As they would say in Scotland, it was blowing a hoolie on the North Sea. After being tossed around all night like tiddlywinks in rough seas, by the time we approached dawn, the waves flatlined and a calm, cold blue eyed morning greeted us as the DFDS cruise rolled into Newcastle.  So yeah. Why the hell am I here? (other than the pure love of slow travel and storms at sea) Well, I was on the verge of a footballing pilgrimage of sorts, to some of the greatest football cities of Great Britain. I would start first in Glasgow, then Newcastle, then onto the great rivals of Newcastle – Su ..read more

Denmark meets Germany. The year is 2012. June. I had just quit my full time job to become a nomad. I would have forgotten my nomad anniversary but the onset of the Euros have brought back a flood of memories. Then, the fixtures gods threw up Denmark Vs Germany. Again.  My thoughts turned towards that fateful summer. I had got rid of all my earthly possessions and packed my life into a backpack to start my 2 month interrail trip across Europe. I remember checking into the Generator Copenhagen on a cloudy muggy day in June, looking out onto a sea of spires, that eclectic range of architectu ..read more

If you want to taste of life in a true Athenian neighbourhood, then Koukaki, tucked under the shadow of the Acropolis is where you can find a nice mix of historic bakeries cafes and bars, some greenery and also an intriguing blend of architectural styles. To make sense of it all, we went on a brand new food tour of Koukaki , where under the expert guidance of Theodore, we dived into the history of the neighbourhood, get an idea of the changes taking place in this rapidly gentrifying area and also learn some Greek phrases and of course there is a lot of eating and drinking in some of Koukaki’s ..read more

“Everything you look at can become a fairy tale and you can get a story from everything you touch.” Hans Christian Andersen Just 75 minutes from Copenhagen, Odense, the 3rd largest city of Denmark feels more relaxed, very idyllic with its narrow cobbled streets and half timbered houses. It sometimes feels straight from a fairytale of its favourite son, HC Anderson who lived in Odense till the age of 14. From his childhood home to the brand new HC Andersen Museum designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, Anderson’s legacy is evident, everywhere you walk in Odense. Every Odense guide online wi ..read more

´ ‘Below the Mexican border the water changes colour; it takes on a deep, ultramarine blue—a washtub bluing blue, intense and seeming to penetrate deep into the water; the fishermen call it ‘tuna water.’ Steinbeck. The Log from the Sea of Cortez In the beginning Raw. Remote. Pristine. A different planet. There’s an unworldly feeling about Baja California Sur from the moment you first set foot on this lunar landscape.  Overrun with cactus and barring a few sleepy towns, the tide of life here is gratifyingly, mind numbingly slow. Once you come here, the vast emptiness of the dusty landscap ..read more

While some prefer the road less travelled, I tend to find that with age, I return to the roads well travelled. Every time I go back to a place filled with good memories, even though the places may have stayed the same, I find that I have changed, so the memory is always renewed and refreshed. I am always discovering something new. The best places exist in many layers like an unfurling onion that has a habit of slowly unravelling, revealing it’s various layers over time. Leipzig is one of those cities which keeps on peeling back its layers of history, revealing stories at every twist and turn ..read more

Just as in Malta, Gozo, Malta’s sister island the locals savour their meals, whether it is breakfast, lunch , dinner or even a humble snack. There is an outstanding range of places to eat and drink on the island and all of them are great value for money. I am proud to share with you my guide on where to eat in Gozo on a budget. I have outlined some of the best cheap eats in Gozo that we discovered with the help of some amazing locals.  1. Bunna Cafe, Gozo Address: 38A Triq ir-Repubblika, Ir-Rabat Għawdex, Malta Restaurateur Philip Spiteri’s go to place for coffee, Bunna Cafe is one ..read more

  We stumble down the sulphur-yellow dirt track, no sign of Claire’s secret beach. In the past 15 minutes we have been honoured with just the odd lonesome goat for company and the swallows, dancing above our heads. I take a slurp of my water. It is past midday but already the April sun feels strong on our skin. We reach a dead end. Force of nature implores me to look at my phone for answers. According to Google Maps, the track or beach does not exist. We are in no-mans lands. I look up again, into the distance, my eyes swimming in the most perfect shade of deep blue Mediterranean Sea. Sa ..read more

After a hectic few weeks of backpacking and interrailing in June, I arrived in Chur, the oldest city in Switzerland and the gateway to the Alps. Seen as the bridge between Germany and Italy, plus as the starting point of the famous Bernina Express, Chur is dotted with leafy vineyards beautiful heritage buildings and surrounded by mountains. You will find the pace of life here sedate and relaxed. They even have a local word here to describe it- ‘Patgific’. After just spending a day here, I felt relaxed and feeling patgific here. However, sheltered by the mountains , in splendid isolation, Chur ..read more

A city with a difficult past, complicated present and uncertain future Görlitz is not the city that would feature on most Germany itineraries. However, if you do dig deep, it is the kind of city that ultimately is very rewarding.  Alongside Meissen, Görlitz is the perfect day trip from Dresden and has enough sights to warrant an overnight stay. First of all it is a city really easy on the eye and very beautiful to walk around. Architecturally, it is one of the most unique cities in Europe. If you’re a movie lover, especially a fan of Wes Anderson, you’re in for a treat. Plus there are few ..read more