How To Take the Bus From Santa Teresa to San Juan del Sur

sign saying welcome to san juan del sur in Nicaragua

This post about how to get to San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua from Santa Teresa in Costa Rica. I hit Central America without much of a plan, so comfortable I had become with my wandering ways. Nicaragua was next door to Costa Rica, I was generally heading north and so that was how simple my decision … Read more

Vipassana Meditation Retreat – What It’s Really Like

indiana jo with indian ladies at vipassana meditation retreat in India

Having completed a 10-day stint at a Vipassana Meditation Centre I thought I would share this particular experience while the memory is still very raw…I mean fresh in my mind. Before I got to India, the spiritual epicentre of the world, I knew I wanted to give meditation a try. Let’s face it, drinking and … Read more

Sick at A Hammock Hostel in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Crab on the beach in Puerto Viejo

It was a day of travel pain. I was hungover and I was sick. My rucksack felt like it had been packed with sand and my legs wobbled as I started what promised to be a long day. I was on the move again – Panama to Costa Rica. It was all booked, tickets paid … Read more

Bocas Bound: Peace, Tranquillity and a Local Bar

star fish on a bach in Bocas del Toro

All I wanted was a beach that wasn’t littered with a million other British sun worshippers elbowing each other for a sun towel sized patch of sand. And I found it in Bocas Del Toro. An archipelago of islands of the north east coast of Panama, the islands truly feel like paradise lost. Palm trees … Read more

Quick & Easy Brazilian Caipirinha Recipe

Caipirinha glasses filled with ice

Back when I was a lawyer, before I became a travel, food and drink writer, hosting cocktail nights was one of my favourite ways to pass the weekend. The more elaborate the cocktail, the better. Then I took a round the world trip, which included months in South America, where I met Brazil’s national cocktail … Read more

Inside Tierra Santa, Buenos Aires’ Religious Theme Park

Leaving behind the cold British Winter, I landed back in Buenos Aires with its 33 degree heat. I was staying with friends who had rented an apartment in the city and at risk of falling from one bottle of wine to another, we decided to search for an activity to distract us from the Malbec. … Read more

The Salt Flats in Bolivia – What to Expect

White expanse of the bolivian salt flats

After my Intrepid tour ended I holed up in Loki (hostel in La Paz) for a few days to recharge and catch up with myself. The potential problem was that Loki was so inviting I was at risk of never leaving. The rooms were less than a fiver a night, perfectly clean and safe. The … Read more

How To Take The Ferry From Barcelona to Rome

Rome Civitavecchia ferry terminal at sunset

Last night I boarded the Grimaldi Barcelona to Rome ferry which leaves from the port at the end of La Rambla in Barcelona heading to Civitavecchia, a place about 45 minutes outside Rome. When I say ferry, really I mean a small crusie (think I’ve picked up the last leg of a holiday cruise which, … Read more