Exploring the world, one place at a time
When Benjamin Franklin set foot on French soil in December 1776 to seek support in the American War of Independence, he came ashore in the tiny Breton port of Saint Goustan. Situated on the banks of the River Loch, adjoining the town of Auray, Saint Goustan is a delightful, picturesque affair. With a cobbled quayside... Continue Reading →
I couldn't very well go to Porto without visiting one of the many port houses that dot the hillside of neighbouring Vila Nova de Gaia, which is how we found ourselves late one afternoon touring the cellars at Taylor's, one of the oldest port merchants in the region. Taylor's dates back to 1692 when an... Continue Reading →
One of my favourite things to do in Porto was visiting the city's many, highly decorative churches. From pretty tile-clad exteriors to breathtaking gilt carved interiors and superb views over the city, there was a lot to marvel at. But of all the incredible ecclesiastical buildings we visited (and we saw quite a few!), two... Continue Reading →
For the last two and a half years, I've had an ever-growing list of posts lingering in my drafts folder that I held off publishing while we were in the throes of the pandemic, and it's got to the point where I haven't been sure what to do with them as it's been so long.... Continue Reading →
The pretty Norman village of Giverny is where the impressionist painter Claude Monet spent the last 40 years of his life, in a large, picturesque house not far from the banks of the River Seine, painting the water lilies in his Japanese garden. Having read about Giverny in a travel magazine, a few months before... Continue Reading →
If you're planning a trip to Vietnam, here are some of my top tips to help you make the most of your visit: Climate Vietnam is hot pretty much all year round – in the north it's cooler in the winter months between November and February, but in the south it's sweltering all year round. I... Continue Reading →
A long, narrow slither of land, stretching along the eastern edge of the Indochinese Peninsula, Vietnam had been top of my 'must-visit' list for years after watching the Top Gear special in the country years ago. Before watching the show, Vietnam wasn't somewhere I'd really thought of visiting, but I was mesmerised by the stunning... Continue Reading →
I'm still a little staggered as to how quickly 2016 passed, I can't believe the year is up already and 2017 is just hours away. The past year has been full of ups, as well as a few downs, and I've had fantastic travel experiences and met some wonderful people. In spite of all the... Continue Reading →
Little Old World 