No joke, I have honestly been messing around for over two hours trying to decide what image to add here as the lead photograph for this article. I’m no copyright lawyer but I’m pretty sure that there’s no way I’m allowed to put work by a...
It’s likely that every New Year’s Eve you and your friends sing Auld Lang Syne. You might know that it was written by Scottish poet Robert Burns. And as his active years were in the 1700s, that shows just how old the song has been around. And it all...
If you’re running an STR business I can understand why you want to know what time your guests are going to arrive. I really do. It helps you to plan your day efficiently.The problem is that we’d all like to plan our days efficiently but we’re dealing...
Gender discrimination, prostitution, sex for sale … it’s all here in the (relatively) hidden area of Herbertstraße. If you’re under eighteen, you can’t stroll down this street. Women aren’t welcome either. Herbertstraße is one of the last...
Anne Lister was born in 1791 in Yorkshire. That’s many years before homosexuality became legal in Britain and at that time, the word ‘lesbian’ didn’t exist but nevertheless, Anne grew up to be a pioneer in the world of being true to her own...
A few years ago, the idea of visiting a place where an assassin hid when he fired the shots that killed an American president would probably have been seen as insensitive.But today, it’s now getting on for sixty years since those events took place. The president...
There used to be a time – long ago admittedly – when I’d sink gratefully into my aircraft seat as soon as I could after boarding. Then, once I’d stowed my handbag on the floor under the seat in front of me, I’d relax. That meant removing...
I was just a kid but I remember the time when a whole new era started. It was a medical breakthrough that happened on the other side of the world but it was exciting news.It was 1967 and in South Africa, a team of surgeons had just completed the first successful human...
Do you remember when steampunk was a thing? Well, the perfect interior to match that look is to be found in this building. It’s gorgeous, it’s got a curious history and it’s been used in umpteen films, TV shows and music videos. And, it’s open...
When you’re travelling in the Mediterranean area, it may be that you have a good – or reasonably good – grasp of the languages you hear. Travelling through the South of France, into Monaco, over to northern Italy … those languages you hear are...
William Lott was born in this house in 1761. The house was owned by his parents and his siblings were all born in the house too. William lived in the house until his death in 1849. Not only had he lived there all his life, it’s thought that he’d only been...
This battered building has a varied history. Built in 1888 it started life as a theatre. It continued in its role until the final couple of years of the Second World War. It was one of the very few theatres in Hamburg that survived Allied bombing unscathed but when...
If you have a short-term property for rental – and advertise it on Airbnb or a similar site – the chances are that you’ve had a request from someone who wants to use your property for a photoshoot or even as a film location. Should you agree to host...
“Hey,” said the American tourist “We had a great time in London. Let me tell you about some of the things we saw. We saw that famous statue of Eros in Piccadilly Circus…” Let me stop you right there. You didn’t. I’m sorry, it...
Although I tend to favour luxury hotels whenever possible, I have to admit that I also have a fondness for the convenience – and fun – of camping. But I’ve grown out of the peeing-in-a-bush thing and although I love the freedom, I rather like to have...
You probably guessed from the photograph above… The people of the British Isles are great fishermen and fish-eaters. At one time, before curry became our favourite, and hence our national food, fish & chips was the most commonly eaten meal in the UK. Times...
In 1930 a youngish man called Grant Wood visited Eldon, Iowa. There he saw a house and sketched it. Shortly afterwards, in a later sketch, he added a man and a woman standing in front of the building. These people weren’t strangers that he’s rustled up...
You can’t not. Well, I can’t resist. If ever there was a road just begging to be driven, it’s the Stelvio Pass.The road itself is pretty hair-raising – all those hairpins. The scenery is nothing short of fantastic. It ranges from typically...
Traveling alone can be a lot of fun. But there are some times when you’d rather have a companion with you. Most of us like to travel with family or friends.So it’s a nuisance of your usual travel companions aren’t as eager as you are to indulge in...
Friluftsliv, like ‘hygge’, is a Scandinavian concept that became better-known thanks to social media. However, it relates to a lifestyle and not, as some people on Instagram seem to think, taking a selfie out in dramatic scenery.Friluftsliv is a way of...
