Flybe / July 18

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112 / Flight Time / JULY 2018
Destinations
TOULOUSE
Tired of the same old city museum?
Shake things up a bit with a visit to
Toulouse’s Museum of Instruments of
Medicine, at the entrance to the Hôtel-
Dieu-Saint-Jacques, a former hospital
building that dates back to the 12th
century. On display are at times grisly
instruments from the second half of the
19th century as well as moulages – casts
of the faces of patients with various
ailments. They are part of a collection of
objects from hospitals and instruments
representing many medical and surgical
disciplines. From 16th August, it’s open
Thursdays and Fridays from 1pm-5pm.
TOULON CÔTE D ’ AZUR
Set by the coast and overlooking
the whole local area, the Mounts
of Toulon (Coudon, Faron, Baou de
Quatre Aures, Croupatier and Mount
Caume) are a playground for walkers
and hikers of all levels. From a relaxing
walk to a sporty hike, their footpaths
offer amazing views over the coast,
along with gorgeaous countryside, the
remains of Iron Age settlements, fortresses,
and ruined castles… not forgetting the
typical Mediterranean vegetation of
“maquis” and “garrigue”. The Comité
Départemental de Randonnée Pédestre
and local Tourist Offices host a week of
free guided walks in autumn.
STORNOWAY, OUTER HEBRIDES
The centrally-located Crown Hotel
– where Prince Charles, aged 14,
once bought a cherry brandy after
giving his security detail the slip – has
now reopened following a complete
refurbishment. It offers 16 en-suite rooms, a
restaurant serving freshly-prepared meals
using local produce where possible, and
a lounge bar. Food is served Monday to
Saturday from 12-2.30pm and 5-9pm from
a varied, good-value menu and children’s
meals are available, too. A separate
sports bar offers a pool table and regular
live music.
STUTTGART
From 3rd-13th August, the town
of Esslingen, just 20 minutes from
Stuttgart, will celebrate the humble
onion with the Esslingen Onion Festival.
Now in its 28th year, this off-beat festival
was born out of a local legend where
a market woman chased the devil
incarnate out of town by feeding him an
onion. What brought tears to the devil’s
eyes at the time now provides Esslingen’s
inhabitants – still nicknamed “Zwiebeln”
or “Zwieblinger” after the onions – with
a merry festival each year. Head to the
town’s marketplace to sample all kinds of
Swabian specialities including wine as well
as Esslingen champagne.
VEN I CE
Do something different and take a watery tour of Venice by kayak instead of a gondola.
Local company Venice by Water has plenty of two-people tours to choose from.
They include At A Glance, a 30-minute quick tour (€35 pp); Canals, a one-hour trip to
‘hidden Venice’ (€50 pp); and Snack & Paddle, which explores Cannaregio, one of the most
interesting, authentic areas of Venice, and includes a stop for a glass of wine with cicchetti
(Venetian finger food) (2 hours, €90 pp). The Grand Canal tour explores the beautiful canal
lined with glistening palazzi spanning centuries of different architectural styles (2 hours, €100
pp). Choose a trip at dawn to explore the empty canals as the city sleeps and to enjoy a
beautiful sunrise against the stunning backdrop of the city (1.5 hours, €150 pp). If you’re
feeling brave, go for the Venice by night tour to experience the magic of the city after dark
(1.5 hours, €150 pp). Remember that Venice canals are equivalent to your roads at home,
locals go about their business in the exact same way as people do elsewhere. So just like
roads, there are water-traffic regulations that you have to respect, rules like keeping left in
small canals but keep right on the Grand Canal; giving priority to all the boats you meet on
your route and keeping a safe distance; and calling out loudly as you turn a corner to advise
other boats about your presence. Don’t worry, before each tour, Venice By Water will give
you more specific instructions.
F L I G H T D E TA I L S
Flybe has flights to Toulon Côte d’Azur
from Southampton.
F L I G H T D E TA I L S
Flybe’s franchise partner Eastern
Airways has flights to Stornoway from
Aberdeen.
F L I G H T D E TA I L S
Flybe has flights to Stuttgart from
Birmingham.
F L I G H T D E TA I L S
Flybe has flights to Venice from Cardiff.
F L I G H T D E TA I L S
Flybe has flights to Toulouse from
Manchester.