Exploring the world, one place at a time
No trip to Venice would be complete without a visit to its most famous square, the Piazza San Marco, and the iconic sites that surround it, the Basilica di San Marco, the Palazzo Ducale and the Campanile. So after cruising down the Grand Canal, we disembarked at San Marco, where we stopped to take some... Continue Reading →
I was in London in the spring catching up with friends, when one of my friends suggested we spend the day at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew. I love Kew Gardens and hadn't been there for years, so I was more than happy to revisit one of my favourite London haunts. Home to more... Continue Reading →
Welcome to part two of my Wells adventure, which after Wells Cathedral and Vicars' Close focuses on the remaining part of the city's triumvirate of medieval masterpieces – the Bishop's Palace and gardens. The partially-ruined Bishop's Palace has been the home of the Bishop of Bath and Wells for more than 800 years and is... Continue Reading →
I'm a little ashamed to admit I hadn't heard of Wells, England's smallest city, until a couple of months ago when my Bristol-based sister and brother-in-law took my mother there on a day out. My mother came back raving about the place, insisting I had to go as she knew I'd love it. Fast forward... Continue Reading →
With its ancient churches, numerous bookstores and fantastic shops, Poitiers is one of my favourite French cities. Its medieval centre is a delight to wander around, a maze of winding streets featuring charming timber-clad buildings and distractingly tempting food shops and cafés. When we arrived in the city, we decided to take a self-guided walking... Continue Reading →
Famous for its sports cars and chocolate, the elegant Italian city of Turin is only an hour from Milan by train, so I decided to spend a day there during my recent Italian jaunt. With its large charming squares, tree-lined avenues, covered walkways, palazzo-style buildings and Alpine backdrop, Turin is a picturesque city to explore.... Continue Reading →
Two magnificent palaces, an incredible hilltop castle and a quirky stately home are just some of the many things to do in the pretty, picturesque town of Sintra. This UNESCO World Heritage Site to the west of Lisbon is surrounded by lush, tree-covered hills in the Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais and was the favourite summer... Continue Reading →
With two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a palace, a museum and a café famous for its pastel de nata, there was no way I was spending four days in Lisbon without making a day trip to its western suburb of Belém on the banks of the Tagus River. The easiest way to get to Belém... Continue Reading →
A couple of months ago, I found out that a mini-travel guide to Lisbon I'd put together for a friend was doing the rounds of our friends and friends of friends. According to the friend I'd written it for, "it's like a proper travel guide". Which got me thinking that, as I have a travel... Continue Reading →
Vietnam's old imperial capital Hue is home to an enormous citadel, which counts the Imperial City within its walls, and the delightfully-named Perfume River, which cuts a swathe through the city centre. The historical city's a fascinating place with its mix of modern, traditional and French-style buildings, while the citadel has an impressive feel to it, despite its... Continue Reading →
Little Old World 