After six weeks of non-stop go go go travel I needed somewhere to unwind and relax for a few days and Hvar seemed ideal. With only 11,000 inhabitants, Hvar is an island off the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia in the Adriatic Sea. Surrounded by azure waters, the picturesque town of Hvar is watched over...
Plitvice Lakes in Pictures
Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia became at National Park in 1949 and is one of the largest National Parks in southern Europe. Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979, it now sees over one million visitors each year. Try not to visit in the height of summer when the crowds can...
Highlights of Croatia – my must see’s and do’s
Croatia. A country of stunning landscapes and seascapes. A country where you can enjoy small towns with locals or party with the jetsetters on one of the many islands. A country not long ago ravaged by war but now enjoying such a resurgence in tourism that it is the 18th most visited country in...
Why you shouldn’t do a day trip to Cesky Krumlov
Cesky Krumlov is a popular destination for day trippers from Prague. But there’s a very good reason why you shouldn’t limit yourself to such a short visit. Because you’ll miss seeing the town like this: And this: And this: Of course, if one day is all you have then the journey is well worth...
Top 7 things to do in Vienna
Thinking about Vienna conjures images of the Viennese Waltz, the Vienna (Weiner) schnitzel (yum) and the Sacher Torte (double yum). But I didn’t think I would leave Vienna feeling that I knew what the world smelled like before cars were invented. Yes, walking through Stephansplatz, Vienna’s main square, will have you thinking you’ve stepped...
Highlights of Bavaria
Bavaria. The name conjures images of castles, beer halls, alpine meadows and inhabitants dressed in lederhosen and dirndl. While these may be clichéd images, the region certainly lives up to its reputation. King Ludwig’s castles are iconic in the region. Beer halls abound, and not just at Oktoberfest. Maypoles were raised in each town,...
Top 10 Things to do in Berlin
On our first afternoon in Berlin we decided to go for a wander through Tiergarten, Berlin’s largest park. My mum had joined me for this part of my adventure through Europe and I had a tip from a friend on where to visit part of the Berlin Zoo for free. As we wandered past...
Discovering Champagne with The Champagne Dame
Standing in the recently renovated cellars of Lanson, our host Philippe Baijot glanced over his shoulder as a staff member brought out another bottle of champagne for tasting. “I have a surprise for you” he stated, before presenting the bottle of 1979 Lanson Brut Vintage Collection to us. Such was the personal connections that...
Why do we visit sad places?
As we walked into the room Mum grabbed my hand and my eyes welled up with tears. I didn’t look at her. I knew if I did that the tears would overflow and I’d be a blubbering mess. We’d just walked into the ‘room of hair’ in Auzchwitz. A display case ran the length...