20 GREAT REASONS TO VISIT PALERMO Palermo, the largest city on the island of Sicily, really won me over. A great place for some Winter sunshine and with a very interesting history too. Ruled by Arabs, Normans and Romans, the diverse cultures still leave a legacy. Nowadays, Palermo is a wonderful location to get a feel for Sicily. The … Read More
15 GREAT REASONS TO VISIT TURIN, ITALY Turin (or Torino to use its Italian name) has to be one of the most overlooked and underrated destinations of Europe, not just Italy. Long perceived as an industrial city at the heart of the Alps but that does not do any justice to the fascinating history and architecture and general ambience … Read More
HOW I ESCAPED FROM A POTENTIAL LOCKDOWN My taxi has arrived. A few minutes before 4am and ready to drive me to Catania Fontannarossa Airport. One last look at the mural of the city’s symbolic elephant on the hotel walls and time to go. This is where I am right now. Still struggling to come to terms with … Read More
THE BEST PLACES IN TO GET YOUR BRUGES CHOCOLATE FIX Chocolates, waffles and beer. Possibly the great triumvirate of Belgium. A country divided on the linguistic lines of Flanders and Wallonia but very much united by three of its most popular products. However, when it comes to Bruges, chocolate reigns supreme. The historic city of Bruges, one of the … Read More
A LONDON CHRISTMAS AFTERNOON TEA BUS WITH BRIGIT’S BAKERY Afternoon tea and double decker buses. Two things that have always been an intrinsic part of London’s fabric. But what happens if you merge the two together? Especially a themed Christmas afternoon tea? Opening its flagship establishment in the tourist heartbeat of Covent Garden, Brigit’s Bakery has delighted customers since … Read More
CHECKING IN – HOTEL MARTINI, VERONA With its summer opera festival, the Romeo and Juliet connections and a very rich historical heritage stretching back millennia, there is no disputing the fair city of Verona its place on the must-visit list. Evidently, finding a place to stay that won’t break your budget can be a daunting task. For a very … Read More
NORTH YORK MOORS NATIONAL PARK Further east in God’s Own Country is the county’s other national park, the North York Moors. Characterized by upland fields of purple heather and lavender in the moorlands and valleys that produce a riot of colour in the springtime. Not to mention one of the other great features is the splendid coastline with countless … Read More
THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN THE YORKSHIRE DALES God’s Own Country. So goes the description that all proud Yorkshire folk love to remind us of. On the map of the UK, Yorkshire is split into four separate constituent counties relevant to their compass location. North, South, West and East (Riding of) Yorkshire all have their own unique identities. … Read More
TEN GREAT REASONS TO VISIT TRENTO Located in the mountainous north of Italy, the city of Trento is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. Capital of the Trentino region and resembling a cultural matrimony of Italy and Austria. Surrounded by the Dolomites, this makes a suitable base to explore a great nature wilderness.
GREAT REASONS TO VISIT HARROGATE – THE PEARL OF YORKSHIRE Located equidistant between Leeds and York, the leafy spa town of Harrogate has always been a byword in the affluent part of the North. A town that reached particular levels of prominence in Victorian times when its burgeoning wealth of spas provided a very popular wellness retreat. This was … Read More
TEN OF THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN VERONA THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH ROMEO AND JULIET Verona. The fair city of Verona, beloved by Shakespeare and immortalized as the location for the tragic tale of Romeo and Juliet. Subsequently, this has become the city’s main pull for visitors. The crowds will swarm through the dense side street … Read More
CHECKING IN – HOSTEL MARMOTA, INNSBRUCK As the main city of Austria’s Tyrol region, Innsbruck is a fine base for outdoor enthusiasts. Dominated by the dramatic sight of the mountains overlooking the city below, this is a unique place to visit in so many ways. Looking for somewhere to stay I booked four nights at the Hostel Marmota Innsbruck. … Read More
STUTTGART – MERCEDES OR PORSCHE MUSEUM? Mercedes-Benz. Porsche. Two of the most iconic names in automobile production. Brands that have become symbols of status and speed. Stuttgart serves as the spiritual home of both Mercedes and Porsche and subsequently you will find fascinating museums dedicated to both. For any keen car enthusiast, the city of Stuttgart in Germany’s southwest … Read More
LILLE – AN IDEAL DAY TRIP CITY Easily reached from London St. Pancras by the Eurostar, the city of Lille in the north of France is ideal for a day trip. Likewise, also not too far from Brussels or Paris. Thus strategically located from three of Europe’s main cities. Lille may not be one of the first places at the … Read More
20 GREAT BRITISH AND IRISH CASTLES THAT YOU MUST VISIT History, pride, prestige, bloodshed and intrigue. Castles around the world have provided so much fascination and interest to historians of all generations. Many, especially in the British Isles have shared a bit of a common timeline. First constructed in some capacity pre-Middle Ages. Then, expanding into bigger fortresses of power … Read More
Think of post-WW2 Socialist Realism architecture and a lot of negative thoughts come to mind. Row upon row of drab, grey concrete buildings devoid of any character. Lacking in color or personality. Maybe rough around the edges and in need of more than a touch of paint.
Recently I was in Rotterdam for the highly insightful Traverse 18 conference. When it came to choosing somewhere to stay, there was one whose mere name caught my attention. That which I chose went by the name of The Student Hotel. Least not because of how intriguing the name sounded. Convenient too, as the venue for the Friday opening night … Read More
An exciting week was coming to a close. The Europe edition of this year’s TBEX (Travel Bloggers Exchange) in Killarney, Ireland had been quite a week. An opportunity to meet many other bloggers with whom we share a love of travel and telling our stories. From first class seminars focusing on blogging and travel writing to a selection of talks … Read More
Chug-a-chug. Chug-a-chug. The locomotive glided along the railtracks, criss-crossing through a well-kept little village. With a post office, bakers and a doctor’s surgery and all you would expect. Then up a mountain pass it continued and back round in a loop. The model train set of ours fascinated me as a child. How I loved to play the dual role … Read More
Neon and Las Vegas. A perfect fit. Few cities in the world fascinate me more. For many reasons. Some good, some not so. I won’t forget my first visit when I was younger, not yet old enough to indulge in the hedonism for which Sin City gets it reputation but old enough to be intrigued by the larger than life … Read More