Jo Fitzsimons 
If you’re searching for local food for your trip to Puglia, you’re already steps ahead of most of the millions of foreign visitors who arrive in Italy each year. Just recently, strolling down a side-street in Florence I had a waiter holler at me across the street: “pizza, pasta, spaghetti”. It was as though he … Read more
Once upon a time, South London wasn’t a very desirable place. It was the part of London that was the home of asylums, prisons and taverns of ill repute. Little did our medieval ancestors know that with these ‘features’ they were laying the foundations for one of London’s most exciting tourist enclaves. Think of London’s attractions … Read more
Vietnam is nothing short of magical. A southeast Asian country that is one long stretch of coastline, you can expect everything from huge cities to swathes of beaches, dramatic islands and hill tribe communities. For me, Vietnam holds a very special place in my heart. It was one of the first countries I visited solo, … Read more
In 1372, work was completed on a tower in Pisa that would later come to be one of the biggest tourist attractions in the world. That tower was the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Located in the beautiful Tuscany region of Italy, Pisa is a popular stop on most Italian itineraries. But what else is there … Read more
Porto is the city of queues. I didn’t expect that to be the opening line of this post. Before I visited Porto, everything I’d read about the city was described using a list of superlatives. Historic. Medieval. Rich. Romantic. Grand. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. Porto is absolutely all of those things. And then some. … Read more
A 5th Century city of canals where romance oozes from the ornate buildings, Venice is a dream destination for most of us. I’ve visited many times (I even run wine tours from Venice). And each time I fall more in love with the floating city. With 118 islands lying across a web of canals, linked … Read more
Pizza is a big deal in Chicago. So big that the windy city even has its own Chicago style pizza. What is it? Deep pan, with a pie-like bottomed crust, stuffed with layers of cheese and crushed tomato sauce, with a thick layer of mozzarella cheese on top. It’s an institution in the city. And … Read more
Santa Teresa in Costa Rica holds a special place in my heart. I first visited all the way back in 2011 when it was a dusty dirt strip with a scattering of cafes and bars. Of course, progress marches us ever onwards and this laid back beach town has sprung up with a whole host … Read more
From hot orange sunsets to the glittering turquoise of The Sea of Cortez to sea lions, whale sharks and powder soft sands, La Paz in Mexico is a dream vacation destination. Add in tacos galore, great hotels and the fact that La Paz is one of the friendliest Mexico beach towns I’ve ever been to, … Read more
It’s a rare thing to be able to stand with one foot in each hemisphere on a line that straddles the north and south of the globe. Yet, that’s exactly what you can do at Mitad del Mundo. Located near Quito in Ecuador, Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World in Spanish) is a wildly … Read more