Ancona is a port city in Italy with many things to do, including beaches, Roman sites, and historic buildings. It is a compact city, and many of the key landmarks are centrally located. The coast is a big draw for walking or for the beach at Passetto. We stayed in Ancona for 5 nights, and…
For foodies, visiting Bologna’s restaurants and other places to eat is a must-do. Food is a big deal in Bologna for good reason, and the city is a great place to dine out or cook with local produce. On our three visits to Bologna, we had many delightful meals out at various restaurants. One nickname…
Bologna has some impressive traditional food shops and markets. They stock quality cooking ingredients and deli items that are ideal for lunch. We tried many places for food during our extended stay in Bologna and are imminently returning to cook some more. One of my favourite areas to find food is Quadrilatero, which has many…
One of my favourite things to find when exploring cities is churches, and there are lots in Venice. There are 139 churches in the city, and many of them are free to enter or mooch around. I found loads of pretty church buildings while on sightseeing walks and was impressed by the ones I visited…
Rijeka has one of my favourite markets in Croatia; its proximity to the sea means they have fresh fish and seafood daily. While on self-catering holidays in Rijeka, I have visited the farmers’ and fish market and cooked with its produce. Other fresh produce markets surround the Rijeka fish market and have butchers, cheese stalls…
2026 has been much more subdued on the travel front than in previous years, due to a few factors, including the dreaded gout. We are hoping the 2nd half of 2026 will be more fruitful for getting out of Brasov a bit more. 2026 Travel Diary Following on from my 2025 travel diary, these are…
A fascinating place we visited in Vienna is the Imperial Crypt, also known as the Capuchin Crypt. The Imperial Crypt is the burial chamber of the Habsburg monarchy and is located underneath the Capuchin Church and monastery. We found the visit fascinating, and it was well worth visiting for a unique slant on Vienna’s history….
South Devon is a good area for a train holiday, with many coastal towns on or near the railway network. I’ve spent lots of time on the South Devon coast over the last 50 years. Dawlish, Torbay and Exmouth are some of my favourites. My favourite is the railway line from Exeter to Newton Abbot,…
The Cotswolds is a beautiful part of England, with a choice of places to visit for its scenery and countryside walks. It is a popular destination with hikers and people who enjoy pretty villages. Some of my favourite parts of the Cotswolds are the small towns like Cirencester, Stroud and Painswick. One of the most…
There are over 61 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy, more than any other country in Europe. I have been fortunate enough to visit a few of these while in Italy. This includes some of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy, such as Rome, the capital, Florence, Venice and the Roman site of Pompeii….
Šibenik is a big city with a local market to match; I enjoyed shopping here during my stay. We were self-catering, so we put City Market to good use, including buying fish, meat, and vegetables. I also enjoyed the local olive oil and the bars at the edge of the market square. My favourite place…
Unirea Salt Mine in Slănic Prahova, Romania, is the biggest salt mine in Europe and an excellent place to visit for a day trip. We really enjoyed visiting and found it impressive and fascinating. The site was much bigger than I expected, and the rock formations inside were the highlight for me. Apparently, spending time…
Budapest, the capital of Hungary, has many options for bars and cafes for a drink out. You can choose from some posh, special places, party bars, or regular places for cheap local beers. I’ve visited a wide range of places for drinks on many visits to Budapest. In most parts of the city, you can…
Matthias Church is a beautiful building in the Buda Castle District of Budapest. The church is very photogenic inside and outside and is one of the nicest churches in Hungary. The church is free to explore outside and is a big focal point of exploring Buda Castle. If you like churches or Gothic architecture, then…
On a visit to Sopron in Western Hungary, we visited Esterházy Palace in Fertőd. The palace has the moniker ‘the Hungarian Versailles’. It is famous for its baroque and rococo architecture and interiors. It is Hungary’s grandest Rococo palace and is the former workplace of the composer Joseph Haydn. The palace grounds and inside were spectacular,…
Matulji is a small town and a great base for budget travelling, with plenty to see in the area by bus or train. The prices for accommodation, dining out and beer were much lower than in other places we’ve visited by the sea. Thus, it’s a suitable destination for budget travellers who don’t mind walking…
The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna is a fascinating place to visit, especially if you enjoy art, architecture and history. It is in Maria-Theresien-Platz, one of the key sightseeing areas in central Vienna. It’s a lovely place to wander around and take in the building’s architecture. Inside, the Kunsthistorisches Museum really impressed me with its decorations,…
One of the most imposing buildings in Bucharest is the massive Palace of Parliament. It is the seat of Romania’s parliament and is also a popular tourist attraction that offers tours. Tours inside the parliament building are interesting, especially getting the chance to look around the big, decorative rooms inside. The exterior is also good…