Weymouth
What a lovely seaside town! Wide beaches with golden sands, calm blue water (there are no tidal currents within 2 miles of the shore), a charming esplanade of slightly faded Georgian buildings of guesthouses, once-grand hotels and cafes with an ornate clocktower in the middle of Read more…
A tram ride through Belgrade, Serbia
There are 12 tram lines in Belgrade and the most famous line is tram number 2 which goes in a circle around the core of Belgrade. It’s a fun and cheap way to get an orientation tour of the city. It’s not a touristy place either so you get to see real life in Belgrade. The Read more…
Marlow to Temple lock walk
Length: 3.90 miles (6.5km) Duration: 2 hours both ways with a break at the Temple Lock Conditions: flat Level of difficulty: Easy. Suitable for beginners. Or people who don’t keep fit. Nice day out for families. Cyclist. Or taking a dog for a nice walk. Only nag Read more…
Happy Birthday to the Magna Carta
Today, 15 June 2013, marks the 798th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta. We went to the small and charming Runnymede in Surrey where King John signed the Magna Carta on the 15th June 1215, prompted unwillingly by the barons in order to protect Read more…
Rescue of captive brown bears in Kosovo
A brand-new animal sanctuary in Priština is already home to Kosovo’s last remaining captive brown bears following an urgent rescue campaign, even though construction has not yet finished. A 15-hectare nature park has been created about 20 kilometres from Kosovo’s capital city, Priština, to house the Read more…
Smederevo Fortress Dramatic Story
In 1428 the Turkish Empire was at war with Hungary and sent a demand to Djordje Brankovic, ruler of Serbia, to sever all connections with Hungary, to send an army to join Turkey and to hand over his daughter Maria with a dowry of Serbian land. Read more…
The Oldest Love Poem in the World
The oldest-known love poem was written in Mesopotamia 4,000 years ago and can be found inscribed on a slab of stone in Istanbul’s Archaeological Museum. It was probably written by a priestess, Enlil, to the ruler of Babylonia, Shu-Sin, to celebrate their sacred marriage which represented Read more…
How to make the most of a city break?
I am sure we have all been on a City Break which starts on a Saturday afternoon and finishes on the Monday morning thanks to a low cost airline to an out of the way airport. By the time you check in to the hotel at Read more…
Visit to Burford in Cotswolds
Burford, one of England’s prettiest small medieval towns in Cotswolds is exclusive places to shop, eat, drink and stay. The name Burford is said to mean a defended settlement by a ford. Burford is situated 20 miles west of Oxford at the crossing of the A40 with the Read more…
The King and I
I wanted to tell him all about my grandfather, his Military life during WWII as a Royalist in Serbia, his arrest by the communists and journey to the UK as a prisoner of war but the distance between the waiting lounge and the plane was just Read more…
The Khmer New Year, Cambodia
Travellers in Cambodia this weekend should be prepared for 5 days of national festivities as the Khmer New Year starts on Sunday 14th April 2013. Chaul Chnam Thmey is on April 14 2013 and it marks the end of the harvest season, the start of the Read more…
Hereford Cathedral
On the way back from Hay-on-Wye we stopped at Hereford Cathedral which dates from 1079 and houses one of the oldest maps of the world called Mappa Mundi. Unfortunately taking photos of the map itself is not allowed but if you have the chance Google “Mappa Mundi”. Very interesting!
What did you give up for Lent 2013?
Starved and scared to death of some Primark airline which was supposed to take me back home, I ordered a vegetarian breakfast with extra mushrooms, toast without butter and without eggs but with a pint of Stella instead of a cup of tea. An unshaved and Read more…
Cruising to Split? What to see and do
Did you know that the name Split derives from the shrub in the local area called spiny broom. When the city became part of the Roman Empire the Latin name of the city became Spalatum. Split was a Greek colony well before the Romans come to this part of the Read more…
Who is St Dunstan?
We visited St Dunstan Church in Monks Risborough and he is a jolly interesting chap! For over 200 years St Dunstan was England’s favourite saint, partly perhaps because he is said to have pulled the devil’s nose with his blacksmith’s pincers when he disguised himself as Read more…
