One of the traditions that many visitors to the UK decide to enjoy is afternoon tea. Afternoon tea is served throughout the country at hotels and fine tearooms. One example in Yorkshire is the small chain, Betty’s Café – see the map below. The first thing...
Did you learn the song at school too? All the time I was singing it, totally learned by rote of course – it never occurred to me that there really was a ‘pont’ at Avignon. But there is and look at that photograph – rather gorgeous, isn’t...
We are often asked this question by people who are coming to the USA from other countries – countries where the residents have never even considered whether their tap water is safe. In countries in Europe, we tend to take our tasty safe water for granted. If we...
Although its name suggests otherwise, The Green Citadel in Magdeburg isn’t green. It’s pink. With splashes of red, yellow and bright primary colours. It was designed by Austrian architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser and is just one of the excellent reasons...
St Fagans National Museum of History in Wales has many outside exhibits that are either original historical buildings or, in the case of the Iron Age roundhouses, replicas of ancient structures. So it might surprise you to know that one of the most fascinating...
Thinking about using Airbnb or a similar short-term rental service? Well here’s how to really piss off your host. If you’re looking for bad reviews and a definite thumbs down (meaning you’ll have a hard time renting from that service again) then just...
For people of my generation anyway, if we were asked the question ‘what subject did you really dislike at school’ then many of us would have the same answer. Mathematics! I don’t really know why that is but I have an idea. Could it be that it was...
You’re driving along one of the most scenic routes in Norway. The views are breathtaking. But, as is often the case on road trips, you feel that it’s time for a rest stop. Actually, you need the loo. And what better place to stop that the place you see in...
The sub-title for this article could be ‘Dine in the Olympic’ – except the word ‘Olympic’ could be crossed out and the word ‘Titanic’ substituted. But I’m getting ahead of myself… I’ll get back to that in a...
Why do we so often hear or read that people find travel stressful? Mainly I think because people are really referring to how stressful the airport is and the whole rigmarole of air travel. So why do you need to know about Mark? Because of his fantastic website....
Built in 1934, this modernist building housing small but efficient (and wonderfully designed) apartments became popular with its inhabitants – and those inhabitants included artists, designers, writers, architects … and even spies. Today the building is...
You’ve allowed for just about everything your guests will need when they’re staying at your Airbnb or rental. There’s the first aid kit, you supply toiletries, a fire extinguisher is on hand, there are board games for rainy days, towels to take to...
Now I’m not saying this to be snooty or seem to be swanky but I’ve been in some pretty posh restaurants in my time. And what’s crazy is that I would honestly rather have a picnic in gorgeous countryside / on the beach / in a Mediterranean village...
You could describe Asmara as a tiny chunk of early twentieth century Italy, right there in Africa – close to the Red Sea. Why Italy? Italy occupied Eritrea for many years and during the Mussolini days, modern architects were encouraged to travel there to create...
One of the world’s most scenic railways, the Glacier Express, is a trip that should certainly be on your list. It travels through mountain terrain, encountering bridges, tunnels and viaducts, meanders through picturesque villages and offers panoramic views for a...
Have we lost the habit of conversation? It really wouldn’t surprise me if we have. After all, today we are more accustomed to our conversations and interactions with others being by text, email, Snapchat, What’s App, Instagram… And for the older...
This amazing mid-century building is the official residence of the President of Brazil but it is open to the public who wish to visit this Oscar Niemeyer-designed masterpiece. It was built in 1957 and 1958. Needless to say, because the building is the home and...
Believe it or not, this scary bridge was open to regular traffic for forty years. Now the trucks and cars that used to cross the Mississippi via this bridge are now ghosts of the past – but the bridge is still open for foot and cycle use. It was first opened in...
When you’re booking a hotel, have you noticed that the price you’re quoted doesn’t necessarily include all those ‘little’ extras that hotels stick on your bill at the end of your stay? And one of the highest-ticket items is simply for...
The town of Millau dates back over three thousand years. And yet look again at that photograph above. The silver structure you see towering over this tiny town is the Millau Viaduct that majestically spans the valley. It is part of the autoroute system from Paris...
