Around the Planet

Here in England, it doesn’t seem to be getting any warmer, but spring is the perfect time to escape to the south of France, where the temperatures are pleasant at this time of year, and haven’t reached the stifling levels that characterise summer in that part of the world.
It seems that Vincent Van Gogh also [...]

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Holidays are so often associated with being lazy and doing nothing, but here is a holiday for those who like loads of activity as part of that well-earned, refreshing break.
In the grounds of a beautiful old farm, the ultra-contemporary Jiva Hill Park Hotel, near Crozet, France, is located in thirty-five hectares of its own natural [...]

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“Hey, have you heard the news? Guess what? You’re never going to believe this - the Leaning Tower of Pisa has fallen down!”, I exclaimed down the phone, to a half-asleep friend who had just been woken up by my phone call.
“Oh, but that’s awful”, he said, trying to take it in, and regretting the [...]

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If you happen to find yourself in Leeds, in the north of England, this month, and you love art, then you are in for a real treat: on 6th March the University of Leeds Art Gallery, located in the University’s iconic Parkinson Building, re-opened as The Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery, showcasing a dazzling collection [...]

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Belgium lies at the cultural and linguistic boundary between the Germanic and Latin parts of Europe, with the north of the country composed of the Dutch-speaking Flanders, the south of Belgium being French-speaking Wallonia, and the capital area of Brussels being bilingual.
In Brussels the bilingualism is evident, as all places, including the subway stations, have [...]

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If you are looking for a coastal resort that is relatively unspoilt by commercialism, then I recommend the ancient harbour town of Porec, which dates back to Roman times, and is stunningly located on the Croatian peninsula of Istria on the Adriatic Sea. Istria was once part of the Venetian Empire, and the Italian influence [...]

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Here in the UK it’s still rather cold, and with Easter approaching, it’s great to contemplate an escape to the Mediterranean, and this could just be one of them: The Amathus Paphos Beach Hotel in Cyprus re-opens its doors this month after a refurbishment, and will feature the sophisticated new European restaurant Luna Rosa, improved [...]

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No tour of Europe could possibly be complete without a visit to the romantic city of Paris.
Standing majestic over the city is the Eiffel Tower, which, once controversial, has now become the iconic symbol for Paris, and from La Tour Eiffel, you get a magnificent view over the whole city.

Another icon of Paris is the [...]

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There is so much to see in Stockholm – not only are there magnificent old buildings, some exciting new ones, plus museums, cafes, shops and entertainment, but also you are never far from parks, woods and wonderful walks by the lake or the sea, where you can just enjoy “the nature”.
In addition to the Stadshus, [...]

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On the east coast of Sweden, at the point where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea, lies Stockholm, built on fourteen islands. Stockholm is one of the few cities where you are never far from a picturesque walk along the water’s edge, and there are plenty of trees, parks and green areas. It is probably [...]

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