Listing the travel destinations of the year is an enjoyable early-January exercise by newspapers and magazines. These choices can be a useful guide to travel trends, drawing on travel agents’ data or cultural and sporting events to come. I have a favorite list, which doesn’t seem to attract so much attention in the UK. That… Continue reading
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Derry builds on its great year of culture and renaissance
Derry~Londonderry is a fine destination for connoisseurs of the old European City. Its spectacular city walls (above) match any in Europe. Derry~Londonderry ended its great year as the first UK City of Culture in 2013 as the venue for the announcement of the winner of the Turner Prize 2013. All four short-listed artists were displayed in the… Continue reading →
Dylan Thomas – the end story in New York City
Dylan Thomas, the greatest Welsh poet, died in New York 60 years ago, on November 9th, 1953 shortly after his 39th birthday. According to the medical record, he died as a result of an alcoholic “insult to the brain” – the result of a drinking session after which, it is often, perhaps erroneously, reported that… Continue reading →
Thames Path through London in Lonely Planet’s 1,000 Ultimate Adventures book
A section of the Thames Path through London is in Lonely Planet’s 1,000 Ultimate Adventures book. The Path, where it runs from Kingston to Greenwich, is described as ‘a London highlights reel’ – passing Kew Gardens, Battersea Power Station, Westminster and Shakespeare’s Globe. ‘Expect surprising contrasts – the leafy emptiness of the riverbank through Richmond… Continue reading →
Greener holidays make landfall on Turkey’s tourist coast
I paid my first visit to Turkey during the early years of mass tourism to witness, at first hand, a conspicuous conservation success. Here was a country listening to wise advice from overseas well-wishers, in this case German Green MEPs and pioneer British eco-warrior David Bellamy. They did not want the country to repeat the… Continue reading →
World-beating Brecon Beacons’ view of the stars
Last night (12 August) may have been the best night to watch the Perseid meteor shower, the incredible cosmic lightshow that takes place in August every year. But it’s worth looking out tonight as well (August 12-13), astronomers say, when there should be more good displays of meteors (shooting stars). The best time to watch… Continue reading →