Europe and Middle East
Exploring Leeuwarden. Discover the hometown of Mata Hari
23/12/2016 .
Benard Magrez Luxury Wine Experience
02/12/2016 .
Classic French châteaux are by nature impressive beasts, but when you stay in one that was once the Bordeaux home of Pope Clement V in 1306, well that is another thing entirely. Such is the divine experience that accompanies a stay at Château Pape Clément with the Benard Magrez Luxury Wine Experience
Read the full story hereLewes Bonfire Night Parade
21/11/2016 .
Donald Trump is being pulled along by three Mexicans. A throng of burning crosses carve a path through the night. Flaming torch bearers chanting strange incantations pass by too close for comfort. Is this a scene from The Wicker Man? Have I stumbled onto a movie set or perhaps I’m simply hallucinating. Such thoughts are not out of place, because this is the annual Lewes Bonfire Night Parade, it is very real and I am right in the middle of it.
Read the full story hereExploring Rovinj Croatia’s little jewel
17/11/2016 .
Croatia’s many islands are legendary, but there is one particular island that gave up its island status to join the Istria mainland in 1763. The wonderful town of Rovinj had clearly decided it was rich and powerful enough to withstand Europe’s various wars and diseases, which through its island independence, managed to do so for centuries. .However Rovinj needed to expand and through some ingenious 18th century engineering it was connected to the mainland. More than enough reason then for me to begin exploring Rovinj Croatia’s little jewel..
Read the full story hereWalking the Way of St Francis. Discover An alternative Pilgrim trail to the Camino
26/10/2016 .
Pilgrim routes are popular these days and many people walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain, but few have heard of walking the Way of St Francis. Rupert Parker walks the route from Le Marche to Umbria.
Read the full story herePerugia. Precious Pearl of Umbria.
25/10/2016 .
Perugia is the capital of Umbria and one of the best preserved of the region’s hill towns.
Read the full story hereCalais five must-see places
14/10/2016 .
It’s easy to forget just how easy it is to get to Calais, whether by ferry, tunnel or train but most people just drive straight through on the way to somewhere else. That’s a shame because it makes a great weekend destination, perfect for stocking up on wine and other foods and enjoying excellent meals. Here are my Calais five must-see places to visit.
Read the full story hereGuide to historic Nizwa. Discover Oman’s undiscovered jewel.
11/10/2016 .
Nizwa, once a capital city of Oman, is a destination offering fascinating insights into the traditions and lifestyles of the sultanate’s arid interior. Stuart Forster gives us his guide to historic Nizwa.
Read the full story hereHiking Ecrins National Park
19/09/2016 .
I’d always wondered what life is like in those high altitude French Refuges, often no more than wooden shacks, nestling in the shade of the mountains. Even better, when I hear about a Tour Gourmand, or gourmet tour, hiking between them, I’m even more interested. So I pack my rucksack and set out to try hiking Ecrins National Park, about a 90 minute drive East of Grenoble.
Read the full story hereWalking the High Alps in France
07/09/2016 .
I’m always looking for a challenging walk but find that many self-guided walks offered by the hiking companies are not tough enough for me. Since you always get thrown out of your hotel after breakfast, you need a good few hours walking if you’re not going to arrive at your hotel too early. My perfect walk keeps me occupied most of the day and finishes about an hour before dinner – just enough time to grab a beer, have a quick shower, and then settle down to dinner. One of the most demanding is walking the High Alps in France and I fly to Geneva with my partner to tackle it.
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