Cadiz and Jerez, Spain
Spain is our favourite holiday destination, attracting 20 million British visitors each year. I like to discover a quieter side of Spain, this time the Province of Cadiz in the far south. Cadiz is the oldest city in Western Europe, founded almost three thousand years ago by the Phoenicians. They were a seafaring civilisation from […]
Berlin, Germany
History regularly features in our travels as we discover archaeological sites, explore cities and learn about the events that have shaped our world. It’s particularly interesting to visit a place where a historical event occurred within our lifetime. Many of us will remember the joyous scenes of November 1989 when the Berlin Wall was breached […]
Honduras, Guatemala, Belize
Central America has experienced more than its fair share of natural and man-made disasters, with hurricanes and earthquakes, civil wars and drug cartels. However, the region has enjoyed more than a decade of stability and economic growth. Forget the stereotypes of lazy Latinos lounging under a sombrero, the people of Central America are a hard-working […]
Tbilisi, Georgia
Step into a winter wonderland with Tbilisi’s Christmas markets, adorned with colourful decorations and twinkling fairy lights, where the charm of Georgia’s hospitality meets the spirit of the season. Wander amongst beautifully decorated stalls offering a range of local crafts, sample traditional sweets, and enjoy folk music performances that bring the market to life. Tbilisi […]
Moldova
Where is the world’s largest wine cellar? Not in Reims or Bordeaux, but in Moldova. The Milestii Mici winery stores more than a million litres of wine in 200 km of underground limestone tunnels, which offer the perfect temperature and humidity for maturing wine. Visitors can travel through the galleries by electric train or bicycle, before […]
Cambodia
Like you, I have seen places and people on TV that seem intriguing and I’ve heard David Attenborough wax lyrical about furry or spiky things. Yet I hadn’t imagined I could experience that world for myself. I’m a digital dinosaur carrying a second cancer diagnosis, so travelling solo after a twenty-year break seemed quite daunting. […]
Colombia
Sadly, many people continue to associate Colombia with the drugs trade and Medellin is often linked with cartel leader Pablo Escobar. So, it was appropriate that my tour began at the former home of Escobar. Following his death in 1993, the city council had the building pulled down and created a pleasant and thoughtful memorial […]
The California Coast
Travelling with my family, we flew to San Francisco in early August and picked up a rental car. After a few days exploring the city, we drove the iconic and beautiful coastal route through Monterey, Carmel and Santa Barbara to Hollywood and the city of angels. Alcatraz The former Federal Penitentiary on “The Rock” is […]
Occitanie, South of France
I always enjoyed travelling to Toulouse for business meetings with Airbus, so this year I was pleased to return to the city and travel through the historic and beautiful Occitanie region. Toulouse is the fourth largest city in France with a vibrant economy and large student population, but at the centre is a relaxed old […]