by Jackie Jackson | Apr 21, 2018 | Travel Tips
Particularly important to travellers and to hosts of properties such as those listed on Airbnb, are the recent statistics that show what seriously turns people off bathrooms. My own huge turn off is seeing a pubic hair of dubious provenance on the toilet seat. But...
by Jackie Jackson | Apr 20, 2018 | Where to Stay
A cult movie of the 1980s, Dirty Dancing was set at the fictional Kellerman’s Resort in the Catskills. In fact, the filming took place at the Mountain Lake Hotel in Pembroke, Virginia. The film was set in 1963 and reflected the lifestyle of prosperous New...
by Jackie Jackson | Apr 19, 2018 | Travel Tips
Paul Theakston was born into the brewing industry and worked at the namesake Theakston’s Brewery in Masham, Yorkshire. That is until business and managerial mayhem made him leave in the 1980s. But – and many a Yorkshireman would say the same – beer...
by Jackie Jackson | Apr 18, 2018 | Destinations
The Hebridean Islands are well-known because of their incredible scenery, wild seas and astonishing wildlife. The islands are largely unspoiled and the Isle of Lewis is no exception. And if you want to baffle a friend with a trivia question, who do these three...
by Jackie Jackson | Apr 17, 2018 | Destinations
Paris is a beautiful city. Few people would argue with me there. But what exactly is the deal with reproducing wonderful places? Tianducheng is a suburb of Hangzhou in China and Paris has been reproduced – not very well – in a development that was built in...
by Jackie Jackson | Apr 16, 2018 | Destinations
Kunsthofpassage is a series of alleyways in the student district of Dresden. The area contains quirky bookshops and cafés – and unusually decorated buildings. One of the most famous is the one you see above. A series of drainpipes are displayed not only in an...
by Jackie Jackson | Apr 14, 2018 | News
It’s not the Eiffel Tower. Nor is it the Prado in Madrid. Forget Barcelona Cathedral, Buckingham Palace and even the Acropolis in Athens. Today, the number one tourist spot is in Northern Ireland. Have you guessed yet? It’s the Titanic Belfast tourism...
by Jackie Jackson | Apr 14, 2018 | Destinations
The wreck of the Francisco Morazan can still be seen just a couple of hundred yards from the shore of Lake Michigan. Yet the ship floundered and was abandoned in 1960. The ship was built in 1922 in Germany and you can still tell today, looking at the wreck, that it...
by Jackie Jackson | Apr 13, 2018 | Destinations
Even though French iconic singer Edith Piaf died as long ago as 1963, most people would recognise her voice today. Even those who aren’t old enough to remember her will probably know this: And there is a private museum dedicated to her in Paris. It can be...
by Jackie Jackson | Apr 12, 2018 | Destinations
Bunce Island has a fascinating and rather chilling history. Today the island is deserted but in 1670 a castle was built there by a British slave trading company which became a hub for the slave trade. People from the west coast of Africa were kidnapped and shipped as...
by Jackie Jackson | Apr 11, 2018 | Destinations
York is a truly amazing place. It’s packed with history, ancient architecture, museums, parks … there are fabulous places to eat, the local scenery is unbeatable and it’s even a great place to shop. Bizarrely, you can also – free of charge...
by Jackie Jackson | Apr 11, 2018 | Destinations
There is a state in Western Australia called Dardanup and within that area is Ferguson Valley. There’s not much there, really. A timber mill was there back in Victorian times but it closed in 1929. In 1950 the town there was mostly destroyed by fire. Yet...
by Jackie Jackson | Apr 10, 2018 | Where to Stay
Imagine relaxing under the stars in your own private cocoon watching a fabulous light show provided by Mother Nature. This is exactly what you can do at the Panorama Glass Lodge in Iceland. This private small lodge gives you privacy and spectacular views. As you can...
by Jackie Jackson | Apr 9, 2018 | Destinations
Lombard Street in San Francisco is one of those strange American sights that are so beloved of tourists. And it’s hardly surprising as it’s known as ‘the most crooked street in the world’. You can see in the photographs and videos below just...
by Jackie Jackson | Apr 8, 2018 | Destinations
Royal scandals tend to be a thing of the past these days but in the UK in the 1930s there was plenty of royal scandal to keep everyone entertained. The British papers tried hard to rise above these matters but the foreign press had a field day with the new king,...
by Jackie Jackson | Apr 7, 2018 | Destinations
It seems unbelievable to us today. It was June 2, 1988. Joe Cocker gave a concert in Dresden, Germany. That doesn’t sound too unusual, does it? A musician playing a public concert? But it was unusual when you realise that at that time, Germany was still a year...
by Jackie Jackson | Apr 6, 2018 | News
Most countries in Europe take their native cheeses very seriously indeed. Countries such as Italy, France and Great Britain are a delight for the cheese-lover. But have you heard of oscypek? This cheese is made exclusively in Poland from sheep’s milk. And...
by Jackie Jackson | Apr 4, 2018 | Destinations
If you’re flying to Paris and are just about to land at the airport, the chances are that you’ll be flying over the ghost village of Goussainville-Vieux Pays . When you’re read the story that led to this village being abandoned, you’ll be sure...
by Jackie Jackson | Apr 3, 2018 | Where to Stay
I love the Greek islands (and Corfu in particular) and I’m all in favour of staying in quirky hostels to experience great fun and also as a budget measure. Sunrock on Corfu is a great example of a backpackers’ hostel in a great location. Did you know that...
by Jackie Jackson | Apr 2, 2018 | Destinations
England abounds with eccentrics – people and buildings. And the Royal Pavillion at Brighton is so much a part of English culture that it’s only when I take a step back, and see it as a foreigner would, that I realise just how bizarre it is. Let’s...
