High Tatras National Park, Slovakia / Photo by Julo for Best of European Union

1. Decent sized day pack:

Not too big, not too small and preferably with lots of handy compartments. About 50 cl should do it, and if at all possible get a bag which comes with a waterproof cover for all weather conditions.

2. Tent:

The ultimate in outdoor survival, especially if you plan on staying out all night and star gazing. There are plenty of light-weight, waterproof varieties on the market, just make sure the one you buy will fit comfortably into your back pack.

3. Water:

Probably the most important, but sadly the most often overlooked. Taking more than enough is always plentiful, especially if going on a hike, as you just don’t know when you’ll next be able to re-fill.

4. Map:

When you arrive at the park visit the office or wardens cabin and acquire a map, preferably one with hiking trails, that way you won’t have to lay a trail of breadcrumbs to find your way back.

Czech Paradise National Park, The Czech Republic / Photo by Julo for Best of European Union

5. Torch:

This one’s mainly for camping purposes, but handy none the less to have on you, you’ll certainly benefit in the caves at Mammoth or Carlsbad Caverns national parks. A head torch is ideal for night time cooking.

6. Synthetics or wool:

Not cotton – because cotton doesn’t stay warm when wet, so if you sweat and it’s cold you won’t be able to keep warm easily. Clothing in general is good to think about – pack lots of thin layers so you can add to your attire if cold, thermals are a great addition for under garments too.

7. Waterproof everything:

Light weight jacket and trousers, because even in America you never know what the weather will be like, and you’d be surprised how wet you can get stood next to the falls of Yosemite, if it’s cold when you visit, you’ll certainly appreciate those waterproof layers.

8. Batteries:

Camera, torch, kindle or whatever else you need batteries for, if you’re stuck in the most beautiful stop in the world without a working camera is probably one of the most excruciating experiences ever. Remember the boy scouts motto and always ‘be prepared’.

When packing for any holiday it’s important to make thorough lists about what you need and what you want, it keeps you focussed on the activities you’ll be doing, and stops you from over packing. One essential piece of advice would be not to pack or buy anything you think you can get cheaper abroad, thermals, water bottles and generally anything you think you can get cheaper where you’re going should be left out if possible, to make more room for other essentials.

Holli likes to travel and in her spare time takes every opportunity to experience the outdoors.

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The city is a symphony of gastronomic delights that even the most regionally patriotic French chef would have to concede that there is nowhere else in the world that can conjure magic for your mastication pleasure like the Lyonaise.

Dinner in Lyon, France by Ross Hill

Local foods

Looking up the delights that may come across your dinner plate, the meat stuff of Lyon is pig, lots of it, and all of it.

It’s not unusual to see meals expertly and deliciously incorporating (if you’re squeamish take a deep breath now) the likes of pig fat fried in, yes you guessed it, pig fat; but let us not forget the pigs bladder, belly, intestine (stuffed with more intestine) and of course sausages.

The thought of an offal heavy meal will be very off-putting to many people, but as soon as the plate is under your nose the sights and the smells will quickly change your mind.

The classics

There was a bit of an accidental creation that became a classic that any trainee chef would have to master, the quenelle.

It was created, like many foods, out of necessity by a wine maker of the Rhone Valley who needed to find a way to eat the largely unpalatable pike fished out of the Rhone river. It was mixed with breadcrumbs and eggs and became a sort of soufflé.

Of course it has been refined and nowadays it is a popular dish in which it is cooked and served in a rich creamy broth to look like a floating cloud. Delicious!

Something to wash it down

The Rhone Valley is one of the major wine producing regions of France, the most famous being the bold Chateauneuf-du-Pape from the Southern Rhone appellation.

There are 13 different grapes permitted in the blend of this wine which helps to give it such a rich and complex character. The deep reds with the use of varieties such as Grenache and Syrah have the weight to cut through and compliment the fatty meat dishes while the while varieties have the right kind of balance to compliment anything fishy, and maybe even the famous quenelle.

There are around 1800 eating establishments in this fair city and no matter where your hotel in Lyon is located you will never be far from a culinary delight that will tantalise your taste buds and change your life forever.

Catherine Halsey writes for a digital marketing agency on a range of subjects. This article links back to http://www.radissonblu.com/hotel-lyon

The post The Culinary Delights of Lyon | France appeared first on Best of European Union.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Great British Chefs Team

Yes, London is home to some of the strangest foods and delicacies in the world. While it’s not surprising based on the city’s diverse cultures and knack for serving up odd meals, you can’t help but wonder how some of these foods actually became popular.

Here are some of London’s weirdest foods:

1. Chocolate Covered Scorpions

Do I really need to tell you what’s in this delicacy? If you couldn’t figure it out by now, all that’s in a chocolate covered scorpion is, you guessed it, chocolate and a scorpion.

It sounds downright disgusting, but people have reported that the texture and taste is similar to a Kit Kat bar. How lovely! If you’re willing to give this a shot, you can order them through various online sources, or you can just go straight to a shop in London. Be careful, these are a bit on the expensive side.

2. Scotch Eggs

Invented in 1738 by Fortnum & Mason, a department store located in central London, the scotch egg quickly caught on. While Americans might think it’s strange that a department store would sell food items, it’s perfectly normal in the UK.

A scotch egg consists of a hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage, rolled in breadcrumbs and then finally deep-fried to perfection. It sounds like something a group of drunk chavs would think of, but it’s actually a perfect combination of flavor and texture, and the price isn’t too bad, either.

3. Kidney Pie

Mate! Pass me a pint and kidney pie! Well, something like that. Whatever London natives say is what they’ll say!

Anyway, yes, this is typically served in a pub setting. In a kidney pie you’ll find diced or mashed kidney (typically from lamb or pig), onion and gravy. The gravy is a mixture of broth, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper and flour to give it some form. All of these ingredients get stuffed into a puffed pastry.

Mmmmm!

4. Kangaroo Steak

As the name implies, you can find a slab of kangaroo meat primed and ready to be eaten. Much like how conventional steak eaters would order based on temperature, you’d do the same here. While the meat is a bit tougher when compared to its more common beef brother, it’s still a delectable and juicy experience.

There are a couple of restaurants in the heart of London that serve this specialty, so don’t miss out!

5. ‘Strange Thing’

Yeah, that’s actually the name of the dish, and after you see what it is, you’ll wholeheartedly agree with the name.

The ‘Strange Thing’ is a pastry filled with cheese, courgette (zucchini) and sweet corn. I’m not sure who came up with this idea, but sheesh, what an imagination, huh?

Surprisingly, it actually has been noted as having a fairly rich and decadent flavor, with the cheese balancing out the sweetness of the courgette and sweet corn.

There you have it: some of the weirdest foods that London has to offer. If you’re feeling brave, give ‘em a shot!

About the author: Joe Petchonka writes web content, press releases and blogs for a number of different organizations, including CT used cars dealers.

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