Hard of the heels of the Queen’s Jubilee, Portugal’s new ​Royal Treasure Museum has opened to the public in Palácio Nacional da Ajuda, in Lisbon, offering a permanent display of the Crown Jewels.

​With over one thousand pieces, the collection comprises rare and valuable jewellery, insignia and decorations, coins, and pieces of civil and religious items such as the emerald headpiece of Dona Mariana, what is thought to be the second largest gold nugget in the world. It also includes the snuff box ordered by Don José from the King of France's goldsmith in the 18th century.

They include jewels belonging to the State and from the ancient private collections of different members of the Portuguese royal family between the 17th and 20th centuries as well as a group of 23 pieces reserved for the Crown's greatest public ceremonies.

With the ever-changing set of country regulations regarding covid vaccinations and testing, a survey shows how countries differ in their requirements with even neighbouring countries making totally different demands on visitors.
 
Whilst some countries insist on the original two jabs and a booster (which only lasts twelve months if you are going to Qatar), others still demand the production of a negative test, at a minimum an inconvenience and potentially a holiday disaster in the face of a positive result. In the neantime, others have dropped all covid-related barriers to entry.
 
So, which countries have now dropped all covid-related travel restrictions.
 
Whilst this is not a comprehensive list, the UK Foreign & Commonwealth offices identifies the following countries as allowing hassle-free entry, but check before booking in case of recent changes.

​Happy travelling!

​The return of tourists to London has given a much-needed boost to the arts and entertainment industry so badly hit by covid restrictions.
 
I had the pleasure of being part of this turn-around a few days ago when I went to the Cambridge Theatre in London’s West End to see Matilda The Musical, inspired by Roald Dahl’s book. Produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company, the story follows the life of a young and gifted girl who, on starting school, takes a stand against adversity and changes her life and her destiny.

Many of the cast were children themselves and they threw everything into the performance. So good were they that I began to feel a little sorry for the adults in the cast!

For over ten years the Olivier award-winning show has been a must-see hit of the West End and it remains a highlight of any trip to London. It’s no surprise that the show has won 99 international awards, including 24 for Best Musical, and continues to delight audiences of all ages. I’ll happily endorse that.

The story and the energetic performance also means that Matilda the Musical makes a great introduction to live theatre for children, including those of primary school age. Who knows, it may change some of their lives too.

To book, call the theatre box office on 020 3925 2998 or in person at the Cambridge Theatre, Earlham Street, London, WC2H 9HU. For more information, go to https://uk.matildathemusical.com
 
Images by Manuel Harlan.

​Port is often drunk on its own, so it’s good to see it being used as with mixers as a delicious summertime drink.
 
Some years ago I took a week’s cruise on the river Douro, sailing from Porto, the home of Port Wine, to the border with Spain and back. Focussing on port, we visited a number of vineyards owned by the port companies, including Quinta da Roeda, owned by Croft, whose history dates back to 1588. 

​We were introduced to what was then the relativey new Pink Port. It was designed to bring port to a younger, more trendy market and this new pre-mixed pink port and tonic makes a perfect summer drink. It’s light but packed full of flavour and makes a delicious summer picnic drink or aperitif. Stockists include The Champagne Company, The Drinks Emporium and Amazon. ​More at Croft Pink & Tonic

​If you want something a little drier then try a similar pre-mixed drink from Taylor’s, one of the oldest of port producers. It’s a lovely mixture of crisp dry white port and tonic. Drink chilled, straight from the can, or for something a little different, pour it over ice and add a slice of lemon and sprig of mint. Stockists include Amazon, Harvey Nichols, EH Booth, Ocado and The Secret Bottle Shop. More at Taylor’s Chip Dry and Tonic
 
Two great ways to enjoy summer.

For more information on these and other great drinks, go to www.mentzendorff.co.uk

​The Collection de Pépites is lovely a collection of a broad range of unique island properties, including local B&Bs, boutiques, inns and luxury villas. The name originates in the island’s French heritage and means a collection of small pieces or nuggets of gold.  

​The aim is to guide visitors through the options of staying in a property of 35 rooms or fewer, that may not be as well-known as the island’s hotels and resorts. Many of the properties offer distinct opportunities for visitors to discover culture, culinary and wellness experiences within intimate accommodation properties.

​Lorine Charles-St. Jules, CEO of SLTA said “The motivations to choose a more intimate stay come from a range of reasons. It could be a desire to have total privacy, to celebrate a milestone event in a smaller setting or to bring extended families and friends together in a destination as special as Saint Lucia.” 

President of the Vacation Rental Association, Thomas Leonce said, "We look forward to sharing the many compelling attributes of Collection de Pépites with holiday makers both regionally and internationally."​

All participating properties have been accredited by the SLTA to provide an added layer of reassurance. Ongoing reviews and checks will take place to ensure quality control and safety management.
​
For more information and a list of properties, go to https://www.stlucia.org/en_UK/collectiondepepite

​Wines often remind me of happy times overseas, and none more so than the fortified wines of Spain and Portugal. So I was happy to enjoy some of these delightful drinks which brought back great memories.
 
Bodegas Hidalgo La Gitana Manzanilla is a crisp dry sherry that reminded me of early evening drinks after hot sunny days on the beach or exploring historic sites.

Established in 1792, Bodegas Hidalgo is one of the oldest Sherry producers in existence, it is widely regarded as the definitive Manzanilla house. Passing down from generation to generation, continuity and quality have always been the most important themes for the company, which today uses only grapes from their own vineyards in Jérez Superior.

It’s an ideal pre-dinner drink that sharpens up the appetite ready for the delights to come and especially good paired with tapas and fish dishes for which Spain is renowned.

Fonseca Siroco White Port is a lovely aperitif. Fonseca shipped its first vintage Port to London in 1840, and by the mid-19th century had established the House’s wines as some of the most sought after in England.

I first came across the idea of drinking a chilled light port before dinner on a trip to the Cape Verde Islands. The archipelago consists of ten islands some four hundred miles off the East African coast of Senegal - next stop Brazil.

Cape Verde was uninhabited until 1456 when it was discovered by Portuguese explorers, and was part of Portugal until 1975 when it became independent. On my first visit, most of the hotel guests were Portuguese and the hotel bar did a roaring pre-dinner trade in chilled light port. I was an instant convert to this delicious aperitif.

​Drink it on its own or poured over ice and topped up with tonic and a fresh mint leaf. Delicious.

Fonseca Bin 27 has been a long-time favourite of mine.  Port is synonymous with Portugal’s river Douro and the City of Porto where the river flows into the Atlantic. This Port brought back memories of a river cruise on the Douro, its steep banks lined with vineyards and the many Quintas that supply the wine and port trade.
 
It also reminded me of a trip to Macao, a semi-autonomous region of China, where I was given a glass of port at the end of dinner. If this sounds strange, it is worth remembering that Macao was Portuguese for 400 years and street signs in the city centre of the city are still in Portuguese, English and Cantonese. Indeed it is claimed that the best Portuguese ‘pastel de nata’ come from a bakery in Macao that was founded by an Englishman!
 
This full-bodied rich traditional port is a great after-dinner drink, and is everything you want a classic Port to be, perfect with cheeses such as Stilton and ideal with dark chocolate, especially Easter Eggs.
 
Do you need any more excuses to try these lovely drinks?
 
For more information on these and many other delightful wines, visit  www.mentzendorff.co.uk

​Visitors to St Lucia who have been fully vaccinated can now enter without hassle. The requirement for online registration and document upload (PCR tests and vaccine proof) has been removed.

Vaccinated travellers must only provide a valid vaccination record as requested on check-in, boarding, and entry to Saint Lucia. To qualify as fully vaccinated, travellers must have had the last dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine or a one-dose vaccine at least two weeks (14 days) before travel. Unlike most European countries, boosters are not required.

​In addition, travellers are no longer required to pre-register online prior to arrival in Saint Lucia. All arrivals are simply required to bring proof of vaccination status or test results as per protocols. International travellers and returning nationals just need to complete a Health Screening Form before disembarkation in Saint Lucia for ease of processing on arrival.

​Ambassador Cruise Line has today announced that former British athlete, Sally Gunnell OBE has been chosen as godmother for their first ship, Ambience. Sally will rename the ship at a special ceremony at London Tilbury on 19th April.

​Ambassador is the first British cruise line to launch in the UK in over a decade. Sailing from London Tilbury, the no-fly itineraries provide a premium-value, authentic cruise experience predominantly aimed at the 50-plus traveller.
 
Ambassador’s first ship, Ambience, will enter service on 20th April 2022 with a maiden voyage to Hamburg, followed by a further 31 sailings calling at over 90 different ports. Itineraries will include the British Isles, the Norwegian Fjords, Greenland, the Arctic and Iceland, plus several short break cruises. For the winter months, a range of exploration style voyages will sail to the Canaries, Cuba, the Caribbean, Cape Verde and Scandinavia.

​Sally was born in Chigwell, Essex and is the only British woman to hold four major track titles simultaneously – Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth. Since retiring from international athletics, the 55-year-old mother of three has become an advocate for health and well-being for the over 50s.
 
Sally said, “I’m delighted to be godmother to Ambience, Ambassador Cruise Line’s first ship. I’ve a fondness for Ambassador’s homeport London Tilbury being in Essex, the county I was born and grew up in.
 
Being godmother comes with responsibility too and I’m flattered that I’ll be re-naming Ambience in April. I look forward to celebrating this wonderful occasion and ship with everyone at Ambassador, the crew onboard and all the guests”.

For more information on cruises and to book, go to www.ambassadorcruiseline.com ​

River cruising continues to gain in popularity and Saga is reflecting the trend by adding four new river cruise ships to its fleet.

​The new ships will be called Spirit of the Moselle, Spirit of the Main, Spirit of the Elbe and Spirit of the Rhône. Starting in May 2023 the ships will operate on the rivers after which they are named. 

They will join Saga’s existing new ships Spirit of the Rhine and Spirit of the Danube, which were jointly named Arnhem a week ago. 

For more information, go to travel.saga.co.uk

Don’t bottle it, get canned!
 
Travelling to Italy is still not as easy as it was, so here’s an excuse to flavour the Italian way of life without leaving home.

Canvino is a delicious new sparkling vegan wine in a recyclable can. Easier to transport than bottles, the cans are lightweight, easy to carry and the wine stays fizzy and cooler for longer. The wine is made from grapes sourced from a family-owned vineyard that has been making wine for a century using the traditional Charmat method.
 
Canvino offers both Rosé and Bianco, ideal for celebrations, indoors or outside. So, no need to check your vaccination certificates or fill in passenger locator forms, just go to https://houseofcanvino.com

Stuck for something special to do on Valentine’s day? Well, here’s an idea that’s hard to beat
 
Cunard is offering a four-night voyage to Hamburg on the world’s only ocean liner, Queen Mary 2. You can even get married on board!

Guests will start the weekend with a welcoming bottle of sparkling wine in their room, can enjoy a plethora of activities on board and dance the night away at a spectacular gala ball.

Couples will get to spend a full day exploring idyllic Hamburg and can even leave a padlock on Love Lock Bridge!
 
For guests looking to tie the knot, Cunard also offers wedding packages, with unique extras such as scarlet uniformed bellboys escorting the bride to the ceremony, conducted by the captain.

Other treats on board include a couples’ seaweed massage in Cunard’s Mareel Spa, priced at $350 for 75 minutes and a decadent champagne afternoon tea, with Laurent-Perrier champagne, priced at
$34.50

Queen Mary 2’s Southampton – Hamburg – Southampton voyage departs 13 February and prices are from £379 per person.

 For more information, go to  https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/find-a-cruise/M205PM205P

Fancy a taste of Scotland without leaving home?

​Then welcome to Shore crisps, made in Wick in the north of Scotland. It’s just a few miles south of John o’Groats and on the North Coast 500, one of the best road trips in the world. Shore’s passionate team is on a mission to create an edible seaweed industry in Scotland that’s 100% sustainable.

​The crisps are made from edible seaweed that is good for the coastal environment and beneficial for their local rural communities. It’s a plant-based food of the future that is naturally nutritious, tasty and, above all, kind to the planet. ​The local waters are clean and cool with strong tides that provide the vital nutrients for their seaweed to feast on. Shore use this natural food to produce a range of crisps, clusters, pesto and tapenades that are full of nutrients, including iodine, antioxidants and prebiotic fibre. 

​Taste? Well I found them delicious, light and tasty, an ideal accompaniment for drinks and other snacks. Wick’s a long way away for many people, so thank goodness they are available from Sainsbury’s, Holland and Barrett, Amazon and Wholefoods, to name just a few. 

For more information and a list of outlets, visit shoreseaweed.com

​With holidays to America opening up, British tourists can now get into the spirit of things, literally, with Aloha 65. The unique drink was created by Brit barman, Stephen Thorpe, to help encourage visitors to his beach bar in Florida.

Thirty years later, and after numerous attempts, he came up  with a drink that met his high standards. 

​Aloha 65 is an all-natural spirit, 27% ABV  and made from six carefully selected fresh fruits, herbs and spices. Like gin, it starts as a neutral grain spirit which is then infused with botanicals that include pineapple, lemon, ginger and Scotch Bonnet chilli.

​The result is a deliciously different drink which can be enjoyed as a long drink with mixers or as an aperitif on its own with just ice.
 
Other recipes include Aloha Sangria, with red wine and juices, Aloha Matata, with an African twist of dark rum, lemon, cinnamon, apple juice and mint leaves, or perhaps an Aloha Mary which, as its name suggests, includes tomato juice, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt, lemon and black pepper.

Which every way you take it, enjoy!
 
For more information and to purchase, go to https://aloha65.com

​Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s national airline, has been recognised as the “Best Airline in Central Asia” in the Skytrax World Airline Awards for 2021. This makes eight wins in a row for the airline.
 
"Air Astana continued success in being named the Best Airline in Central Asia underlines the high standards of onboard product and front-line staff service that they provide to customers. This is a fabulous achievement despite the crisis the airline industry has faced in the last 18 months” said Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax.
 
The airline’s President and CEO, Yorkshireman Peter Foster, added “In spite of the challenges of the pandemic, top quality service delivery has continued to be a priority. I would like to thank our customers for their loyalty, and also my colleagues, who have shown great dedication in challenging circumstances, and who, I am pleased to say, have almost all returned to full-time work.”
 
Foster was awarded the OBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2015 for services to British aviation in Kazakhstan. Air Astana is 49% owned by BAE Systems PLC.

​Kazakhstan, the world’s largest landlocked country, is not well known in the UK, yet it’s where tulips, garlic and apples come from, and it’s an amazing mix of ancient and modern.
 
Nur Sultan, the world’s newest capital city, is full of stunning architecture, some designed by our own Norman Foster. Baikonur, the largest and busiest space launch platform, is where the first satellite, Sputnik, was launched, as well as the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin. It is still very active today, launching communications satellites and supplying the International Space Station.
 
The ultra-modern national museum in Nur Sultan has a jaw-dropping Hall of Gold with thousands of exhibits dating back to the 4th- 8th centuries BC. They are in wonderful condition, so much so that the Hall is reminiscent of a vast Bond Street jewellers. Exhibits even include a gold suit of armour.

​​It’s difficult to visit Kazakhstan at the moment but now there’s a chance to sample some of the unique artefacts from this fascinating country here in the UK, thanks to an exhibition put on in co-operation with Cambridge University.
 
Over the last three years, Kazakh archaeologists have continued to discover numerous items, and the exhibition centres on finds from burial grounds of the Saka people from Eastern Kazakhstan. It brings together archaeological finds and research from three different burial complexes in East Kazakhstan: Berel, Shilikti and Eleke Sazy.
 
One grave is that of a male teenage archer around 18 years of age, who was buried with a younger female relative. Her grave was looted, but due to a rock fall, his grave remained intact and undiscovered for over 2,500 years.
 
Whilst the Saka people were bold warriors, the unearthed artefacts reveal the Saka as a highly-skilled people with an advanced understanding of design, intricate engineering and technology. They were able to produce wonderful artefacts such as decorative gold micro-beads, just 1 millimetre in diameter, to be sewn onto clothing, and sophisticated weapon-belt attachments that were hinged to absorb the movement of weaponry while in motion on horseback.

The many items on show include a bejewelled gold dagger, ​four-leaf clovers with tiny button-holes for sewing them onto garments, dove headdress plaques in the shape of two birds, a number of deer plaques and a pear-shaped bejewelled decoration from a bow case.

Luke Syson, Director of the Fitzwilliam Museum, said “It is hugely exciting to be announcing the loan of these incredibly important, recently discovered gold artefacts this autumn.”
 
Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to the UK, H.E. Erlan Idrissov added, “In the coming few months, we will celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Kazakhstan's independence and the 30th Anniversary of the establishment of a diplomatic relationship between Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom. I find it very timely and appropriate that the Gold of the Great Steppe exhibition is coming to one of the best UK museums at such an auspicious time.”
 
 
Gold of the Great Steppe runs from 28 September 2021 to 30th January 2022 in the Mellon and Adeane Galleries at the Fitzwilliam Museum. Entry is free but tickets must be booked in advance. For more information, go to https://fitzmuseum.cam.ac.u