We don’t get off to a great start in Sicily’s capital, Palermo. Our taxi driver can’t get his card machine to work so he hauls the husband off to find an ATM. Our hotel, the Porta Felice, is down a tatty backstreet and the welcome from the front desk is underwhelming. It’s as hot asContinue reading “Palermo part 1 – Positivity pays off”
Tag Archives: walking
Travels in my neighbourhood: Reading
Reading is one of those under-the-radar places. It’s the county town of Berkshire and our nearest big conurbation, but we don’t seem to go there very often. It’s perfectly pleasant, just unexciting and ordinary. Unfortunately, on 20 June this year it hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. On a Friday evening in theContinue reading “Travels in my neighbourhood: Reading”
The house that Wolsey built (and Henry took)
Today I’m visiting Hampton Court Palace. I’m in the middle of the final book of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall trilogy, set at the Court of King Henry VIII, so it seems an appropriate time to soak up some period atmosphere at the royal residence that’s best known as his favourite home. There has been aContinue reading “The house that Wolsey built (and Henry took)”
Looking for magic dust in Malta
Apparently there’s a popular trend amongst adults these days of booking holidays to re-live their childhood memories and boost their wellbeing. It’s known as the Peter Pan effect. We all wear rose tinted spectacles when it comes to remembering past family trips. We forget the soggy sandwiches filled with gritty sand and just remember gloriousContinue reading “Looking for magic dust in Malta”
Come walk with me in Dorney
For this post I’ve driven just a few miles down the road to the historic village of Dorney. The main thing you notice when you arrive is the lovely common at the heart of the village, used for grazing and with views to Windsor Castle. It’s a great place to start a walk. Off weContinue reading “Come walk with me in Dorney”
Travels in my neighbourhood: Windsor & Eton
Today I’m just down the road from home in the twin towns of Windsor and Eton, joined by a bridge over the Thames. Both are pretty famous – one has the most renowned castle and the other the most well-known school in the UK, if not the world. I’ve been here many times before, butContinue reading “Travels in my neighbourhood: Windsor & Eton”
Vienna then and now
Oh Vienna! If you’re of a certain age you will immediately hear the soulful voice of Midge Ure. You’ll probably hum it all day – I have been since I started writing this, luckily I’m an Ultravox fan. Many moons ago, I spent a year working in this city as part of my languages degree.Continue reading “Vienna then and now”
Battersea – giving dogs a home for 160 years
So today I’m back in the Big Smoke for a walk, lured by the promise of an Aperol Spritz with friends at the end of it. Go on, twist my arm then! I’m in Battersea, just 3 miles southwest of the City, on the banks of the Thames. Originally a fishing village, then an agriculturalContinue reading “Battersea – giving dogs a home for 160 years”
Travels in my neighbourhood: Runnymede
Poor old King John! He’s always the bad guy, that phony King of England. Meanwhile, his elder brother, Richard the Lionheart, is remembered as a hero by us Brits, despite the fact that he spent most of his time in France or on crusade in the Holy Land. He probably didn’t even speak English, whichContinue reading “Travels in my neighbourhood: Runnymede”
An exclusive promenade in Richmond
It’s another warm weekend (yes another one, I’ve almost forgotten that I live in the UK recently), so we decide to get in the car and drive to outer London again. Why have we never done this before? Apparently it’s because of my holiday ‘obsession’. We decide on Richmond this time around – the WestContinue reading “An exclusive promenade in Richmond”
Steph's Travels 