How to Enjoy the Art and Architecture of Rotterdam
With several world class museums, Rotterdam is an obvious destination for art lovers. But there is also plenty to see for free. The city is full of street art, sculpture and cutting edge architecture. At times it feels as if the whole place is an open air museum. ...
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Five Reasons to Visit Rotterdam
As I came out of the ferry terminal at Rotterdam Europoort there were several coaches waiting to whisk people off to Amsterdam. And just one minibus going to the centre of Rotterdam. Yet the second city of The Netherlands is a vibrant city with a lively arts and...
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Book Review: Experience Italy from Lonely Planet
It is no secret that I love Italy. In fact, I used to have a separate blog for my Italian travels, which I called Bewitched by Italy. So I was very happy to get a new title from Lonely Planet: Experience Italy. It could have been written just for me… Experience Italy:...
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Testing Out Wine Tourism in Cyprus
I’ve been planning to write about wine tourism for a while. To talk about the sheer pleasure of visiting vineyards, trying the wines, and learning a bit about different varieties and customs associated with wine. So where better to start than with my recent forays...
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Choirokitia: A Neolithic Site in Eastern Cyprus
One of the things that surprised me about Cyprus was how ancient and multi-layered its history was. The island was occupied not just by the Romans, but by the Greeks and the Egyptians as well, to say nothing of the waves of invaders who followed them. And I was...
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Crossing the Line: North and South Nicosia
As you approach Nicosia from the south, you catch sight of a gigantic Turkish flag in the hillside ahead. It is a reminder that Cyprus is an island of two halves, the so-called Green Line dividing it into the “Greek” south and the “Turkish” north. Nicosia, the capital...
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The Merchant Adventurers’ Hall and the Guilds of York
As in many European cities, the social and commercial life of medieval York was dominated by the trade guilds. And in many ways they are still important today. One of the best ways of discovering the history and influence of the guilds is through a visit to the...
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My novel “Shadow of the Dome”
Now available from Amazon
