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 →
While in Venice, I was keen to go beyond the confines of the city and explore some of the islands in the Venetian lagoon. So on our second day in Venice, we set off through Cannaregio's deserted streets to Fondamente Nuove (stumbling upon this petrol station for boats, below, along the way) to catch the... Continue Reading →
The Golfe du Morbihan, off the southern coast of Brittany, is studded with islands – 42 to be exact. The largest of which is the Île aux Moines (Monks' Island). Having glimpsed the island a few days earlier from the Pointe d'Arradon (Brittany's riviera, which is home to some very posh houses), we were keen... Continue Reading →
One of two small islands in the middle of the Seine in Paris, the Ile de la Cité is the oldest part of the French capital. Settled in the 3rd century BC by the Celts, Paris's historic centre is home to Point Zero, the point from which all distances in France are measured. But it's... Continue Reading →
When I was a child, Barry Island was the most exciting place in the world. At the time it was the rundown site of a Butlin's holiday camp, but it was also home to a fairground, games arcades and candy floss, so until I discovered the magic of Disneyland Paris, it was the most thrilling... Continue Reading →
The pretty, coastal town of Matsushima is one of the nihon sankei, aka the three most scenic places in Japan. The others are the island of Miyajima, near Hiroshima, and Amanohashidate, a pine-tree topped sandbank in Miyazu Bay. Nestled on the coast in the centre of Miyagi prefecture, the town's beautiful bay is dotted with more than... Continue Reading →
When my friend told me we'd be spending the day on a barge near Maldon in Essex, I had visions of a genteel Rosie-and-Jim-style barge trip down a canal. I did wonder quite how we were not only going to fit 30 of us onto such a snug boat, but where on earth they'd serve... Continue Reading →
In the middle of the Firth of Forth is Inchcolm Island, a small, pretty, idyllic island home to a medieval abbey, tunnels dating back to the First World War, and lots and lots of seagulls. It's also a very relaxing place to spend a sunny afternoon. I caught the ferry to the island from South... Continue Reading →
"If you only do one thing when you're in Havana, make sure you go to the Hotel Nacional and sit on the terrace with a cocktail," I was told by a friend-of-a-friend at a wedding a few days before I went to Cuba. And it's how I came to spend my final morning on the... Continue Reading →
Images of Ernesto "Che" Guevara abound throughout Cuba, but I was taken aback by the sheer scale of the Conjunto Escultórico Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara memorial dedicated to the revolutionary doctor at the Plaza de la Revolución in Santa Clara. It's staggering and an impressive sight. At the heart of the giant memorial is an enormous statue... Continue Reading →
Little Old World 