​Air Astana, the multi-award winning national airline of Kazakhstan, is offering a UK person a free place in the Almaty marathon taking place on 1st October. The offer includes the chance to take a ‘plus-one’ and to extend the trip to do a little sight-seeing. There’s a lot to see!

​​Air Astana has, for many years, won awards for its quality, service, in-flight catering and entertainment. It is 49% owned by British Aerospace and its Chairman and Chief Executive is Yorkshireman Peter Foster, who was recognised by the late Queen Elizabeth II for his services to aviation with the award of an OBE.

​​Almaty was the capital of Kazakhstan until 1997 when, due to the constant threat of earthquakes, the capital was moved to purpose-built Astana, the world’s newest capital city. 

The old capital, ​Almaty, is the country’s largest city and the word is often thought to mean ‘hill of apples’. Indeed, Kazakhstan is the home of both apples and tulips, which may surprise Dutch fans.
 
As you would expect from a major city, it’s lively and vibrant with an excellent night-life. There are numerous hotels, including those from major international brands, and a great range of restaurants. What may surprise overseas visitors is that the city is so safe that locals happily stand by the roadsides hitching rides from passing motorists.

​The main attraction in the city centre is Panfilov Park. The park itself is a memorial to soldiers lost in the two world wars and one structure contains part of the old Berlin Wall. ​​It is also home to the magnificent Russian Orthodox Ascension Cathedral, also known as the Zenkov Cathedral, the largest wooden cathedral in the world. It was traditionally built without nails, partly in order to make it resistant to earthquake damage.

Perhaps less well known, at least to westerners, is Rakhat chocolate. Employing over three thousand people, the company produces a top-quality range of confectionary that includes special items for diabetics. As a chocolate lover myself I can vouch for how good it is. There is a large shop in Almaty although, as with some other places, they do not allow photography inside.

​Almaty is close to the northern end of the Tian Shan mountains and was subject to many destructive earthquakes and  landslides. In order to protect the city, the Medeu Dam, an artificial dam of mud and rocks was created in 1966. Earlier, 1951 saw the opening of the high-altitude Medeu ice-skating rink. The ice is so good that over two hundred world records have been broken there. Surrounded by wooded hills it's a winter sun-trap and girls skate in their bikinis. Apparently many boys meet their future wives there!

​Above that, reached by a series of cable cars, is the Shymbulak ski resort where, some years ago, Prince Harry skied with his then girlfriend Cressida Bonas.

The largest landlocked country in the world and the ninth largest overall, there is much to see in Kazakhstan. Marathon runner or not, Almaty is a great place to start and Air Astana is great way to get there.

​Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s multi-award-winning national airline, has added to its extensive collection  of accolades with the APEX Award of  “Best entertainment system in Central and South Asia"  at a ceremony held in Istanbul on 27th April. The airline previously won the same award in 2022.
 
The award recognises the company's outstanding in-flight service, which has been continuously improving throughout the carrier's 20-year history. Air Astana passengers can enjoy watching the latest movie releases and documentaries in different languages, with the in-flight media library including movies from Kazakhstani and an excellent selection of entertainment for children. In autumn 2022, Air Astana  introduced  a special “Accessibility” section in the library, with content intended for both hearing and visually impaired passengers. Since the beginning of this year, popular podcasts have also been available on board.

"Air Astana has always been proud to be amongst the world's leading airlines in providing a high level of inflight service. Whilst being responsible for passenger safety at all times, we also seek to ensure that every journey is relaxing and entertaining, with an excellent selection of the latest movies, TV series, documentaries, podcasts and music suited to different tastes,” said Yelena Obukhova, Vice President of In-flight Service of Air Astana. “We constantly analyse market trends and carefully monitor passengers’ in-flight entertainment preferences and proud that our efforts are once again recognised with this APEX Award.”

About Air Astana Group
Air Astana commenced its operations in May 2002 as a joint venture between Kazakhstan’s national wealth fund, Samruk Kazyna, and BAE Systems, with respective shares of 51% and 49%. It is headed up by Yorkshireman Peter Foster, OBE. The airline is a full-service international and domestic carrier, with its low-cost division, FlyArystan, rapidly growing in regional and domestic markets since being launched in 2019.

Air Astana, the national airline of Kazakhstan, has produced probably the best safety video ever! Weaving stunning images of the country into the safety message, the video is sure to open the eyes of visitors to this amazing country.

​Hans Airways, the UK’s new long-haul airline readying to fly to India, celebrated the arrival of its first Airbus A330-200 in UK. It was welcomed by CEO Satnam Saini, COO Nathan Burkitt and CCO Martin Dunn.

​“Our first widebody Airbus arriving into the UK is a big and significant milestone on Hans Airways’ journey to launch,” said CEO Satnam Saini.  These past 12 months we are very pleased to have added a wealth of competence and experience to our leadership and management team and recruited and trained up a full complement of exceptional pilots and cabin crew who will be ready to fly as soon as the airline’s AOC is awarded.

Amritsar / Golden Temple will be its first route
 
Once it has its AOC, together with similar accreditation from India’s DGCA, Hans Airways is planning an initial four times weekly service from Birmingham to Amritsar in North India.   Amritsar is a major commercial and cultural centre in the heart of Punjab. The city is the spiritual and cultural centre of the Sikh religion and home to the Harmandir Sahib, famously known as the Golden Temple. 
 
Hans Airways will offer two classes of cabins: Economy class (called "Anand Class"), with a 31-inch seat pitch and 274 seats, and Premium Economy (called "Anand Plus"), offering a 56" pitch and 24 seats. It will offer high quality complementary inflight entertainment and catering as standard.  
 
For more information on Hans Airways, go to www.hansairways.com  
 

​Start-up drinks brand Bemuse has been shortlisted in the Brand Launch of the Year category in the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Awards 2022.

Anna Chalov, co-founder of Bemuse explained, “We wanted to create a non-alcoholic drink that was refreshing and tasty, low in calories but which also supported the natural world and encouraged people to ‘bee inspired to drink differently’. In Bemuse we have created a unique drinks category as the only range of non-alcoholic craft meads and which are produced by natural fermentation of honey, water and yeast, infused with natural ingredients to create four distinctive and delicious flavours.“
 
Bemuse low-alcohol mead drinks come in four flavours, Ginger & Cardamom, Tarragon Basil & Hops, Raspberry, and Hops. They are 0.5% abv, come in 330ml fully recycled cans and make wonderfully refreshing summer drinks.Bemuse has achieved wide distribution through online and specialist drinks retailers in the UK and the lightly sparkling, low-alcohol meads are serving up a refreshing alternative for hot summer days.
 
For more information and to order Bemuse, go to www.bemusedrinks.com 

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

​For reviews of the best sparkling juice drinks, go to Best Sparkling Juice Drinks Reviews

​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