The first rule of hiring a car is to familiarise yourself with the controls before driving off. The second rule of hiring a car is that if you ignore the first rule, at least make sure you familiarise yourself with … Continue reading What’s the Story in Tobermory?
To check in at Southampton airport for the Aurigny flight to Alderney, you ring bell for service. A genial man with a grey beard and a hi-vi jacket will appear and check you in. Then the computer doesn’t work. After … Continue reading Alderney Adventure
I have been shocked to hear about the devastation caused by the fires on Kangaroo Island. We visited the island in July 2014 (during the Australian winter but the only time we could make it) and found it a fascinating … Continue reading Kangaroo Island remembered
The Plaça Catalunya is the terminus of the airport bus and the arrival point of many visitors to Barcelona. From here it is possible to stroll down the series of avenues known as Las Ramblas to the Columbus monument and … Continue reading The Home of Wilfred the Hairy
Our exploration of Ferrara started slightly later than planned, as we took the wrong turn on leaving the station and ended up walking the long way round and entering via Porta Paula, just in time for much-needed elevenses at a … Continue reading Borgias and Brollies
It was three-hour drive from Turpan to Urumqi. The driver appeared to go the wrong way at first, but Tony (our local guide) said he wanted to stop first and buy some local Turpan grapes. He then presented us with … Continue reading The Gotham of the Desert
As I made my way towards the old town, they were lying in wait for me, their gorgeous brown coats glossy and glistening. I found them increasingly hard to ignore as I walked past, eyes firmly fixed on the harbour. … Continue reading Running the Gauntlet in Rhodes
Cholet’s main claims to fame are as the scene of a battle during the Vendée revolt of 1793 and as former centre for the manufacture of textiles, and handkerchiefs in particular. But this small town in Western France also has … Continue reading A Delicious Time in Cholet
“Have you ever been to a Cat Café before?” “Yes, in Vilnius.” I think my answer slightly confused the owner of what claims to be the first Cat Café in the Midlands, located in Stratford-upon-Avon and called (what else?) the … Continue reading Another town, another Cat Cafe
The world’s first cat café opened in Japan in 1998. Since then the idea has spread around the world, but I had not been to one until our recent trip to the Baltic, when I came across two very different … Continue reading Cat Cafes
Travels with me aren't 