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Dear Walkabout Walkers and Friends,
We’ve had a very busy spring with our Walkabout Gourmet Adventures and are pleased to pass on a few thoughts and information about what has been going on.
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India, season starter
Gabriela’s first tour this year started already in February when she went back to Cochin in Kerala for the Flavours of South India and was once again supported by Christiane and Nissar.
Our group this year enjoyed the yoga and meditation classes, always such a peaceful start to the day. A special mention deserves our instructor at the Fog Hotel in Munnar - although a little bit challenged at the beginning, we felt fantastic and ready to face the day!
Once again we were spoiled at the lovely Grand Vivanta by Taj Hotel in Malabar, and Cochin never failed to amaze us with its incredible cultural heritage! Our cooking session with Nazeema for whom my colleague, Christiane Philips, has written “The Nazeema Kerala Kitchen” cookbook, was fantastic.
Meanwhile the book has won the World Best Indian Cookbook award at the World Gourmand Awards. Together with Nazeema we prepared and cooked several dishes from the book, followed by a pre-dinner drink and nibbles before dinner. The cooking class included all food and a signed copy of the cookbook.
In the cool mountain region of Munnar we walked again with a local guide amongst the tea plantations and our afternoon cooking session with Nimi was another highlight of our time here.
This year we didn’t spot any elephants in the Periyar forest, one of the finest wildlife reserves in India, but instead many other animals. Once again we returned to watch the amazing performance of the Martial Arts.
The extra day on our deluxe private houseboat made all the difference because it gave us time to discover the villages, we had seen from the waterways also on foot.
 Great places visited and excellent accommodation. Good introduction to India if someone hasn't been to India before. Great traveling companions. Good fun with cooking classes and great food everywhere. Very interesting history..."
Gillian from Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia [2017] |
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 Nimi's cooking class Munnar, India
Kuttanad Kerala Backwaters India
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala
Tea plantations Munnar Kerala
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Spain & Morocco Trail
After a short break, Gabriela and Gilles took off to Spain for the Follow the Moorish Trail, which started in Valencia and covered once again the amazing Cabo da Gata Nature Reserve, the Alpujarra, Granada, Ronda and Seville in southern Andalusia.
In Morocco they continued to Fes, the High Atlas Mountains, the Sahara Desert and the tour finished in Marrakech. Gabriela had to do a short spin around to take over the tour in Sicily from another guide.
I really enjoyed the 10 days in Andalusia with our tour guides Gabriela & Gilles. The walking trails through the Sierra Nevada & Grazalema natural park offered spectacular scenery. Our accommodation was varied & comfortable. I loved all the places we visited from San Jose to Seville. The meals were fine in the hotels but would have liked more tastings of Tapas. Morocco was a unique experience. Starting in Fes, staying at the Riad & a tour of the Medina was quite amazing. Then driving many miles across the High Atlas to the Dades Gorge on to the sand dunes at Erg Chebbi. Then back towards Marrakech via Agdz. Here we stayed at a very special Riad my favourite for the trip. The walks we did through the Berber villages was stepping back in time but all very interesting with local guides. It was unfortunate Gabriella had to leave us in Morocco but with Gilles there to guide us all the way we had a great trip..."
Alison from Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia [2017] |
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Plaza de Espana Seville Andalusia
Alpujarras, Andalusia Spain
Rose Valley, Morocco
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Magical Dolce Vita in Sicily
One of Gabriela’s favourite tours, she was happy to return to magical Sicily and the Dolce Vita tour! This year everything seemed to be perfect… the flowers, the weather and even Mount Etna delivered a great spectacle!
We started on Easter Sunday and were lucky enough to get a glimpse of the Easter Service in the cathedral of Monreale, which was very special!
We continued on to Selinunte and saw the temples amongst fields of flowers. Our first destination was San Vito lo Capo on the northwestern arm of Sicily. It is always nice to return to Marilu and her Pocho Hotel in Makari!
We experienced once again great hospitality and the best dinners! Marilu was a puppet player, making her own puppets and the hotel’s decorations consist of those puppets and stage decor! A unique experience and certainly very much recommended!
Of course we didn’t miss out on Erice, famous for its pastries before arriving in the Madone Mountains! A little bit chilly here, we even experienced some snow. All was forgotten once we arrived in Lipari on the Eolean Islands.
The weather was fantastic and our walk up to the crater of Vulcano as exhilarating as ever. This time we also managed to have a morning walk up to the Observatory at the end of Lipari Island… Simply fantastic and the views were spectacular.
Aelos, the god of the winds was kind to us and we had no problem taking the boat to Panarea and Stromboli. Time passed quickly but before departing, we discovered the small Stromboli Museum, which not only shows the film “Stromboli” with Ingrid Bergmann and Marcello Rossellini but has also lots of memorabilia from the film.
Always a bit sad to leave the islands, there was a quick change of scene when we arrived in Taormina, the famous resort town south of Messina before spending our last 4 nights in Ortigia, the old town of Syracuse.
On our way back to Palermo, we had a lengthy stop at Villa Casale in Villa Armerina in the centre of Sicily. The villa appears to date entirely from the early 4th century with mosaics of the Roman-African school.
If I start by telling you that while in Sicily, Bob took about 1900 photos, I don't want you to become alarmed that this letter with photos will cause your server to go into meltdown. We have chosen photos judiciously, and written some words, in the hope that you will be inspired to think about taking a trip to that island or if you already have, to think about returning. And Spring is in our view THE time to be there. The flowers were astonishing. The colours, the abundance, the variety, the vibrancy. In fields, along the roadside, on our walks... We decided, along with our travelling companions, that the flowers would be a major highlight and lasting memory of Sicily. Here is just one of many possible photos to set the scene. But before going there, I'll start in another place that we found interesting and certainly engaging..." Read full story
Bob and Margaret Norington, Spence ACT, Australia |
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La Dolce Vita | Next departure from Palermo: May 17, 2018 [15 days] |
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Zingaro National Park Sicily
Eating Cannoli in Sicily Italy
Matching the flowers Segesta Sicily
Stromboli Museum Eolian Islands
Club Alpino hut, Monte Cervo
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Helmut and Dominique were in charge of the Gourmet Trail in early May and spent two fantastic weeks with a private group.
Read for yourself what they had to say:
We were a group of fourteen friends under the leadership of Helmut; Ages varied from 40 to 74, but all with a good level of fitness. Some parts of the walk were challenging, but these walks were the ones that rewarded you with amazing scenery. Four different parts of northern Italy, all uniquely different. Perhaps my favourite was the starting point, a lovely country setting motel with walled cities all around the region, where we ate in one each night we were there. Or did I like the five fishing villages along the coast the most. Where we trudged vertically to the top each day to be rewarded with spectacular views as we trekked along the cliff tops, and the different sea food courses each night in a different restaurant, and the wine, ahh. Or did I really love Tuscanny the best. Rolling hills of vineyards, wine tastings, the food of a night and perhaps the best wines in the world. My spine still shudders, or was it the ancient walled cities and their history. Then, staying on the lake, more seafood restaurants, bubbles as the sun sets over the lake, following the paths of the ancients of three thousand years ago, maybe this was my favourite part of the trek. What I did not like at all was the finish, all over too soon"
Terry, Townsville, QLD, Australia
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Vernazza Cinque Terre
La Morra Piedmont Italy
Sant Antimo Montalcino Tuscany
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Joining the Pilgrims' Camino
While many of us were in various parts of the Mediterranean, Graeme went in another direction and started the Pilgrims Way from Biarritz to Santiago de Compostela.
The Camino is certainly an experience, meeting and chatting to other pilgrims along the way who walk all the 790 km trail.
Special features on this tour are the amazing Paradores in Spain, which are often in old palaces or former hospitals. The fantastic regional cuisine and the visit to the Rioja wine region are other highlights.
The Pilgrim's Way is a completely different way to see and understand northern Spain. Apart from the magnificent scenery and fantastic location - the Paradors of Spain have to be experienced to be believed! - walking the Pilgrim's Way and having the opportunity to visit places like Leon, Burgos and Santiago de Compostela, as well as the villages along the way, gave me a whole new insight into part of Spain's history. Ainhoa in France and the Hotel Ithurria were also fabulous as our starting point. Even though it's been 10 years since I travelled (through Italy) with Walkabout Gourmet, WGA has lost none of its expertise in organisation, support, great company and showing off some of Europe's finest in terms of food, wine, walking trails, and places to stay. I've already been checking out the brochure for my next WGA trip."
Lorne, Orange, NSW, Australia
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Astorgia Spain
Hotel Ithurria Ainhoa Pays Basque
Najere Spain |
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Epicurean walk through Italy
Our Epicurean Walk in Italy fulfilled all that it promised… some of the best food the southern Italian cuisine has to offer. Fond memories will also remain of our visit at Santa Constanza and our first lunch in Termini before our walk to the Punta Camponela.
The caprese and lemon granita were incredibly tasty, that we had to have a second granita after our walk. Stocking up with tomatoes, homemade cheese and salami from the restaurant owners set the precedent of sharing our picnics… right to the last day. They consisted of the best Italian food and picnic spots and the last one at Monte Sibilini was certainly a sad moment.
Sorrento worked out to be the perfect base and our Hotel Regina was certainly a very friendly place to stay, so quiet with a lemon scented garden yet right in the center of town and the best breakfast view you can imagine!
All the walks at the Amalfi Coast were so beautiful and our pre dinner drinks and dinners always a highlight. From the Mediterranean Coast we travelled east and explored the Gargano Promontory. It was great meeting up with Arcangela and her family again and meeting the twins… nearly 5 years young now!
The famous fish soup was still as delicious as ever. We also returned to the Trabucco San Nicola for dinner one night but sadly learned that Mimi, the soul of the trabucco, had passed away. We were treated in the usual friendly manner by Mimi’s grandsons. In Pescasseroli in the Abruzzo National Park Antonio was still holding the fort at Villa Mon Repos and it was nice catching up with some of the former staff of the Hotel.
We had a sensational degustation Menu at Il Duca degli Abruzzi di del Principe Gabriella with many fresh and local specialties. The matching wines were another highlight. Assunta speaks excellent English and with her mum in the kitchen, this place is a must to visit if in the region, but bookings are essential! Umbria, “the green belt of Italy” is in the middle of the Italian peninsula and without any coastal areas.
Our stay at the Palazzo Seneca in Norcia was very special but also quite moving to see how much the locals love their town and how restorations are ongoing to bring the town back to the former glory after the devastating earthquake last October.
We were happy to support them with their challenge and had a wonderful time. Although unable to travel up to the Piano Grande, we were more than compensated when we walked with Roberto and his donkeys to higher pastures, covered in flowers.
We also went truffle hunting and later had a cooking class with our well known chef, Valentino. The meeting with the Benedictine Monks was another highlight.
I have truly experienced the full magic of Italy from top to bottom. Your remarkable organisation and experience opened up a box of treasure. Thank you both for your friendship, kindness, patience and expertise. See you again."
Sue, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Cheese Cake Hotel Bellevue Sorrento
Arco Naturale Capri Italy
Villa Mon Repos, Abruzzo
Lido del Piacere Baia di Sfinale Gargano
Walking boots Abruzzo Mountains
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Greece & Turkey Combo Tour
On the way to the airport, Pascal and Gabriela came up with an excellent new idea to combine two of their favourites - Greece and Turkey.
The new tour is going to start in Rhodes in Greece and will continue to the islands of Nysiros, Tilos and then Symi. From here we will take a beautiful wooden boat and travel the short distance to Kas.
We will return to favourites like Fethiye, hometown of Fatih, our Turkish guide, Daylan and Selcuk. Instead of travelling to Gallipoli and Istanbul we continue inland to Pamukkale and ending our tour with some walks in Cappadocia.
We had a fabulous time in Crete and Santorini. Pascal was a wonderful guide, very helpful and knowledgeable. The walks were stunning and the time of year, just before the summer rush of holiday makers, perfect for exploring these wonderful islands. Thank you for a memorable trip.."
Denise & Rob, Wakehurst Parkway, NSW, Australia
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New Greece-Turkey Tour | Next departure from Rhodes: Early April 2018 |
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Goereme Cappadocia Turkey
Hot Air Ballooning Cappadocia
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Upcoming Festivals for Foodies
There are plenty of events in Australia from Food & Fine Wine Festivals to Gastronomy Expos throughout the year. These Events bring together Australian and world-renowned winemakers, chefs and industry insiders to entertain, educate and inspire, you may also visit farm gates and cellar doors, meet with local producers, attend degustation dinners, taste regional products or even attend cooking classes! We have put a list of local and overseas gourmet events together, here is what's coming near you:
Australian events
Overseas events
See all Gourmet events for 2017
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Bastille Day French Festival
The Food Show Auckland
The White Truffle Festival
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Where next?
Graeme is still in Switzerland where the Sea to the Summits walk soon ends and Gilles just returned from the Celtic Way while Gabriela made it back home, trying to bring some order into the office and started working on the 2018 brochure.
Soon we all will go off again on our next adventures… Gilles to the Pyrenees, Graeme and Helmut to Norway and Gabriela and Pascal to Iceland… with temperatures around 10°C... that means bye bye summer!
Until our next newsletter or our next walk with you somewhere around the globe…
Our very best wishes,
Gabriela, Graeme and the WGA team
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