Owing its very existence to the majestic River Thames, London is intimately connected to all things maritime.  As the heart of the British Empire, the city was once one of the most important ports in Europe , where ships would set sail for exotic destinations across the globe. The extensive Victorian docks fell into disuse in the 1960s but a massive regeneration project has seen a thriving business district spring…  Read More →

The short answer here is no. ‘Dirty hole’ is putting it a little too strongly, but certainly for decades people arriving in Casablanca hoping to find a romantic idyll where beautiful people display their wit and charm in colourful surroundings have been bitterly disappointed. The simple fact is that when deciding where to set their film of wartime romance and derring-do, the producers chose what was to become the industrial and economic... 

Golden Week, known as Ōgon Shūkan or Ōgata renkyū, is a time of travel and leisure in the land of the rising sun . The Japanese Golden Weel is comprised of four national and the informal holidays taken in between those dates. As there are few public holidays in Japan , most people take this opportunity to travel both within the country and abroad. The national holidays that make up the Golden Week are: April 29th: Showa day, celebrating... 

For runners the gruelling 26.2 miles of a marathon is the ultimate test.  Pushing on past the ‘ wall ’ and feeling the adrenaline rush as you make it across the finishing line makes the sore feet, blisters and relentless hours of training no more than a distant memory. Marathons are held across the world and runners are increasingly combining the sporting challenge with the opportunity to explore new places – although it’s probably... 

March 17th honors Saint Patrick, the most recognized Patron Saint in Ireland. Until Dublin launched it’s multi-day Patrick’s festival in 1996, however, celebrations in the country were nearly non-existent. Most of what we think of when it comes to Saint Patrick’s day is actually American, drinking green beer, eating corn hash and wearing “Kiss me, I’m Irish!” t-shirts in particular. No matter where you are on the day, here are a... 

March 1st-7th is British Pie Week : at BritishPieWeek you’ll find hints, tips, recipes (from savoury to sweet) and other great ideas whether you want to celebrate this tradition in an english pub in London or comfortably at home. If you’re in the New York area, today at the Walter Reade Theater there are several screenings of New York-centric Oscar winners: Annie Hall, Dog Day Afternoon,The Godfather (You can get more info at filmlinc... 

Holy Week is the last week of lent and, therefore, the week before Easter in the Christian calendar. While Christians all over the world prepare commemorations at this time, the best and most vibrant festivities take place in the cities of Andalusia in Southern Spain. The main celebrations take the form of processions through the towns and villages of the region, the local streets and squares filling with priests, penitents, musicians and the... 

This is a list of my favourite restaurants in Prague. I haven’t eaten in every restaurant in the city so I cannot claim this list is an exhaustive study, but if you have any recommendations then please leave them in the comments section. Triton Restaurant If you have money to spend and want to eat in the vicinity of Wenceslas Square then Triton is the place for you. I wouldn’t normally have tried a restaurant actually on …  Read More →

The ‘fair Verona ’ of today compares favourably with the one portrayed in Shakespeare. There are more tourists nowadays but the gang warfare between Montagues and Capulets has subsided, leaving an appealing and relaxed place to visit. While neighbouring Venice has a greater number of sites to see, Verona is more laid back and lacks the stress and mania attached with Venice , especially in the high season. The Roman Arena In my opinion, the... 

Shanghai is a modern metropolis, famous for its never-ending construction and towering skyscrapers.  Yet, just 180 kilometers away, lies Hangzhou , the capital of the Zhejiang province.  Culturally rich and renowned for it’s picturesque beauty, Hangzhou makes for the perfect relaxing day trip away from the hustle and bustle. Getting there The best and fastest way to get the Hangzhou is by train.  The D train , “Dong Che Zhu” departs... 

Art at Vancouver Olympics Olympics always mean so much more than sport, and the current edition in Vancouver merits a medal of its own for such great art displays.  One of the most interesting examples is the inukshuk , an Inuit monument made of natural stones. This one, overlooking English Bay, looks fantastic decorated with the official Vancouver Olympics mittens. New fashion hotel in Milan Last week, during the fashion week, Moschino inaugurated... 

Meet the green-fingered gardeners behind the scenes of some of Brittany’s most beautiful gardens that are highlighted for one week in June. Some of the spaces can only be seen during this three-day window. In total Brittany has 113 gardens , some of which have been awarded special status by the French authorities. Blooming load of species An exotic plantation of more than 3,000 species awaits visitors to the Exotic Garden in Roscoff, Finistere... 

Every guidebook and tourist map will lead visitors to some fantastic architecture in the heart of Berlin. The Riechtag, The Jewish Museum and the Holocaust Memoria l top the long list of buildings designed by some of the leading practicing architects of the world. They are interesting designs and urban spaces well worth visiting while in town. However, Berlin really shines with its avant-garde and out of the way mentality. This is true for the... 

Geneva is world-famous for its collection of international organizations and institutions, the nearby ski slopes and the sleek lifestyle of expats and diplomats . But what about for the younger, student population? When I first moved there to do my Master’s degree, I was faced with this dilemma. With some research, I have scouted some great hangouts for the expats and young Genevois looking for some enjoyable, fun and youth-oriented hangouts... 

Kraków is one of the largest cities in Poland with a population of over 750,000 thousand Cracovians. The city is located on the banks of the beautiful Vistula River in the south of Poland. Although the city is no longer the official capital, it’s still known as Poland’s royal capital. 1. The Vistula River One of the most enjoyable ways to start your tour of the city is by …  Read More →