Exploring the world, one place at a time
Portugal's second city is the perfect place for a weekend break. Boasting interesting architecture, a maze of alleyways that are ripe for exploring, museums, parks, churches, and fantastic food, it's a great city in which to spend a long weekend. Not to mention there's an abundance of its most famous export – port – on... Continue Reading →
Following my week-long sojourn in Béarn, I headed north-west to Bordeaux for a whistle-stop 21-hour tour of France's ninth biggest city. It was almost 4pm by the time I arrived in Bordeaux and checked into my hotel near the city's central railway station, the Gare Saint-Jean. Having dumped my stuff in my room, I set... Continue Reading →
On our first full day in Béarn, we decided to spend the afternoon in the nearby city of Oloron-Sainte-Marie, the capital of the Haut Béarn region. The town is situated around the point where the Gave d'Aspe and the Gave d'Ossau meet, and has been a major trading hub in the region since the 11th... Continue Reading →
After spending our first few hours in Bilbao exploring its historic centre, our second day was spent focusing on the city's architectural gems and art galleries. Arriving in the city near the central train station, we again crossed the Bilbao River at Arenal Bridge, but this time instead of continuing straight ahead into the old... Continue Reading →
When I think of Bilbao, the first place that springs to mind is the Guggenheim Museum, the Frank Gehry-designed curved titanium and glass behemoth that put the Basque capital firmly on the international art map in the late 1990s. But there's much, much more to the city than its most iconic building. I recently spent... Continue Reading →
If you were looking for a picture-perfect spot on which to build an abbey, Tintern, on the banks of the River Wye in Monmouthshire, would tick all the boxes. Beside a bend in the river, Tintern is surrounded by steep hills covered in lush, green forest and is so lovely it's inspired artists and writers,... Continue Reading →
I thought I'd share a few more photos from my safari on the Tárcoles River in Costa Rica. I wasn't able to identify a few of the birds in the photos, so if you're able to enlighten me please let me know. I'm pretty sure the elegant bird above is a yellow crowned night heron,... Continue Reading →
I love a river cruise, so when I was asked if I wanted to break up the long journey between Monteverde and Manuel Antonio with a safari on the Tárcoles River looking for crocodiles, I jumped at the chance. The river, which flows into the Gulf of Nicoya on the Pacific coast, is renowned for... Continue Reading →
The tree-lined canals and rivers of the Marais Poitevin are renowed for their idyllic beauty, and as they were only an hour or so's drive from Parthenay, we were keen to see this fabled part of France for ourselves. The Marais Poitevin is a huge area of marshland stretching over some 970 sq km and... Continue Reading →
One of the plus beaux villages de France (most beautiful villages in France), the village of Angles-sur-l'Anglin is, as its label suggests, ridiculously pretty. Situated around the idyllic River Anglin, the charming village boasts picture-perfect medieval buildings, breathtaking views and a ruined cliff-top castle. It's also home to a series of 14,000-year-old Paleolithic cave sculptures.... Continue Reading →
Little Old World 