Porto
The 10 Best Things to See in Porto
The imposing Dom Luis I Bridge over the Douro River offers a number of panoramic views of Porto. Cross it for postcard-esque views from Cais de Gaia or… […]
Month: January 2012
Hotels
Hotel Internacional, Porto
We were smitten by the Hotel Internacional the moment we set eyes on it. Like the city of Porto it exuded a charm that harked back to another age… […]
Marrakech
Is Jemaa el Fna Square in Marrakech Too Touristy?
Basically the musicians, storytellers, poets and dancers were there before the mainstream tourists arrived. I think a lot of people forget that… or don’t know it. […]
Food & drink
Is this the Best Sandwich in the World? Falling for Porto’s Francesinha
Messy looking though it is, the francesinha holds a Pandora’s Box of surprises. The first being that the tomato sauce doesn’t taste of tomatoes and it’s got a kick like Bruce Lee. […]
Sri Lanka
First Impressions of Sri Lanka
From the moment the cloud cleared to expose a glistening, green, palm tree covered landscape the excitement rose to the point where I almost laughed hysterically out loud… […]
Food & drink
Café Society in Guimaraes
The line between bars and cafés in Guimaraes, and indeed in Porto, is distinctly blurred. Having been brought up in a pub culture where bars serve alcohol by default and coffee by exception, it was a novelty to see alcohol drinkers in cafés and coffee sippers in bars. […]
Atlas Mountains
Ten Tips for Hiking in the High Atlas Mountains
Whatever your personal goals or hiking experience, here are a few essential pieces of advice to help you get over the peaks and troughs of trekking in Morocco’s mountains. […]
Hiking
Climbing Mount Teide Volcano to Watch the Sun Rise
We take it easy, stopping often to drink water. It gives us time to absorb the epic natural canvas unfolding below. This is nature gone mad, an explosively abstract volcanic scene… […]
Porto
Starting the New Year in Porto
The punk looked as though he could be dead. He lay on his side like a foetus with a Mohican; motionless. The woman holding her finger to his neck, trying to find a pulse, looked concerned… […]
Travel Talk
On The Road with James Parkin, Senior Producer BBC Radio 3
World Routes is on a mission to travel to the far-flung corners of the planet to document and, in its own small way, preserve endangered musical traditions. We interview BBC Radio 3 Senior Producer James Parkin to find out about life on the World Routes road… […]
Travel Talk
How Budget Airlines and Anti Terrorist Measures are Helping to Perpetuate the Global Recession
As the world enters 2012 still locked in the grip of global recession, isn’t it about time someone noticed that a sizeable section of consumers who travel on budget airlines are handcuffed when it comes to retail spending in their destination? […]
Guimaraes
Being Enchanted by Misty Mount Penha in Guimarães
There’s something about sitting in a flimsy cabin heading into a thick shrouded blotting out the landscape that sends a thrill skipping down the spine, especially as there was no one else making the trip into the unknown… […]
Guimaraes
Villa Hotel, Guimarães
A chic, boutique hotel in easy strolling distance of the historic centre, spitting distance of the railway station and perfectly positioned for exploring all parts of Guimarães. […]
Guimaraes
Nightlife in Guimarães
There’s a bit of a blur between coffee shops, cafés and bars in Portugal with some places having a different personality after dark. Most cafés in Guimarães sell beer, wine and spirits. […]
Food & drink
Food & Restaurants in Guimarães
From sausages that aren’t sausages, pastries that look as though one bite could pile on the pounds, snack foods galore in cosy cafés and sophisticated fare in stylish restaurants… […]