Exploring the world, one place at a time
When I read in my guidebook that Daphne du Maurier had been inspired to write Don't Look Now on a trip to Torcello, I was intrigued and keen to find out more about the place that had inspired the sinister short story. Settled in the 5th century, the island of Torcello was for centuries the... Continue Reading →
A bustling, vibrant capital city that's home to more than one million people, Amman is a modern metropolis with ancient roots, having been inhabited in some form or another for millennia. Its former incarnations include Ammon, the capital of the Ammonite people during Biblical times, and the Greek and Roman city of Philadelphia. And it's where... Continue Reading →
A short distance to the north of Petra is Siq al-Barid, a small archaeological site commonly referred to as Little Petra, because it's essentially a miniature version of the world-famous ancient Nabatean capital. It's thought that Little Petra is where many Nabateans lived as it's mostly home to a series of dwellings with very few... Continue Reading →
On our second day in Petra, we set off at 7am to hike to the Monastery, an enormous monument cut into the rose-red rock, high on top of one of Petra's many mountains. Having learned our lesson about hiking in the searing midday sun the day before and with temperatures set to be even hotter... Continue Reading →
After our wonderful introduction to Petra via the Siq and the Treasury, we continued exploring the ancient Nabatean capital via the Outer Siq. The Outer Siq is a large path that leads to the heart of the City of Petra, and the rocks surrounding it are home to countless tombs and dwellings. As we walked... Continue Reading →
I don't mind admitting I've been dreading writing this post, not because I didn't enjoy Petra or because I had nothing to write about, but because it's such an extraordinary, unique place, it's almost impossible to do it justice in a blog post. How do you succinctly sum up one of the great wonders of... Continue Reading →
Tucked away among the narrow streets of Madaba is St George's Church. And while from the outside, it may look like any other church, inside it's home to one of Jordan's greatest treasures – the sixth century map of Madaba. The Madaba Mosaic Map is a mosaic map of the Holy Land that's thought to... Continue Reading →
The most striking thing about the ruined Roman city of Jerash is its size – it's a vast site home to two extraordinarily well-preserved amphitheatres, two temples and even an intact mosaic floor. Known as Gerasa in ancient times, Jerash in north-west Jordan dates back to the 3rd century BC and today lies in the... Continue Reading →
With spectacular scenery, countless archaeological gems and one of the seven wonders of the world, Jordan is an extraordinary country. Almost entirely landlocked, bar a slither of coastline along the Red Sea, the country is flanked by Syria to the north, Iraq to the north-east, Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, and Israel and... Continue Reading →
I've visited a lot of cathedrals over the years, but Milan's Duomo is one of the most impressive cathedrals I've ever seen. Commissioned by Gian Galeazzo Visconti in 1386, the 157m-long Gothic cathedral took an astonishing five centuries to complete. This fact is less surprising when you see how detailed and elaborate the building is.... Continue Reading →
Little Old World 