Italian Lakes
Italian Gardens, the Wild Walkways of Isola Madre on Lake Maggiore
One of the oldest gardens in Italy, dating back to the 16th century, Isola Madre isn’t what I expected from an Italian garden. It’s paths seem more random… […]
Europe
Europe
The Surprising Flavours of Fuerteventura
At La Gayría the penny dropped that there was far more to Fuerteventura than I’d expected. Plastic water bottles dangled below olive trees; bougainvillea tumbled… […]
Europe
Slow Food Takes Time at Eataly
Stepping into the flagship Milan branch of Eataly, it’s immediately apparent what makes it such a popular venue. Visually it’s stunning… […]
Croatia
Highly Recommended, Restaurant Lungo Mare in Zadar
Why have we never reviewed Lungo Mare in Zadar before I wonder? Maybe we subconsciously didn’t want to share it. It was the first place we ate in Croatia… […]
Food & drink
Steak Haché in France, More Than Just a Burger
I have to confess I ordered a steak haché in a cosy, cool little brasserie in Beauvais because I thought I was asking for a local dish that had been concocted… […]
As we walked out
As We Walked out From Gargnano on Lake Garda, Italy
There are two things we discover quickly after setting off on a walk from the shores of Lake Garda on a serene Sunday morning… […]
Ascona
Naked Dancing and Japanese Tea Ceremonies at Monte Verità in Ascona
There are many things you might expect to find on a picturesque hillside overlooking Ascona and the Swiss face of Lake Maggiore. A Japanese tea house is not one of them… […]
Croatia
Ten Scenes of Zadar in Croatia
Apparently there’s an obscure Zadar law which states that you can’t write about the place without including at least one sunset photograph. […]
Europe
Fontvieille in France, Worth a Return Visit
Our visit to Fontvieille in Les Alpilles was a fleeting one, a pause between where we’d come from and where we were going. […]
Europe
Spring in Sirmione, The Pearl of Lake Garda
Visitors have been flocking to the pretty village of Sirmione ever since the first Roman hitched up his toga and dipped a toe into the hot mineral waters of the Terme di Catullo… […]
Ascona
The Swiss Face of Lake Maggiore
As we drove further north, I began to fear for the beauty of the lake in whose company I had spent so much time. Had the Mediterranean spirit of its Italian meanderings been lost to the Alpine discipline of its Swiss shores? […]
Austria
The Life of the Mirabell Palace and Gardens in Salzburg
The Mirabell Gardens in Salzburg might be a huge tourist attraction, but they have enough of a strong personality to swallow up the masses without allowing… […]
Europe
A Return to Bohemia on Gran Canaria
The adults-only, Hotel Bohemia Suites & Spa is dedicated to pleasure. Everything about the hotel’s design appeals to the senses; from its funky, retro-chic rooms with their open plan space, their leather sofas and warm, earthy colours to its gourmet 360º Restaurant… […]
Hiking
When Lost Ask a Local and See What Happens
We’re completely surrounded by soldiers in camouflage uniforms who cradle mean looking machine guns in their arms.
“Quick, take a photo,” Andy urges. […]
Europe
Can Anyone Actually Afford to Shop in Milan?
Can anyone actually afford to shop in Milan’s Quadrilatero d’Oro or are these outlets just showcases for collections, static runways for designers who can’t afford not to be seen in one of the world’s fashion capitals… […]