Whaley's Travel Agency Presents

By Whaley Shark
June 13 2010

So we have the Amlin draw now and, having avoided any British or Irish opposition, we can look forward to visiting some of European rugby’s more exotic locations. With little else Sale Sharks to report in the last two weeks, the Whaley Shark settled down to find out a bit more about next season’s European destinations. Welcome to Whaley's Travel Agency......

Brive is a relatively large town in the rural Limousin region of France, famed for its distinctive, deep red Limousin cattle. The area is quite hilly, with many of the hills carpeted by oak plantations which are harvested to provide timber for wine and cognac casks. Sumner heat gives way to damp autumns, and winters can be cold and long, particularly in the high ground in the south of the region. Although the centre of Brive dates back to mediaeval times, it is now a focus of commercial activity, though it hosts the Labenche museum which, as well as the usual local themes, features the unique Mortlake Tapestry collection. Local specialities include clafoutis- fruit (usually cherries but sometimes plums, apples or blackberries) baked in batter.

Padova (Padua) is a city in northeastern Italy, near Venice and in the foothills of the Dolomites, in the heart of the Veneto wine country. It is reputedly the oldest settlement in northern Italy, with one of the country’s oldest universities. The historic city centre is a stereotypical Italian maze of narrow streets, linking open piazzas and criss-crossing the river Bacchiglione and its tributaries. The original centre is surrounded by almost 7 miles of 16^th century walls. The palazzos and churches, some dating as far back as the 12^th century, spanning over 800 years of architecture and painting, provide enough culture to keep even my mother happy. The city is also home to the world’s first botanic garden. Culinary treats to look forward to include sfilacci (salted, dried and smoked horsemeat), though sweet cured hams such as Prosciutto Veneto Berico Euganeo or smoked pork sausages (Bondole) may suit English tastes more.

Valladolid, in northern Spain, lies in the heart of wine-making country and has been settled since pre-Roman times. A small village on the front line of conflict between Christians and Moors in and after the 10^th century, it grew over the next 500 years to become the capital of Spain, at a point when that country was one of the world’s great powers. Carelessly, the city was burned down in 1561, prompting a shift of the capital to Madrid, and Valladolid’s decline from global significance. The cathedral, begun in the 16^th century, remains unfinished to this day, while a number of other architecturally significant buildings survive to house, amongst other things, the Spanish natural sculpture collection and a collection of contemporary art. There is a vast array of local breads, while the main delicacy is lechazo, slow roast lamb.

So that’s where we’re off to. I’ll start negotiating a passout now and maybe I’ll get to see some of you in foreign parts next season.