Category Archives: Europe

The big three of Milan, La Scala, the Vittorio Emanuel Emporium, and the Duomo, stand together in the middle of town. The Duomo is totally overwhelming. But then, it has had quite a few hundred years to arrive at this … Continue reading →

. Arrived in Venice in soaking rain, confronted with a sea of umbrellas. A ten-minute sodden trudge found us at our new home. And in the middle of the action, only five minutes from the Rialto. Happily, on the ground … Continue reading →

. An hour from Lucca, by a slow train following the river out into the country. Robert and Norma live high on a ridge in a villa in a village confusingly called La Villa. So high that in the morning … Continue reading →

Towers, food and wine. The important Tuscan things. As in many places and cultures, the food and wine here varies from the ordinary to the sublime. The range of available Gelati flavours is mind and palate blowing. Our favourite Gelateria … Continue reading →

  In Florence, The Uffizi, the Academia and the Duomo have their followers and enthusiasts, but for me The Bargello is a stand out benchmark for world class sculpture and decorative art. The Bargello is one of those grand old … Continue reading →

  . . First week of our Tuscan adventure has been given over to a week of deep immersion at the marvellous Lucca Italian school. Where the only non-Italian sound to be heard is the occasional furtive English whisper. . … Continue reading →

Sleek train down to Rome, which goes as fast as 300km/h when the quality of the track allows. From base camp off Via Veneto, around the corner from the American embassy, planned to just walk around and see what happens. … Continue reading →

The following pics and video extracts allow a peek at some of the things that could be seen in the course of a couple of days at the 2017 Biennale at the Giardini and the Arsenale in Venice. New Zealand … Continue reading →

By train from Vienna. Up the hill to Innsbruck. Through the yodelling country and the Brenner Pass, and down past the Dolomites and grape growers into Venice. We all know that Venice has lived for over a thousand years in … Continue reading →

In and around Berlin we had our fill of Grand Royal palaces. Winter palaces, summer palaces, palaces for the Empress, palaces for the kiddies, palaces to impress the neighbours. But in the end, as Frederick the Great said, “A crown is … Continue reading →

Returning to the 19th floor apartment of Uta and Andreas on Leipzig Strasse after three years was just like coming home. The Augustiner beer hall around the corner and the Brandenburg gate a ten minute walk away, Lidl downstairs for … Continue reading →

On this quick whizz through Amsterdam, managed to avoid the famous red light district in favour of the slightly less famous Rembrandt house or huis. He was able to buy the house at the height of his career following the … Continue reading →

In coming to Granada, the focus of our Andalucian campaign was to visit the fabled Alhambra. Fabled, due to the very popular Tales of the Alhambra written by Washington Irving in 1829. He was an adventurous writer and diplomat (American … Continue reading →

Cordoba is the loveliest place at this time of year. Busloads of tourists are easily swallowed up and dispersed among cute little blue and white alleyways. There is always space at the corner tavernas and cafes to sit, lean back, … Continue reading →

The move from Morocco back to the other side of the Med was quite easy as we are travelling light this trip. Encumbered more by technology than underwear. Touched down in Malaga for a couple of days. In a strange … Continue reading →

High on the *Buttock list has been a return to Barcelona. The intent was to reprise all of the delights of a visit 15 years ago. Of course some things have changed. The mantra – “Barcelona, Ah, beware the pickpockets!” … Continue reading →

The Germans are famous for being good organisers rather than good lovers or good cooks. But being good followers gets them into trouble from time to time. Think WW II. More recently the lack of progress on the new Berlin … Continue reading →

Ah Berlin! Where beer is cheaper than water. Staying in a 19th floor apartment on Leipziger Strasse for 2 weeks. Midway between the Brandenburg gate and Check point Charlie, near to the action. So prosperous and trendy, so much to … Continue reading →

Old news now, but watching Cadel Evans ride up the Champs-Elysees at the conclusion of the 2011 Tour de France led to a wave of fond nostalgia for the grand old city. Following pics are from a visit for a … Continue reading →

Brussels. Think tall thin houses, chocolate, cigarette butts all over the streets, hot chocolate, Fast trains, the finest lace. And beer. Shops and shops full of chocolate and truffles, even little chocolate models of Manneken Pis. We are staying in … Continue reading →

Jana & Honza from Prague used our house in Belgrave as a travel base last year. Jana’s grand house is the base for her pensione and car hire business. From our 3rd floor window we look up to the floodlit … Continue reading →

Before leaving Hagetmau, went to the Intermarche to get cash from a hole in the wall. Found extremely large hole in the wall, police everywhere & no cash to be seen or had. Local lads had been at work with … Continue reading →

Home in France for the next two weeks is in the SW of France in the province of Landes. Not too far from Pau and Biarritz and the Pyrenees, a couple of hours south of Bordeaux. We are staying in … Continue reading →