Feature

London Wetland Centre, Barnes Rain was forecast. The forecasters were wrong. London offered full sunshine instead, although it also offered a 100% strike on the Underground, which made getting anywhere in the capital a struggle. I solved the problem in the only way left - by scooter. Not the sleek, electric kind that city commuters zip about on, but the old, push-me-pull-you sort that children usually abandon in the garage. Somehow, I did not fall off - alright, just the once at a traffic light on the Fulham Road - and I earned[...]

Hortillonages, Amiens Tranquillity in Amiens It is difficult to define tranquillity, something I have been searching for a while, until you arrive at Les Hortillonages. At that moment, barely metres from the busy roads around the French city of Amiens, tranquillity is simple to find. Les Hortillonages are quiet and friendly, green and cool, even on a hot summer’s day. The other visitors who joined me, each of them French, were clearly similarly affected. Les Hortillonages have an influence that only firsthand experience can provide. Today, more than 1000 owners share the[...]

Lucca, Italy Lucca’s Allure There are few places in the world to which I return time and again, but one is Tuscany’s Lucca. It has everything I seek, wrapped in a tiny parcel of history, culture, gastronomy, charm, and even handles sweltering heat. Less than six hours travel from London, should one choose to fly, Lucca is a perfect, short-break destination. My last visit was more than memorable. Italian Indulgence “I have no idea how you can eat that,” said my companion, pointing at my third portion of Italian ice-cream (gelato) as[...]

Orkney, United Kingdom Visiting Orkney is an adventure, as there is a sense of going to the end of the Earth. You will be alone and surrounded by God’s creations. Despite this sense, the Orkney archipelago is busy. Nearly 400,000 travellers visit each year, earning Orkney more than £67 million. Most stay several days, especially when they discover the place is unique. Orcadians, those who inhabit the Orkney Islands, are fiercely proud of their Norse background, as there was a time when Orkney was owned by Norway. Twenty of Orkney’s 70 islands[...]

Mogadishu, Somalia “Somalia will return one day,” said Burhaan. “Right now it is chaos. But remember, we have a history that goes back even further than yours.” It was the end of a long working day as I glanced across at my companion. He was a born and bred Somali and we were sitting side-by-side on the flat roof of a building that looked out over Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital. The travel advice was clear. Give the country a wide berth, especially Mogadishu. Insurances were invalid, drought was underway, measles and dengue fever[...]

Alnwick, United Kingdom “When I last looked at a flying saucer,” I declared, my tone matter of fact, “its feet had spherical protrusions that would have fitted those depressions.” I pointed at the long, flat, Northumbrian rock before us. It was barely three strides long, even less in width, and our group of nine had been studying the neolithic carvings on its surface. There were circles, cups, grooves, and channels, distributed in patterns that made no sense. Unless, of course, you believed in flying saucers. The group turned towards me as one.[...]