Exploring Jerusalem – Things to See and Do. It can be a challenge when your first visit to a City is both achingly short and has a particular focus. In my case, I travelled to Jerusalem for last year’s Marathon and my short visit was dominated by learning more about that event, then wandering around […]
Romania, New Year, New Wines
Wine Tourism and More in Romania: Most people know little about Romania, other than that it includes Transylvania, the home of Dracula. That’s despite the fact that Prince Charles first visited Romania in 1998 and has returned many times. Romania remains an undiscovered land. So while my visit was ostensibly for the wines, I took […]
Discover Ghent – just a train journey away
Exploring Ghent – A Short Break in Belgium: The joy of the Eurostar was apparent as I embarked on a wonderfully stress-free journey via Kings Cross St Pancras to Brussels, coffee and book in hand. The change at Brussels was remarkably effortless on to the local train network with a further 30-minute journey to Ghent. […]
Nin – The Island of Kings #LoveCroatia
A brief visit to Nin: Standing outside the Tourist Information Office, I look across the bridge to an ancient stone gateway. The tiny island across the water is the historic old town of Nin. It’s just 500m in diameter, connected to the mainland by two old bridges. Walk across, like me, and you’ll find yourself […]
First Impressions of Qatar
Qatar – Arabic Culture Swathed in Luxury: The Horizon Club room at the Shangri-La Hotel Doha, Qatar has probably the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in. Looking out through the floor to ceiling windows I could happily have laid there a while to enjoy it; But not today as we were off for […]
Costa Navarino Cultural Weekend – Under the spell of Greek costume
Costa Navarino Cultural Weekend – Messinia, Greece The Costa Navarino Cultural Weekend is a new initiative which I was fortunate enough to be invited to join. There were numerous activities and events over the course of the two days and I welcomed the chance to learn more about the traditions, heritage and way of life […]
Tunisia – Part 3
Tunisian culture and a whole lot more: No trip to Tunis would be complete without taking in the Tunisians’ extraordinary wealth of culture. What better way to get a real sense of their history than at the Bardo Museum. The Bardo Museum The magnificent Bardo Museum, once a 15th-century Hafsid palace, has undergone a massive […]
Culture and Casinos in Baden-Baden
Spa town Baden-Baden has culture, casinos – and roller coasters: Guest post by Oliver Segal Our trip started in Baden-Baden, a deeply Germanic spa town. Like Bath in Avon, its history goes back to the Roman empire. Emperor Caracalla built the original bath, but it was transformed from a forgotten city in the 19th century […]
Hamburg – Part II
Hamburg – City of Culture and Cake: I was invited by the lovely people at cometohamburg.com to visit the city so I could write about its many attractions. It’s a wealthy and powerful place with a strong sense of identity that’s not trading on its past to justify the present. In my first post, I looked at Hamburg’s maritime […]