
Distance : 339km Travel time : 14 hours Marseille had been a delight and it was well worth spending a whole day there before my next move. I’d originally thought about going to Italy through Cannes and Nice by rail, but my AI research threw up and alternative; hopping across the Med via the island…

Distance : 662 kilometres Travel time : 3 hours The Gare de Lyon in Paris is a vast array of concourses, escalators, walkways and noise. The first time you encounter it, it can be overwhelming. But after a couple of visits you soon get used to the general chaos. There are three main halls with…

Distance : 477km Travel Time : Apporx 4 hours The travel cubes worked – kind of – I’ve been able to get almost everything required into the drag-bag, as it will be known from now on. When I say almost, it’s a tighter squeeze than usual for Mr Mutt. Still, he’s getting old now and…

It doesn’t take very long to become addicted to the joys of rail travel in Europe. Not only is it sustainable, it’s a no brainer. Which got me thinking : what would happen if we removed the human brain from the planning process? Sure, it can be fun using apps and websites to chart out…

Dubrovnik has proven to be a great base for exploring this part of the Adriatic coastline and it’s many attractions. Before leaving, there’s just time to escape the Old Town and head to the port area. This is a far cry from the little harbour in the Old Town – a huge inlet designed for…

It was always going to be an early start; a day trip from Dubrovnik to Bosnia-Herzegovina. So the plan was to have an early night. But some of the best parts of travel come when the unexpected happens. And on the stroke of 9pm, I heard the sound of singing from my apartment, accompanies by…

It has to be said that Dubrovnik’s Old town is pretty compact. Spending more than a couple of days based here can make you begin to feel that you’ve seen it ll. But it’s only when you step out of teh street and into its buildings that you discover more than enough to fill a…

Many cities have ancient walls which you can explore. But few are more stunning – or more compete – than those in Dubrovnik. And to get the best out of a visit, get here early; by 10am during the peak season it’s possible that you’ll have to queue up, and then continually stop and start…

Many tourist destinations ar pretty dead first thing in the morning. Get up early and you may find that many of the shops are closed, bar staff are attentively cleaning up after the night before and nothing really gets going until lunchtime. In Dubrovnik, it’s different. 8.30am and the coach loads are already arriving, many…

On the final day of his Italian trip, we explore Livorno, a quiet alternative to the bustling tourist spots of Tuscany. We see its historical sites, like the Fortezza Nuovo and New Venice, and highlights the city’s mix of faded beauty and modern luxury. Livorno offers an authentic taste of La Dolce Vita.