In Belgium's second city, you’ll find the Plantin-Moretus Museum, a fascinating 16th century printing shop, publishing house and residence. Antwerp, then a city of 100 000 residents, was one of Europe's leading cities for printing and typography, with 140 bookshops, printers and publishers. Among these, Christophe Plantin was [...]
Thumbing through photos, I'm reminded of a little memorial I once saw in the Engadin Valley. On Piz Nair mountain just above St Moritz, I spotted a glass box in the distance. Practically pulled over, I was. By a strong impulse. Curiosity - and something else. There was no way I was not scrambling over to investigate.
Trees! In my search for world heritage, the important places on the planet, those worthy of special protection for the future, I sometimes find myself in somewhat curious situations. This time, I am looking for trees. Beech trees, to be specific. Fagus sylvatica. Of course, [...]
I'm a paranormal investigator. For the night. Well, no, I am not. Not really. I cannot even call myself a believer. But Victoria can. I've just met this blonde, fresh-faced Brit - from somewhere just north of London. She tells me she has degrees in [...]
'Defenestration,' he said, the stranger who came up to me as I leaned out the castle window. Or snuck up on me, rather. Silent as a panther he was. A tuxedo-clad panther, with grey eyes. Steel. Eerily magnetic. View from Prague Castle I must have [...]
Oslo 15 February 2017 When is it too late to let someone (strangers around a communal waiting room table) know you speak their language? Been sitting next to a French couple and I'm sure they wouldn't have discussed some of the things they have - [...]
Driving from Armidale to Coff's Harbour with my oldest daughter some years ago, I spot a sign for Dorrigo. The name sounds familiar. But why? We're at the other end of the world, after all. In Australia. And not Sydney or Melbourne, but inland Australia. [...]
