Summer days in Sardinia

Sardinia is a great place to slow down. We often pack our holidays full of things to do every day, but sometimes it’s just nice to relax. So a four-night break in June was perfect to unwind a bit. We stayed on the east coast of Sardinia at Arbatax for three nights, filling our time…

Why you should visit Herculaneum instead of Pompeii

Staying in the Naples or Sorrento area during a trip to Italy? The region is home to two fascinating archaeological sites in Herculaneum and Pompeii. But if you only have one day to spare, which should you visit? We visited both last year and although it’s amazing to see such a famous site as Pompeii,…

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…

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…

Last days of summer in Lucca

When summer had already disappeared from the southern shores of the UK, in Tuscany it held on well into September. It’s no secret that I love the parts of Europe that touch the Mediterranean sea: terracotta roofs, the constant chirp of cicadas and most of all the warmth that allows you to sit out well…

Top five amazing meals around the world

1. Surubi (a type of catfish) at Bolsi in Asuncion, Paraguay. 2. Tea and cake at Skonis ir Kvapas in Vilnius, Lithuania. A cosy little cellar-like tearoom, it even sells beautiful painted cups that are a million miles from twee Royal Doulton china. Visit in winter and the city takes on a magical quality, the…