A quick march around York’s World War II and Cold War history
You’ve been mesmerised by the Minster, shuffled down the Shambles, and wandered around the walls … you may be forgiven for thinking that York’s history stopped sometime around the time of the Tudors. You’d be wrong. Andrew and I checked out five of York’s military museums to get under the skin of our city’s World War II […]
4 reasons to visit Timişoara, Romania
Timişoara was European Capital of Culture in 2021 but it’s relatively undiscovered with plenty to offer visitors. Here’s why you should visit. Reason 1: Architecture in Timişoara is fabulous Its buildings may be less well recognised than those of its Romanian counterparts Sibiu, Sighişoara and Brasov; but Timişoara’s architecture is fabulous. Baroque and Austro-Hungarian influences are […]
How to spend a full day walking York city walls
This locals’ guide to York city walls features several hot spots that make this English city so special. Plus: I include some insider tips about the off-wall places you shouldn’t miss. You could walk the 3.4km around York city walls in an hour or so. But, take in sights and the occasional pub en-route, and that hour could […]
Day trips from Catania by public transport
Sicily’s second city of Catania makes an ideal base for day trips by public transport to Taormina, Syracuse and Mount Etna. Here’s what to see and how to get there. Catania day trip 1: Taormina – for ancient ruins and vertiginous viewpoints Taormina is famed for its ruined Greek theatre, which dates back to the […]
How to visit Cacheuta hot springs from Mendoza
Thermal waters + relaxation + mountain backdrop = a recipe for bliss. Here’s how to visit Cacheuta hot springs from Mendoza and what to expect when you get there. There are hot springs near Mendoza – who knew? That was my thought when flicking through my trusty Lonely Planet guidebook. The hot springs at Cacheuta […]
How to buy Copper Canyon train tickets
Updated June 2020. This post gives details on how to buy your Copper Canyon railway tickets before you travel, without having to pay a USD $100 tour operator premium. Andrew and I travelled on Mexico’s Copper Canyon railway in October 2016, from El Fuerte to Creel. We travelled in Business (then known as First/Primera). Since then, new First Class carriages have […]
The stories behind The Gap Year Edit’s twelve top Instagram pictures of 2016
Yup, it’s that time of year again … where I share the stories behind the scenes from your twelve most-liked 2016 pictures from The Gap Year Edit’s Instagram account. #12. Bamburgh, Northumberland, England I got my feet wet taking this picture in May – the beach at Bamburgh, Northumberland. Miles and miles of sandy wonderfulness, with a medieval […]