 St.Pancras train station opened its doors to its first trains and passengers in 1868 .It is one of the finest examples of Victorian engineering found in England. It is a masterpiece of Victorian Gothic Architecture and one of the most elegant stations in the world. I recently had the pleasure of taking an hour and savoring the splendor of this building. On route from my hometown of Sheffield to Gatwick Airport I stopped here, before scurrying along with all the other passengers ,to enjoy sometime at the longest champagne bar in Europe.  St.Pancras Champagne Bar By Searcy's If you ever have the opportunity to visit St.Pancras Station be sure to take some time and indulge your senses at the longest champagne bar in Europe-a truly fabulous experience. This really is well worth a trip to this unique train station. The Champagne Bar by Searcy is amazing in every way and every detail has been paid attention to including heated leather seats and blankets for chilly winter evenings, a button to press for a champagne refill and soft lighting. Champagne can be ordered by the glass or bottle, there is a drinks and food menu. I loved the quail scotch egg and I loved everything about this amazing bar. Check out the website for all of the information you need to make your stop here memorable. stpancrasbysearcys.co.uk/ 
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I was born and raised in this town but I never turn down an opportunity to rediscover this city and all it has to offer. Sheffield was a steel town for many, many years, my grandfather and most everyone else in the city worked in the steel works. At one time Sheffield was the leading cutlery supplier to the world and stainless steel was developed here. The city produced expert silversmiths . It’s roots are the industrial era and it continues to embrace these roots. Now a city of 575,000 much has changed and much has stayed the same. A diverse city which offers an array of things to see and do much of which is free. If you ever have the chance to visit this area take a few days and explore this diverse, ever changing historically interesting city .Here are my suggestions, come explore Sheffield with me………………..Welcome to my hometown -Sheffield!  Sheffield is a diverse city of 575,000 people. This city has so much to offer in terms of restaurants, entertainment and so much more. My visit with family was short but sweet but as always I found revisiting some of my old haunts exciting. Here I highlight a few of my favorites and the amazing thing is they happen to be free.
 If you ever find yourself in Sheffield you must take a day and head out to the Peak District. This is an amazing National Park it's like no other. It offers outstanding views, beautiful villages steeped in history, stunning walks, cycling , birding opportunities, the list goes on. It is actually very difficult for me to try to describe the Peak District it literally is an area that must be experienced. I have known this area since I was a child, I have walked the public footpaths, camped in the fields , played in the streams and hiked on the moors but every time I return to Sheffield I am drawn to this area. For this visit I chose Hathersage as the town to rediscover. www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/home Why Hathersage.............................Hathersage is a tiny village nestled in the Peak District only 11 miles from Sheffield. This is home to many of the legends of Robin Hood and his merry men. This is a village worth exploring. It has a beauty all of it’s own with quaint cottages and it is surrounded by stunning scenery.  First Stop..........for Food of CourseMy Mom suggested that we eat at a local cafe that she has enjoyed -The Pool Cafe ! This is a small cafe with plenty of cooked to order options and of course tea and cakes available. www.hathersageswimmingpool.co.uk/about/cafe/ After enjoying a full English breakfast we decided to take a walk up to Little John's grave. This particular landmark is what makes Hathersage famous- it is the site where Little John ,one of Robin Hood's Merry-men is buried. The walk to the site is uphill but worth the hike. The views along the way are quite beautiful.
Unexpected Layover- Shannon, IrelandAfter a disastrous trip caused by Kiwi.com -blog in the works-I unexpectedly found myself in Shannon Texas for 10 hours. At this point in my journey I was beginning to feel like Tom Hanks in the movie Terminal so I decided a layover adventure was seriously needed. After taking sometime to make sure I actually had a connecting flight I headed to the information desk of this tiny airport where I was pleasantly surprised. I didn’t have too many options but I had one that fit the bill perfectly…………………  At the information desk I was directed first to a luggage drop off where this kind gentleman will store a suitcase for a mere 4 euros approximately $5-the best airport deal I have ever found.Next I was told to head right outside and find the #343 bus which would take me directly to Bunritty Castle ; easy and the return cost was just 7 euros. The bus-ride was only about 20 minutes and I was dropped less than a half mile walk to the castle.  Bunratty Castle and Folk ParkSeriously this is................. I know it looks like the Caribbean but this really is Surfside,Texas. Once again I find myself enjoying the Texas coast, this time for a “Leadership Retreat”. Time to spend a long weekend indulging in some well earned beach time. When in Surfside Stay by the Surf at "On The Rocks"  “On the Rocks” is literally right in front of the surf, on the rocks. This is a beautiful three bedroom, three bathroom property with the most incredible views. It’s updated and tastefully decorated with everything you need to make your stay in Surfside amazing. This was our second time staying here and we were not disappointed. The deck is just perfect for enjoying cocktails ,early morning coffee and late evening meals.
Melanie ,the owner is very responsive and always leaves a welcoming bottle of wine or two. Highly recommend staying at “On The Rocks” any time of year. |
