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Visiting Germany: Stadtbad Lichtenberg, Berlin
I could spend weeks in Berlin just looking at the architecture. And one building to see before it gets destroyed, or simply crumbles away, is the Stadtbad Lichtenberg. The building was opened in 1928 as a public baths. But more than that. It had swimming pools, a spa,...
Post-Covid Bed & Breakfast?
At the time I'm writing this, the end of April 2020, there are plenty of stories going around that we might be told by our governments that social distancing - currently because of COVID19 - needs to continue for many months to come.It may be that certain individuals...
Trollstigen, Norway
What does Trollstigen mean? In Norwegian, it means 'Trolls' Road' and this twisty and narrow road runs perilously on the side of a mountain. It's appropriately named as in Scandinavian mythology trolls are rather evil little goblin-like creatures that inhabit mountain...
Linby Village: England
If you're in the UK and travelling on the north-to-south M1 motorway, then it's worth a small detour to visit the tiny village of Linby. I'm afraid that I don't know exactly when the village was initially founded but the church dates from the thirteenth century so...
Vdana ‘Death Ray’ Hotel
The Vdana Hotel in Las Vegas opened in 2009. It was designed by Rafael Vinoly and has 56 floors containing all the amenities you'd expect from a modern hotel. It was also discovered that it had one huge problem. You may or may not be able to imagine what it is from...
The Vine Bridges of the Iya Valley, Japan
Well, would you? Would you cross the Iya Valley on this vine bridge? History doesn't reveal who built these bridges - or why - but it certainly was an ingenious solution. Wisteria vines were woven together along with planking to produce a footbridge - a rather scary...
Driving on the Wrong Side of the Road
If you're not from the UK, it's easy to think that 'only the British' drive on the left-hand side of the road. And by the same token, British people sometimes think the same - that wherever else they go in the world, they'll have to drive on the 'wrong side of the...
Olympic Village: Germany 1936
Most of us know a little about the 1936 Summer Olympics that were held in the outskirts of Berlin. And even for those of us who know very little, the combination of Germany, 1936 and Hitler indicates very creepy undertones. As we can imagine, Hitler saw the games as...
Sagrada Família: Barcelona
One of the most famous buildings in Spain had its construction started in 1882. And it's still not completed. It's estimated that Gaudi's Sagrada Família in Barcelona will finally be fully completed in 2026. Gaudi himself died exactly one hundred years before that...
High Line Hotel, New York
Within walking distance of Central Park, the Empire State Building, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and just about everywhere you want to visit in New York, sits the fabulous High Line Hotel. The building is splendid, the rooms are gorgeous and the amenities you can...
When is Mardi Gras?
In 2018, Mardi Gras was early. It fell on February 13th and because the festival's date is based on that of Easter, it's different every year. In 2019, it was on March 5th - quite a difference from year to year. This can make arranging to visit Mardi Gras tricky if...
Visiting the UK: National Memorial Arboretum
An astonishing place, the National Memorial Arboretum in the UK exists especially as the nation's tribute to the men and women who have been killed, injured or afflicted by war and in the service of their country. It was conceived in 1988 and designed to be a place of...
Choose the Cheapest Accommodation for your Vacation? No!
I was brought up by parents who themselves were brought up in the Second World War in the UK. This means rationing, make-do-and-mend, growing your own food and recycling just about everything. Frugal. And therefore I am too. But the cheapest isn't always the best,...
Icaria, Greece
You'll remember Icarus from Greek mythology, right? To refresh your memory, he was the bloke who had wings made of wax and despite being warned not to do so, he flew too close to the sun. The result, naturally, was that his wax wings melted and he fell into the Aegean...
Is a Hammock Ideal for Airport Sleeping?
This week the internet has been abuzz with the story of a bloke who set up his hammock in the airport and therefore had a much better sleep than all those regular people who were trying to sleep in those uncomfortable airport seating areas. But is this really a wise...
Spend Your Vacation in a Tiny House
You've seen them on the internet. You might have seen them on the road. For several years now, tiny homes have been incredibly popular - understandably. Have you ever wondered what it's like to live in one? The good news is that you can rent a tiny home for your...
Keysmart: Essential Key Holder
I've always liked products that make my life easier, especially if they don't break the bank. Which I why I'm telling you today about the Keysmart key holder. Sounds so simple, doesn't it? But you'll be surprised just how much difference this can make to your day. My...
Need a Beach Vacation?
If so, then you'll find that Fort Lauderdale is hard to beat. And there's so much more than the sea, sand and sun. Fort Lauderdale's events calendar is always busy - from festivals to theatre, from art exhibitions to sporting events - and there's always plenty going...
The Dwarves of Wrocław
Wroclaw in Poland has a lot to commend it to the traveller. It has been the European Capital of Culture, the World Book Capital, it has hosted the European Film Awards and has several theatres, festivals, museums, sports facilities and plenty more. The 'more' includes...
Where to Stay: 40 Winks, London
How many hotels are there in London? I'm sure that Google would be able to tell me but the information would soon be out of date. There are faceless chain hotels, independent quirky hotels and then ... there's 40 Winks. It defies description - almost - and certainly...
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