Category Archives: Travel
Faro
I’ll admit that expectations were low. I’d visited Portugal many times, but avoided the Algarve, believing it to be over-touristed and lacking in anything cultural. Oh, how I was wrong! Faro is a compact, coastal town with typically Mediterranean paved streets winding towards the sea. On our approach, we were bemused by the amount ofContinueContinue reading “Faro”
Iceland
Coimbra
Our visit to Coimbra was an accident. A happy accident, but an accident none-the-less. With a close friend choosing to marry in Cascais, we decided to venture into the parts of Portugal between Porto and Lisboa and Coimbra seemed an ideal location. A little bit of research told us it was a lively university townContinueContinue reading “Coimbra”
Croatia
Cáceres
Cáceres, Extremadura. The first thing anyone said when they heard we were going was “The meat there is amazing!” But, as the thermometer in the hirecar pushed past 45 degrees, cured pork was the last thing on my mind. In fact, all I could think about was ice. Or an ice-cold glass of beer. WanderingContinueContinue reading “Cáceres”
Mérida
To say I was excited about Mérida is a bit of an understatement. Roman Iberia, in all its wonder. And the ruins did not disappoint. The amphitheatre and theatre are spectacular, but a lot of the rest is ruined – which may seem obvious, but when you traipse around the city in the July heatContinueContinue reading “Mérida”
Trujillo
Ornate sandstone buildings, meandering cobbled lanes and cranes’ nests – Trujillo feels much like Caceres, but without the warmth. Perhaps this is due to the different tones in the brickwork, or the fact that its buildings feel a little less loved, but it feels a less hospitable place. With it being a Sunday afternoon, theContinueContinue reading “Trujillo”
Évora
Portugal’s charming Alentejo
Venice
A journey through littler-known Venice.
Nicola Heaney 