I’m just a little bit excited that in just over two weeks from now I’ll be back in South America, a fantastic end to a packed year of travel. Our original idea was to split our two-week stay between Brazil and Argentina, but fate (and outrageously high costs in Argentina) had other plans. So now we’re…
See London from the river with City Cruises
Just leaving Westminster Pier, this is the northern side of the Thames I love being on the water and always try to take a boat trip when I’m in a new city, either along the river or around the bay, if it’s on the coast. I like the different perspectives a river view offers you,…
Cave cities, castles and spa towns: 5 reasons to visit western Georgia
The spectacular scenery of the high peaks of the Caucasus stretches across Georgia, which perches on the far eastern edge of Europe, bordering Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia. It’s finally starting to attract visitors in greater numbers, thanks to cheap flights from Europe and Russia, but it’s still relatively unknown (many people thought I was visiting…
A South American love story: 10 years of travelling in South America
Ten years, almost. Ten years since I first got on that plane, stepping into the unknown, finally fulfilling my lifelong dream of travelling to South America. All those years of looking up flights, poring over maps, dreaming of places I’d maybe never see. Until there was someone who shared my dream, encouraged it, searched…
Don’t let the crowds put you off Amalfi
The Amalfi coast is gorgeous and a drive/bus ride along its full length an excellent way to spend a day. But man, is it crowded. We visited back in April, just after Easter and the tourist season was already in full swing. Amalfi is blessed with a balmy climate from March right through to the…
A day and night in Stone Town
Stone Town was my favourite place in Zanzibar. A heady mix of Swahili and Arab influences, it’s a fascinating place to spend some time. We stayed three nights, although one of those days was spent on Chumbe island. But if you only have a day in Stone Town before heading to the beaches to relax,…
Out of my depth
This post is a little departure from my usual style…if you read on I promise I’ll explain all at the end! “In Zanzibar, pole pole. Take it easy.” I try to cling on to those words, reaching for their meaning as my chest tightens with every breath. I look round as I surface, the…
Zanzibar and a quick favour to ask… (reader poll + giveaway)
Image Flickr creative commons Yoni Lerner Zanzibar is one of those places I’d heard of but couldn’t exactly point to on a map. I knew it was off the east coast of Africa, but that was about it. But when a flight deal came up with Rwandair on their newly launched service via Kigali out…
Visiting Tana Toraja – an unforgettable stop on your Sulawesi trip
“Do you know the story of why the Torajan people have houses with roofs shaped like boats? It’s said that our ancestors arrived from the north in a fierce storm and their boats were badly damaged, so much so that they couldn’t take to sea again. So instead they used the boats as shelter.” Tana…
10 best views of Sorrento, Vesuvius and the Amalfi Coast
Italy is one of my favourite places and yet, until last week, I’d only been there twice. So another visit, this time to Sorrento on the Bay of Naples, was long overdue. Somehow being surrounded by orange and lemon groves, walking around in sandals in April, surrounded by the bluest of seas really gave…