Tirana… exploring Europe’s North Korea

Tirana For decades, Albania was shrouded in mystery, its borders sealed off from the world. Today, it stands as a testament to resilience and transformation and is finally inviting travellers to uncover its hidden gems. At the heart of the country is its vibrant capital city, Tirana; a city that is forcing it’s way into …

Bruges… enjoying the Venice of the north

Bruges Bruges remains one of Europe’s best preserved cities and has both charm and intrigue oozing in abundance out of its cobblestone streets. The fairy-tale city is a place that lives and breathes history. Visiting Bruges is like travelling back in time to the Middle Ages. It is both magical and authentic. I had previously …

Athens… how to spend time in this ancient city

Athens The ancient city of Athens is a treasure trove for history-enthused travellers like myself. With ancient sites spread throughout the boundaries of the city, a trip to he Greek capital is a must for those with one eye on the past. The question is, even with its almost incomparable history, is Athens worth visiting …

Helsinki… sauna time in the world’s happiest city

Helsinki Often considered to be Finland’s only metropolis, Helsinki is well-known for its innovative art, culture, love of everything sauna-related and – according to the World Happiness Report 2020 – being the happiest city in the world! So the question is, why wouldn’t you want to travel here? From a personal point-of-view I’ve always loved Scandinavian …

Orlando… the theme park state

Orlando As a child, a holiday to Orlando in Florida was always the dream location. After all, what child wouldn’t want to spend two weeks going from theme park to theme park and eating extreme quantities of food? So as an adult you’d maybe think my desire to do such a trip would have dwindled …

Zürich… take time out in this Swiss haven

Zürich Switzerland has – for as long as I can remember – been very much on my to-do list, but far too readily shunted down the agenda in place of other destinations. It was time for Holly and I to put that right. The difficulty came, however, working out where in this land-locked nation to …

Lisbon… a city of sunshine and splendour

Lisbon The city of Lisbon – or Lisboa to give it its proper Portuguese name – sits in the idyllic position on the western Iberian Peninsula alongside the Atlantic Ocean and the River Tagus. As mainland Europe’s western-most capital city, Lisbon is one of the major economic centres on the continent. And as is the case with much of Europe, …

Gibraltar… adventures on the Rock

Gibraltar Located off the southern tip of Spain, Gibraltar remains a little piece of the United Kingdom basking in the Mediterranean sun. But far from being the literal definition of ‘Little Britain’, Gibraltar oozes with its own charm and personality for people who visit this micro-British territory. Despite, these days, having their own national football …

Vilnius… the Baltics’ last kept secret

Vilnius Lying deep behind where the former Iron Curtain once cast its oppressive shadow, the city of Vilnius probably remains the least visited capital city from any of the Baltic countries. Yet, slowly, it’s starting to be appearing more and more on intrepid travellers’ itineraries. And what a city full of surprises it is! With …

Top five… must visit theme parks

Who doesn’t love a day out at a theme park? Well, Ok, for some people the thought of being flown through the air at great height and speed, or getting soaked may not be their first choice for a fun day out, but I have to say, the inner child within me loves exploring those …