It’s been a busy couple of weeks here at Tales of Adventure HQ: mum came for a visit and we went to the Country 2 Country music festival before taking off for a lovely few days in Prague – if you follow me on Instagram or Twitter you’ll have seen some snippets already. Spoiler alert – we had a terrific time!
At the tail end of 2015 I had my first visit to Kew Gardens for their Christmas at Kew night time light show. I had such a great time that when my inbox pinged with news of their Orchid Festival I booked my ticket right away.
I used the trip as a chance to photograph the flora at close range. My long suffering friend Sophie came with me and waited patiently while I hovered over the most sought after species to get the best shot. She also very patiently took many a photo of me in an attempt to get just one without a sea of people in the background. I think she did a great job!
The promise of dazzling illuminations and free art across London drew me out from under the warmth of my duvet and into the cold for some low light photography practice last weekend.
Lumiere London was organised by creative company Artichoke Trust whose modus operandi is to flood public spaces with art so it may be enjoyed by the widest audience possible and for no charge. So far, so good.
One of my favourite places to visit when I’m home is St. George’s Market. A stone’s throw from Belfast Central station, it’s a great place to wile away the hours. Open Friday – Sunday you can start your day with breakfast from one of the many stalls – a good idea if you’ve been sampling the local pubs and clubs the night before. And it’s not just local food you’ll find there – if you’ve a hankering for paella, for example, they’ve got you covered.
Stormont, or the ‘House on the Hill’ as it’s also known in Northern Ireland, is home to our sometimes turbulent NI Assembly – the closest equivalent is Parliament. Situated on the outskirts of Belfast, in the grounds of Stormont Estate, its position at the top of the hill affords it some stunning views of the city.
The grounds of the Estate are free to visit and open all year round. A popular spot with runners, walkers and wet noses, it’s a great place to practise some nature photography.
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