Page contents

Around the Belle-es-sphere: March Edition

Lago di Orta, Italy, piedmont

Good morning from Queensland, Australia! In this month’s edition of  Around the Belle-es-sphere we’re heading to  Provence, Budapest, California, and Italy through the words and photos of our Belle friends from around the globe. We start with a beautiful weekend getaway in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence by Tuula: Weekend in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence Belle Provence Travels, 16 February 2014, France … Read more

Coolangatta Beach, Australia

surf in australia

To this Canadian girl, January has always been synonymous with blizzards, snow boots, and huge mugs of hot chocolate, but since moving to Australia last year, it has changed to sun, sand, and the occasional surf club. I can’t get enough of the beaches of Queensland’s Gold Coast with their blindingly white sand and exquisitely warm, … Read more

Visit Montenegro: Small Country with a Rich History on the Adriatic

I was glued to the passenger window as we drove along the rugged coastline, past villages of white-washed buildings and red-tiled roofs, close to towering hills dotted with scrub brush and stately cypress. We took a cheery red and white ferry across the bay, admiring the vacation homes tucked along the shore, imagining children playing in the walled back yards, their parents lounging in the sun.

Morning Boat Ride Around the Croatian Islands

We found a portly elderly couple, the man strong and silent, his wild-haired wife bossing him around and ordering him to take us to the island. We probably paid too much – about $25 for a one hour ride – but they were so cute and hilarious we couldn’t say no.

Visiting Queensland, Australia’s Warwick Pig and Calf Sale

First thing in the morning the place is humming, folks wandering about the bird cages and animal pens to see if they really want that strapping calf or feisty goose. My friends were in the market for chickens that day and informed me that once they made their choices, yours truly would be doing the bidding! Yipes! I’ve never been to an auction in my life and was highly intimidated by these hat-wearing Aussies nodding their heads and raising fingers as the auctioneers rattled away at a dizzying pace.