The Trail was my first exposure to Kafka’s works. And I was hooked. Last year when I had a chance to visit Prague, Kafka’s Prague was on top of my list. Kafka was born in Prague in 1883. As a Czech born German speaking Jewish intellectual, he often had trouble fitting in. Kafka also suffered [...]
I stayed at the Traveldoge London Tower Bridge for three nights in November 2009 when I attended the World Travel Market at Excel in the London Docklands. Hotel prices shoot up all around the east of London during the World Travel Market. I booked my Travelodge room eight months in advance for the Saver rate [...]
It only happens a few times a year, but today’s one of those: Friday the 13th. Many of you reading will think of the horror film series, others will remember Black Sabbath’s debut album that launched on a Friday 13th. But this isn’t case across much of Europe. Consider these other European supersitions: In Spain, [...]
On a winter weekend in London, the South Bank of the Thames is one of my favourite places for a stroll. There’s something about the open aspect and views of the river that makes it a nice place to be, and there are plenty of places you can shelter if the weather turns against you. [...]
Usually road side attractions mean you have to stop and look at something tacky. And large. Sometimes though, road side attractions are just that, attractive. Sometimes you’ll find a sight bereft of all tourism. Sometimes it’s even free. In Småland, a region in southern Sweden, just north of Jönköping, is Brahehus. Today, Brahehus is an [...]
When I travelled across Russia on the Trans-Siberian I wanted to take some good Russian literature with me, and I eventually decided on Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment. It is set in St Petersburg, and by the time I’d reached this gorgeous city (it took three weeks, with stops, from Vladivostok) I was more than [...]
Zagreb allows for a number of escape routes within the city limits. One such example is the Strossmayer Promenade. A green terraced walkway that connects Zagreb’s upper town with the city centre. It runs along the edge of the old town, lined with towering chestnut trees and dotted with benches. Furthermore, at regular intervals you’ll [...]
There’s been quite a controversy raging in the Canary Islands about the Mission Iceland launch of the No Winter Blues marketing campaign which took place in Reykjavik between 19 – 22 October. I was in Iceland, as the UK member of the press group, reporting on the initiative. The campaign aims to promote the Canary [...]
Update 16 November 2009: The lucky winner is Lucy Whittington author of Lucy Loves Australia. Also found on Twitter as @LucyWhittington. Lucy was the only entrant to correctly name the location of my Twitter background photo as the Zone Pyramids, near Marone, Italy (close to my favourite Italian lake, Iseo). However here’s her answer to [...]
It’s that time of year – when much of Europe is plunged into mist, dampness, and grey skies. In the north, winter is nipping at your heels, whereas in the south it’s rain rain rain. With the time change last week, it means it is dark mid-afternoon. Don’t let it get you down. Enjoy the [...]
