Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland, is a fascinating city to visit. The best way to truly experience this city of storytellers and musicians, and the home of Guinness and Jameson, is to walk around its vibrant streets and pop into a pub or two along the way. I was in Dublin recently for business but added on an extra day to revisit some of my favourite spots. I spent the day exploring the city centre on foot to visit Dublin’s main sights and discover new ones. Keep scrolling to see my walking route around the highlights of Dublin, including some of the pubs I visited. It’s particul ..read more

Gran Canaria is one of the largest of the Canary Islands, an archipelago belonging to Spain off the coast of northwest Africa. An island that can be visited year-round, it’s one of my favourite go-to places when I need some winter sun. Most visitors stay on the south coast, the warmest and driest part of the island and where most of the beaches are. However, on my various visits, I’ve discovered many spectacular places in Gran Canaria on day trips by car. Arguably the most scenic Gran Canaria day trip is the route through the centre of the island. The imposing mountains, deep ravines, lush veg ..read more

The Netherlands is a diverse country with a long coastline, one of the greenest countrysides anywhere around, and cities and towns steeped in history. Most visitors to the Netherlands (also popularly known as Holland – though this name only refers to two provinces North- and South Holland) make a beeline for Amsterdam, Utrecht or Rotterdam, and rightfully so. But to get to know the country better, I recommend visiting other towns and villages. Many of these places not only offer charming cobblestone streets and a fascinating history to delve into, but also lots of cultural attractions, great s ..read more

Norwich is a cathedral city in the area of East Anglia, roughly 160 kilometres northeast of London. As I had some meetings in the area, I decided to extend my stay and spend a day in Norwich, reputedly England’s most complete medieval city. I strolled around and found a vibrant city with the Norwich Cathedral, one of Britain’s largest medieval cathedrals, as its stunning centrepiece. Norwich has a compact city centre and all the major highlights are within walking distance of each other. During my walk, I discovered many interesting things to see in Norwich, from its cathedrals (there are two ..read more

Monferrato is a hilly area situated east of Turin in the region of Piedmont. Stretching from the alluvial plains of the Po River to the foothills of the Apennines, Monferrato is divided in two geographical areas: Basso Monferrato (Lower Monferrato) and Alto Monferrato (Upper Monferrato). I was excited as I’d heard a lot about the beautiful places to visit in Monferrato, an area that’s famous for its dreamy landscapes, amazing food and wines, and friendly people! It’s such a beautiful area that UNESCO declared the landscapes of Monferrato a World Heritage site in 2014! A typical Monferrato land ..read more

Lapland is the northernmost region of Finland and lies almost entirely inside the Arctic Circle. Covering about one-third of Finland’s total area, Lapland is a region of mires, fells, pine forests and lakes. It is especially popular as a winter destination, with visitors arriving to experience its vast, snowy landscapes, and see the northern lights. The ‘Home of Santa Claus’, Rovaniemi, is the main gateway to Lapland. A city of about 35,000 inhabitants, Rovaniemi (map) offers visitors a large variety of winter activities, such as snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing, husky safaris and ice-floati ..read more

Piedmont is a region of northwest Italy bordering France and Switzerland, with Turin as its capital and largest city. Piedmont was high on my list of places in Italy to visit. Friends of mine who’d been there were convinced that I would love Piedmont’s scenery and cuisine. When I received an invitation by the Italian Tourist Board to explore rural Piedmont, I didn’t have to think twice! Based on their suggestions, I created a Piedmont road trip itinerary that covered the Italian Alps in the west, the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in the north, and the Monferrato hills in the east. It turned ..read more

Turning 50 is a pretty big deal in the Netherlands. I’ve often seen signs of it in Amsterdam and around the country – family and friends decorate the house of the one celebrating with festive bunting, banners and balloons emblazoned with “50”, and sometimes prominent, inflated figures on the front lawn! The birthday person is referred to as ‘Abraham’ or ‘Sarah’, a custom that celebrates the wisdom gained over fifty years, and is expected to throw a party (and foot the bill). This is how I celebrated my 50th birthday in Amsterdam. No way I was having something like that in my front yard! (image ..read more

Nîmes is a city in the Occitanie region of southern France (map). Famous for its impeccably preserved Roman monuments, Nîmes is often called the French Rome and is a popular destination for visitors to the region. On my recent stay in nearby Montpellier, I made it a point to go on a day trip to Nîmes and see its Roman heritage. I discovered a spotless city with impressive Roman buildings, beautiful museums, lively squares and leafy streets. Read on about my walk around Nîmes and the places I visited along the way. The Roman arena in Nîmes. Places to see on a day trip to Nîmes Located roughly ..read more

Germany is awash with charming medieval towns packed with picturesque cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses. One of the most beautiful of these medieval towns is Miltenberg (map). This little town, located in Lower Franconia (Bavaria), lies on a narrow strip of land between a bend of the Main River and the forested hills of the Odenwald. The old town, with its quaint houses, hidden alleys and gorgeous squares, is a delight to explore. You can walk along the Haupstrasse (Main Street) from one end to the other in about 30 minutes but I recommend spending more time in Miltenberg to truly a ..read more