Costa Brava

El Bulli Restaurant, In Ferran We Trust

Ferran Adriá approaches the chef in front of me. He inserts the tip of a pair of tweezers into what looks like a miniature uncooked egg with a pea instead of yolk. He tastes it, says something to the chef and smiles. I feel relieved on the chef’s behalf. […]

Benidorm

Guadalest, Spain’s Hidden Castle

“Where’s the castle?” asked the woman as she arrived, breathless, at the top of the turret of Alcozaiba – the iconic bell tower of the Castell de Guadalest.
“It’s not here. There are just some more steps and then nothing,” replied her husband.
And they’re not alone. All around us I can hear people asking how and where they get into the castle. […]

Asturias

Food and Drink in Oviedo, Asturias

Cuisine and nightlife in Oviedo in Asturias tend to reflect the character of the city – hearty, lively and generous…very, very generous. As tourism is mainly of the Spanish variety, there are no tourist traps as such, just plenty of honest, down to earth eateries and sidrerías […]

Lanzarote

The Desert Island of La Graciosa

It’s strange the nonsense that can pop into your head, but the first reaction my brain had to the vision of the ruddy volcanic cone rising above a strip of pale golden sand was to play Bali Ha’i from musical South Pacific. […]

Europe

One Night in Glasgow

It’s not enough time. A week would be needed to even begin to do justice to this, “the most perfect Victorian city in the World” as Sir John Betjeman described Glasgow. But it’s all we’ve got and the clock is ticking… […]

Great Britain

Thistle Hotel, Glasgow

The consummate city centre hotel right in the heart of Glasgow’s shopping centre in easy reach of bus and rail connections. Modern style, comfort and a breakfast that it’s worth flying to Scotland just to enjoy. […]