Travel Stuff
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Adriatic Adventure – Part 4 – Palaces, Mountains and Wine
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…
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Adriatic Adventure – Part 3 – From Forts to Fat Bastards
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…
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Adriatic Adventure – Part 2 – An Iron Throne
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…
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Italian Adventure Part 6 – Livorno
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.
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Adriatic Adventure – Part 1 – Winter Is Coming
When I first visited Dubrovnik in 2013, Croatia was only just taking off as a major holiday destination for visitors from the UK. It had long been a favourite for many Europeans, and global visitors were shown its charms via giant cruise ships sailing down the Adriatic coast. And then it all changed. Game of…
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Italian Adventure Part 5 – La Cinque Terre
In the heat of the summer, a trip to the coast is often a good option. And this morning, at Pisa Centrale station, around a hundred other people have had the same idea. The beauty of Italy’s railway system is that you can get just about anywhere in a short space of time, and at…
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Italian Adveture Part 4 – Run For The Hills
For many years in the UK, the very mention of Tuscany conjured up a very specific image. Not of rolling hills with the baking sun feeding rich vineyards below, but of middle class , middle aged families spending the entire summer in a villa, annoying the hell out of the locals. But public transport, and…
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Italian Adventure Part 3 – My name is Lucca
Pisa is a great base from which to explore the rest of Tuscany and neighbouring Liguria. Over the coming days, I aim to make the most of the excellent local and regional transport links to visit at many places as I can. Lucca is just 30 minutes from Pisa by train, and there are services…
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Italian Adventure Part 2 – Pisa by night
In the middle of the afternoon, many Italian bars and restaurants close up. In the heat of July it’s easy to understand why; nobody can really enjoy themselves in temperatures of 32 Celsius. For the weary tourist, it’s also a good time to get some rest. I’m woken from my snooze in the early evening…
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Italian Adventure Part 1 – Pisa by day
I rarely travel in the middle of the summer, mainly to avoid the crowds. But no matter how much I try to pretend that I’m an intrepid explorer, diverging from the norm, practicalities of life this year mean taking a break in July. Yeah, with all those horrible tourists. In fact, this trip is a…
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