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Assisi from a bird’s perspective…

See the storm clouds? The weather is about to take a turn for the worse, and I’m one of the lucky few who gets a bird’s eye view of Assisi.

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Where in the world: Macau

This is the former Portuguese colony Macau, specifically the ruins of St Paul’s. A quick boat hop from Hong Kong, Macau is well worth a look.

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Travel photo – Willemstad, Curacao

Queen Emma pontoon bridge, Willemstad Curacao Today’s travel photo is from a 17th century Dutch trading settlement. It’s been many years since I visited, but I remember being enthralled by the cheerful, charming capital of Curacao and the Netherlands Antilles. Apparently, I’m not the only one. UNESCO has decided the European colonial old town and [...]

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Sunday snapshots – Sunrise at Taj Mahal

6:15 am Taj Mahal: romance and tragedy Even though it’s a mausoleum, a funeral mosque, the Taj Mahal must surely be one of the most romantic buildings in the world. But then romance and tragedy often seem to go hand in hand, don’t they? In 1631, Mumtaz Mahal, wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, dies [...]

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Travel photo – Brimstone Hill Fortress, Saint Kitts

Brimstone Hill Fortress The Caribbean island of St Kitts was tossed back and forth between England and France in what seemed an interminable battle for most of the 17th and 18th centuries. The island was quite heavily fortified and Brimstone Hill is an exceptionally well preserved historical fort. It’s a monument to brilliant British engineering [...]

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Urbino – a secret Italian hilltop town

Central Italy has three provinces: Tuscany and Umbria are well-known, Le Marche less so. Each has a hilltop town listed among UNESCO’s World Heritage sites. Tuscany has San Gimignano, Umbria has Assisi, and Le Marche has Urbino. Its remarkable legacy of independent Renaissance culture is the reason for inclusion on the list. Just like Marche [...]

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Autumn leaves in Kew Gardens

Palm House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew This week’s #FriFotos* theme – autumn/fall – inspired me to add an extra post. I’ve just returned from a hectic few days in London, attending the World Travel Market and heaps of fringe fun. I took Wednesday morning off, however, to have a look at the Royal Botanic Gardens [...]

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Facades of Cartagena – a photo story

The girls and I recently sailed through the Panama Canal and stopped – all too briefly – in the beautiful, beautiful Colombian city of Cartagena. Strolling through the lively old city, I was struck by the vibrant colours of the colonial architecture. Seemed to go well with the sultry heat, too. UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee [...]

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