Category Archives: Nature

A TALE OF THREE CITIES: Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen by Rail

I have just returned from a whirlwind, seven-day tour by rail (mostly) of these three great Scandinavian capitals – Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen – with Great Rail Journeys. Now that I am relatively recovered from all the extensive walking and sightseeing tours and the challenges of hauling my too-heavy bags from one place to theContinue reading “A TALE OF THREE CITIES: Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen by Rail”

Life after loss: Moving on, looking up

Answering the question ‘what happens after you lose someone/suffer a major loss?’ is one of those how-long-is-a-piece-of-string-type questions, in that a. each person handles and processes grief differently; and b. the truth is that you never really stop grieving. Even when you move on, there is always that big black hole of sorrow inside thatContinue reading “Life after loss: Moving on, looking up”

Samurai, Sakura and Onsen Satori: 18 Days in Japan

Japan is a fascinating country; even when you get lost and end up wandering through some residential district as I often did, noticing little details outside people’s houses or seeing one of its many species of swallowtail butterflies or huge ‘bear bees’ grants moments of pure rapture.

Sun, sea and salsa: the ultimate party + chill groove at Rovinj CSSF 2023

Every year, the annual ‘peace, love and salsa’ (or sun, sea and salsa) orgy that is the Croatian Summer Salsa Festival (CSSF) sends thousands of international dance revellers back to their respective homes blissfully refreshed, rejuvenated and already craving more.

Return of the wild

While the Victorians have a lot to answer for in terms of their endless pushing for progress (among other things), at least they began to smell the extinction coffee long before their present ecological emergency and climate change-denying ‘Luddite’ descendants”