February 2019. This is an update of a piece I wrote in 2010. Charles Darwin, Shrewsbury’s most famous son, was born in 1809 in this handsome border outpost within an almost circular loop of the River Severn. I took the train to one “England’s finest Tudor towns” and one of England’s most appealing day trip and… Continue reading
Browsing Category Things to do – various destinations
Louvre Abu Dhabi, opening November 2017, adds culture to short break appeal.
Napoleon Crossing the Alps, by David. One of the paintings to be displayed in the Louvre Abu Dhabi A provisional opening date of November, 2017 has been given for the Louvre Abu Dhabi, which will showcase loans from the Paris namesake and other French museums. The new museum will add major cultural weight to the emirate’s… Continue reading →
Rome – the eternal masterpiece
Rome is a masterpiece packed with wonders, from some of the world’s finest art to the most exquisite cappuchino. The writer is an eternal fan. Ace high The glory of Rome was spread below us on the eighth floor of the five-star Rome Cavalieri, a tranquil hilltop retreat just west of the Tiber. After planning our… Continue reading →
Swift new TGV Océane slashes train times to Bordeaux
The new TGV Océane Paris to Bordeaux services begin on 2nd July 2017. Trains will cover the 581km (361 miles) in an astonishing 2 hours and 4 minutes. (For comparison London to Newcastle is 283 miles, and the fastest train takes 2h 47m.) Journey times will be cut by up to 1 hour and 15 minutes. This is an update of… Continue reading →
Daniel Day-Lewis seen filming in Whitby, jet-black town of Dracula
Daniel Day-Lewis has been seen (early 2017) in Whitby, where he is believed to be making his first film since Lincoln in 2012.It seem, too, that he has been reunited with There Will Be Blood director Paul Thomas Anderson. Some insiders think the film will be set in the London (or New York) fashion world of the 1950s…. Continue reading →
The Garden Route – the majestic drive at the foot of Africa
At the foot of South Africa is a spectacular 150 mile journey through the narrow band of land between the Indian Ocean and the mountains. Travellers are seduced by a floral paradise, sands that are wide and white, the double majesty of elephants on land and whales close to the shore, a world record bungee… Continue reading →