It was brutally hot in Lisbon in July, so we looked at a map and found somewhere on the coast north of Porto whose temperatures were a lot lower. Having never been so far north, off we went, and what a great decision! Viana Do Castelo is a small, attractive city on the coast with … More 3 DAYS IN // Viana Do Castelo, Portugal
Everyone knows something about New York. It is one of the most famous cities in the world with its landmarks featured in so many films. We visited for five days in May and only scratched the surface of things to see and do. Having lived in NY for a year back in the late 1980s … More 5 DAYS IN // New York, USA
Coimbra is a former capital of Portugal and is an important university city with a vibrant student vibe. As with many Portuguese cities (Lisbon and Porto come to mind), Coimbra is built on a hill and it is a good workout to walk up to the top of the hill where the university and museums … More 2 DAYS IN // Coimbra, Portugal
The capital of Wales is perfect for a city break. We spent 3 days/2 nights in the city and it was terrific. We visited in late September and most of the pedestrianised streets had outdoor and indoor dining. The city is compact and eminently walkable. We visited during Freshers’ week and the city had a … More 3 DAYS IN // Cardiff, Wales
Portugal’s “Venice of the North” is a charming city in the north of Portugal, famous for its canals, bridges, Art Nouveau buildings, Santa Joana and Ovos Moles. We visited in August, staying for two nights, and thoroughly enjoyed the time spent there. Aveiro is on the same train line as Coimbra and Porto. A visit … More 2 DAYS IN // Aveiro, Portugal
A “Staycation” in the time of Covid. As the UK cautiously moves out of Lockdown, the Staycation has become popular especially given the fantastic weather we have had through most of the lockdown. We decided to visit Shanklin on the Isle of Wight. Shanklin is a pretty village with thatched-roofed cottages, gift shops, tea shops, … More 3 DAYS IN // Shanklin, Isle of Wight
Levico Terme is in Northern Italy. It is one of those wonderful lakes and mountains destinations that few people have heard about and is quite simply charming. More German than Italian, it is relaxed, has things to do and a beautiful lake sitting like a jewel at the bottom of the hill from the town … More 5 DAYS IN // Levico Terme, Italy
Porto is Portugal’s second city. More down to earth than Lisbon. Not as affluent or as spread out, but vibrant, colourful and just as interesting. The Portuguese love of building cities on steep hills is in evidence here as in Lisbon. A big difference from Lisbon is that the River Douro is integral to the … More 3 DAYS IN // Porto, Portugal (2 and a half really)
KL has branded itself as ‘A City of Contrasts & Diversity’ Our first impressions were not good:37 degrees Celsius, 94% humidity, a strong smell of exhaust fumes even in the taxi heading into the city and traffic jams everywhere. However, once we had found our hotel, showered, changed, and then ventured out, we loved what … More 4 DAYS IN // Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Global Gary 