How to visit Kinbane Castle, Northern Ireland
Kinbane Castle is full of drama. Its isolation. Its embattled remnants. Its surroundings. Kinbane stirred up a depth of emotion in me. Here’s the story why (keep reading to the end for practical tips of how to get there). The wind blustered all around as I simultaneously skipped and staggered up to the farthest point […]
DIY your Lisbon architecture tour with this guide
The architecture of Lisbon has been influenced through history by its rulers, its seafaring exploits and a great big earthquake. DIY your own tour of Lisbon architecture by time-travelling through the Portuguese capital. The Moors – Arabic influence in the architecture of Lisbon Lisbon was under Moorish rule from the 8th-12th centuries. The current Castelo […]
Albania’s UNESCO World Heritage sites
If you’re a castle and ruins-aholic like me, then Albania’s UNESCO World Heritage sites are a dream. An unexpected hive of history; castles peak out over mountain ranges, Greek and Roman-influenced ruins face the Ionian sea. The settings are as memorable as the remnants of the buildings they’re famous for. I visited three of Albania’s […]
Bologna – where hipsters meet history
Famed for its porticoes, leftish tendencies, and a deserved foodie reputation; Bologna and its surrounds echo with the united footsteps of old and new. It’s a city where hipsters meet history. Cyclists’ simultaneously pedal slowly and talk quickly on their mobile phones. Students in converse trainers and skinny jeans chat to their amici, smoke curling from their cigarettes, as they scuffle […]
Ljubljana – the beloved boy next door?
If Ljubljana – meaning “the Beloved” in Slovene – were a man, he’d be the boy next door. He’ll treat you like a Princess: buy your favourite wine, bake your guilty-pleasure cake for you; he’ll even take out the rubbish. You’ll rave to your friends about his overall wonderfulness and clean, kindly and thoughtful ways. […]