Europe is one of the most diverse continents in the world. Comprising 50 countries with borders on the Arctic, Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea, you can have it all if you travel to Europe.
Some of the most popular countries to visit in Europe are located in western Europe: Italy, France, Spain, Greece and the United Kingdom often hit people’s bucket lists.
Yet Eastern Europe with Romania, Poland and Czech Republic, to name a few, are not to be missed. And then there is the Scandinavian countries, which add another layer of culture to the mix.
Where to start? Follow your heart or, like me, your stomach. I’ve lived briefly in France and Spain and I’ve spent so much time in Italy, it feels like I live there. In fact, I run a separate Italy blog dedicated to the Prosecco region one hour from Venice.
Yet England is the place I was born and will forever call home (even when I’m not there).
Like many tourists, there is still so much of Europe I have left to see. Have a look around my Europe blog posts and, as ever, if I’ve not written about a place yet, drop me a line as I probably have some info to share.
I love wine. And I especially love Bordeaux wine. How could I not? Bordeaux is one of the finest wine producing regions in the world. But what if you don’t want to go wine tasting in Bordeaux? Or your kids have tagged along (as toddlers are prone to do). Or you’ve ticked off all your … Read more
Place a glossy travel mag in my hands and I’m as happy as the proverbial pig in sh!t. Page after page, I love pouring over pictures of cerulean seas and cloudless skies. But here’s the thing – those pictures of those destinations are no more real than the images of celebs in Vogue. Airbrushed and … Read more
Want to know where to go in Sardinia? Read on… I’d always thought Sardinia would be a beach-based trip for me – after all, isn’t that why most people fly into what is Italy’s largest island? However, there’s not much you can do to talk me into sitting on a beach in November (even in … Read more
I’m the kind of person who will find any excuse possible to sup on something bubbly – “What? My second cousin, third removed just found out she doesn’t need a root canal? That requires a celebration.” POP. Whether you’re a woman (or man) after my own heart or whether you prefer save the popping of corks … Read more
Francesco Cetti once said, “There is not in Italy what there is in Sardinia, nor in Sardinia what there is in Italy.” The 18th century zoologist was probably talking about the wildlife. Probably. But he could equally have been talking about Sardinian food. I’m fast loosing count of the number of times I’ve been to Italy, but … Read more
Even if you’re decked head to toe in Gucci and are sauntering around Venice, Florence or Rome with all the panache of an Italian superstar, there’s still a very simple way to tell whether you’re a local or not: how you order coffee. Believe it or not, there is a huge (and unhelpfully unspoken!) protocol … Read more
Giuseppe Verdi once said, “You may have the universe if I may have Italy.” I feel that way about Florence; which might explain why I have visited this arresting Italian city so many times I’m losing count. And, with that, what I’m equally losing count of is the number of times I’ve scribbled out an … Read more
I love an indulgent foodie (and drinkie) weekend break and with my 40th birthday presenting the perfect excuse (and my messed up knee preventing me from jetting off to Hawaii), I couldn’t think of a better place to celebrate than Brussels where chocolate, fries, mayonnaise, waffles and Belgium beer were all on the menu. As … Read more
“It’s ugly, isn’t it?” I looked at my guide, Bas, and he nodded, a big smile on his face. He wasn’t offended, because I guess he knew what was my next comment was going to be. “Ugly, but cool. Very, very cool.” Bas nodded again; his smile hadn’t waiver. We were talking about Amsterdam Noord, an … Read more
When I want to take a trip, I book a ticket, pack a bag (a small one at that) and go. And then I look at my friends with children and watch in awe at the planning, packing, cajoling, refereeing and excitement containing that goes on when they, likewise, take a trip. And that’s not … Read more