good in a Scottish bed and breakfast.
The best flight experience – well, I had a few Easyjet, Ryanair & BA flights, so they can be eliminated very quickly. The winner would have to be Aegean Airlines from Athens to Brussels. On time, comfortable, an in-flight movie, good food and friendly staff.
The best “other transport” experience?
OK, I’ll disqualify the s/s Storskär as it has won an award already. Again, plenty candidates. Amtrak from New York to Washington? The ferry to Orkney? The ferry from Malta to Gozo? But one stands out. My trips into and out of Ingolstadt in the sidecar of Rosi’s vintage Vespa. Unforgettable, and a tremendous spectacle for all who saw it!
The best food whilst traveling (I’ve had plenty in and around breadandtea’s World HQ) has plenty of candidates. The Dock in Montauk? Sa’ha’ra in Stockholm? Skipjacks in Baltimore? The Realdo Enoteca in Soave? I reckon it has to go to The Dock.
Quirky, lovely location, good food. It had it all.
iain taylor, dec 10
© iain taylor 2011
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